諸經要集 2.30

2.30

又賢愚經云。昔佛在世時。有一比丘林中誦經。音聲雅好。時有一鳥聞法敬愛。在樹而聽。時為獵師所射命終。緣此善根生忉利天。面貌端正光明昞然。無有倫匹。自識宿命。知因比丘誦經聽法。得生此中。即持天華到比丘所。禮敬問訊。以天香華供養比丘。比丘具問知其委曲。即命令坐為其說法。得須陀洹。既得果已還歸天上。禽鳥聽法尚獲福報無邊。豈況於人。信心聽法寧無善報。

Furthermore, the Xianyu jing says: In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, there was a bhikṣu chanting sūtras in a forest, his voice elegant and fine. At that time there was a bird who, hearing the Dharma with reverence and love, stayed in a tree listening. Just then, it was shot and killed by a hunter. By virtue of these wholesome roots, it was born in Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, its countenance upright and dignified, its radiance shining brightly, without equal. Conscious of its past lives, it knew that it was because of the bhikṣu chanting sūtras and hearing the Dharma that it was born there. It immediately took heavenly flowers and went to the bhikṣu's dwelling, paying homage and making inquiries, and offering the heavenly fragrant flowers to the bhikṣu. The bhikṣu questioned it thoroughly and learned the whole story, whereupon he bade it sit down and expounded the Dharma for it, and it attained srotāpanna. Having attained the fruit, it returned to heaven. If even birds and fowls listening to the Dharma reap boundless retribution of merit, how much more so for a human being! How could listening to the Dharma with a faithful mind fail to bring wholesome retribution?