法苑珠林 19.38

19.38

Furthermore, the Daśādhyāya-vinaya states: At that time, the World-Honoured One recounted a story of a past life (jātaka) and spoke to the monks: In a past age, near the Himalayas, three animals lived together: first, a francolin; second, a monkey; and third, an elephant. At first, these three animals treated each other with contempt, having no conduct of reverence. Together they thought: 'Why do we not revere each other? Whichever of us was born first should be provided for, respected, and should instruct us.' Thereupon the francolin and the monkey asked the elephant: 'What do you remember of the past?' At that time, in that place, there was a large pippali tree. The elephant said: 'When I was young and walked, this tree passed under my belly.' The elephant and the francolin asked the monkey: 'What do you remember?' He replied: 'I remember that when I was young, I sat on the ground, grasped the top of this tree, and pressed it down to the earth.' The elephant said to the monkey: 'You are older than me; I should revere you, and you should speak the Dharma for me.' The elephant and the monkey asked the francolin: 'What do you remember?' He replied: 'There was a large pippali tree; I ate its fruit and defecated here, and so this tree grew and became as large as this. This is what I remember.' The monkey said to the francolin: 'You are older than me; I should make offerings to you, and you should speak the Dharma for me.' At that time, the elephant revered the monkey, listened to and received the Dharma from him, and spoke it to the other elephants. The monkey revered the francolin, listened to and received the Dharma from him, and spoke the Dharma to the other monkeys. The francolin spoke the Dharma to the other francolins. (According to the Caturvargika-vinaya, the bird rode on the monkey, the monkey rode on the elephant, and traveling everywhere, they transformed others and spoke the Dharma.) Formerly, these three animals were fond of killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, and false speech; later, they admonished and stopped each other, abandoning these faults, and upon the end of their lives, all were born in the heavens. At that time, the people of the world saw the animals widely practicing good dharmas and not trespassing upon people's crops. They each admonished one another, saying: 'Even beasts can show reverence, how much more so should we!' Thereupon, the people of the world all revered one another and observed the five precepts; after the end of their lives, they all attained birth in heaven. The Buddha said to the monks: 'The francolin of that time was myself; the monkey was Śāriputra; the elephant was Maudgalyāyana.' The Buddha said: 'Even ignorant beasts showed mutual reverence to benefit themselves and others; how much more so should you, having gone forth into homelessness out of faith, not revere each other?' Thereupon, the World-Honoured One spoke a verse: