法苑珠林 57.9

57.9

Also, the Udānavarga states: In the past, in the country of Kaśmīra, there were two brothers. The elder brother renounced the world and attained arhatship; the younger brother remained at home, managing their household affairs. The elder brother often came to instruct and exhort the younger brother to practise giving, maintain the precepts, cultivate goodness, and perform merits: "You will enjoy renown in the present life, and after death be reborn in a good realm." But the younger brother replied: "Elder brother, now that you have renounced the world, you do not worry about official or private matters; you do not think of wife and children, of fields, properties, or wealth. But I have these affairs!" Though his elder brother often instructed him, he did not heed his elder brother's teachings. Later, he fell ill and died, being reborn among cattle, driven by men to carry loads of salt into the city. The elder brother, coming out of the city, encountered him and preached the Dharma to him. When the ox heard it, it choked with sorrow and was distressed. Seeing this, the ox's owner said to the man of the Way: "What words have you spoken that have made my ox sorrowful and unhappy?" The man of the Way replied: "In its former life, this ox was originally my younger brother. In the past, he owed you a debt of one coin for salt; hence he fell into the state of an ox to repay your labor." When the ox's owner heard this, he said to the man of the Way: "Your younger brother was once a close friend of mine." Thereupon, the ox's owner said to the ox: "I now release you and will no longer make you work." Hearing this, the ox was deeply moved; with wholehearted mindfulness of the Buddha, it cast itself into a deep ravine and immediately died. It obtained rebirth in heaven, enjoying supreme happiness. By this cause and condition, if a person owes a debt, it must be repaid.