法苑珠林 65.52

65.52

又賢愚經云。佛過去久遠世時。時世飢儉。如來因地慈救眾生。作大魚身。長五百由旬。國人須其肉者。無問人畜皆來取噉。取已還生。經於十二年施其肉血。

Furthermore, the Damamūka-nidāna-sūtra says: Long ago in a distant age of the Buddha, there was a famine in the world at that time. On the causal stage, the Tathāgata, compassionately rescuing sentient beings, assumed the body of a great fish, five hundred yojanas in length. When people of the state needed its flesh, whether humans or domestic animals, they all came to take and eat it. Once taken, it grew back again. For twelve years, he bestowed his flesh and blood.