法苑珠林 49.14

49.14

Furthermore, the Sūtra on the Collection of the Six Perfections states: In the past, the Bodhisattva was a crane and had three chicks. At that time, there was a great drought in the country, and he had nothing to feed them. He tore open the flesh beneath his own wings to save their lives. The three chicks wondered, saying, 'The scent and flavor of this flesh are identical and no different from our mother's own body. Could it be that our mother is feeding us with her own flesh?' The three chicks felt grieved, with intense sorrow. They also said, 'We would rather lose our lives than harm our mother's body!' Thereupon they closed their beaks and would not eat. The mother saw that they would not eat and sought [food] again. A heavenly deity sighed and said, 'The mother's loving wisdom is beyond compare; the chicks' filial devotion is exceedingly rare!' The devas assisted her, and her wish was immediately fulfilled as she desired. The Buddha told the monks, 'The mother crane was myself; the three chicks were Śāriputra, Maudgalyāyana, and Ānanda. The Bodhisattva's loving wisdom, boundless practice, and dāna were like this.'