法苑珠林 45.32

45.32

As the Mahāsaṃghika-vinaya says: The Buddha told the monks: In a past age, there was a brāhmaṇa whose family was poor. His wife did not give birth to children. There was a mongoose in the house, which then gave birth to a young one. Because he had no child, the brāhmaṇa raised it with the thought of it being his child. The young mongoose also regarded the brāhmaṇa with the thought of him being its father. Later, the wife became pregnant and, when her months were complete, gave birth to a son. She then thought: 'Because of the mongoose, an auspicious son was born, granting me a child.' When the brāhmaṇa was about to go out begging for food, he instructed his wife, saying: 'If you go out, you must take the child along; do not leave him behind.' Later, after feeding the child, the wife went to a neighboring house to borrow a mortar to pound grain. At that time, the small child smelled of ghee and curd. A venomous snake, following the scent, arrived, opening its mouth and spitting venom, intending to kill the child. The mongoose then thought: 'My father has gone out, and my mother is also not here. How can this venomous snake seek to kill my younger brother?' It then killed the venomous snake, cutting it into seven pieces, [thinking,] 'When my parents know, they will surely reward me.' With blood smeared on its mouth, it stood before the door, wishing to make its parents rejoice upon seeing it. At that time, the brāhmaṇa was just returning from outside. Seeing his wife outside the house, he said in anger, 'I instructed you that when going out you must take the child along; why did you go alone?' When the father was about to enter the door, he saw blood on the mongoose's mouth. He immediately thought: 'While my wife and I were away, could it be that it killed and ate my child? In vain did I raise this creature!' He immediately stepped forward and beat it to death. Upon entering the house, he saw his own child sucking his fingers and playing, and also saw the venomous snake in seven pieces on the ground. The brāhmaṇa deeply reproached himself with anguish: 'This mongoose had such human feeling as to save my child's life! Without observing carefully, I killed it abruptly. How grievous! How pitiful!' Overcome with grief, he collapsed to the ground. In mid-air, a deva immediately spoke a verse: