法苑珠林 50.24

50.24

During the Song, there was a state neighboring rākṣasas. The rākṣasas repeatedly crossed the border and ate people without limit. The king made an agreement with the rākṣasas, saying, 'From now on, each household in the country shall take turns, each for a single day, to send someone to you; do not kill people indiscriminately anymore.' There was a Buddhist family that had only one son, who was just ten years of age; it was his turn to be sent. The parents wept bitterly and recollected the Buddha with utmost sincerity, whereupon their kinsmen also joined in directing their thoughts to help the boy. They then sent off the boy, bid him farewell, and abandoned him there. Through the awe-inspiring supernatural power of the Buddha, the great demon could not approach him. The next morning, finding their son still alive, they returned together in joy. From then on, [the menace] ceased. The people of the state rejoiced and were filled with admiration. (The one verified account above comes from the *Records of the Unseen Realm*.)