法苑珠林 97.11

97.11

When the elder heard this, his mind found understanding and he forgot his sorrow. Kneeling long, he said to the Buddha: "What offense and transgression did this boy commit in a past life that, having a flourishing and beautiful life, he met with a premature death? We pray that you explain the offenses he originally committed." The Buddha said to the elder: "In the distant past, there was a young boy who, carrying a bow and arrows, entered into a grove of sacred trees to play. Beside him, three men were also watching from within. On a tree there was a sparrow, and the boy wished to shoot it. The three men encouraged him, saying, 'If you can hit the sparrow, you are a brave lad in this world.' Feeling pleased, the boy drew his bow and shot it; hitting the sparrow, it died immediately. The three men laughed together, joined in his delight, and then departed on their own ways. Passing through rounds of birth and death over several kalpas, they met together wherever they were to undergo punishment. Among the three men, one who possessed merit is now in heaven; one was born in the sea as a miraculously born dragon king; and one is your present elder self. The young boy had previously been born in heaven as the son of a deva; when his lifespan ended, he became the elder's son; falling from the tree and ending his life, he was immediately born in the sea as the son of the dragon king; and on the very day of his birth, the Garuḍa king seized and devoured him. Today, in three places, people are grieving and weeping—how can it even be expressed! Because in their past lives they had aided his delight, these three men received retribution like this." Thereupon the World-Honoured One spoke a gāthā: