法苑珠林 85.16

85.16

又賢愚經云。佛在波羅柰國。於林澤中為諸天人四輩之類顯說妙法。時虛空中有五百雁為群。聞佛音聲深心愛樂。迴翔欲下。獵師張羅雁墮其中。為獵師所殺生忉利天。處父母膝上若八歲兒。端嚴無比光若金山。便自念言。我何因生此。即識宿命愛法果報。即共持華下閻浮提。至世尊所。禮足白言。我蒙法音生在妙天。願重開示。佛說四諦得須陀洹果。即還天上。

Furthermore, the Damamūka-nidāna-sūtra states: When the Buddha was in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, in a grove by a marsh he clearly preached the wondrous Dharma for the devas, humans, and the four assemblies. At that time, a flock of five hundred wild geese in the sky heard the Buddha's voice, took deep delight in it, and circled around wishing to descend. A hunter spread a net, and the geese fell into it; killed by the hunter, they were born in Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. Resting upon their parents' laps like eight-year-old boys, extraordinarily handsome and radiating light like golden mountains, they reflected: 'By what cause was I born here?' They immediately recognized their past lives and the retribution of their love for the Dharma. Together holding flowers, they descended to Jambudvīpa, arrived at the place of the World-Honoured One, bowed at his feet, and said: 'Relying upon the sound of the Dharma, we were born in a wondrous heaven; we pray you instruct us once more.' The Buddha preached the Four Truths, and they attained the fruit of srotāpanna, then immediately returned to heaven.