諸經要集 9.32

9.32

又出曜經云。昔罽賓國中。有兄弟二人。其兄出家得阿羅漢。弟在家中治修居業。時兄數來教誨。勸弟布施持戒。修善作福。現有名譽死生善處。而弟報曰。兄今出家不慮官私。不念妻子田業財寶。我有此務。而兄數誨。不用兄教。後病命終。生在牛中為人所驅。駄鹽入城。兄從城中出遇見之。即為說法。時牛聞已悲哽不樂。牛主見已。語道人曰。汝何道說。而使我牛愁憂不樂。道人報曰。此牛前身本是我弟。昔日負君一錢鹽債。故墮牛中以償君力。牛主聞已。語道人曰。君弟昔日與我親友。是時牛主即語牛曰。吾今放汝不復役使。牛聞感激至心念佛。自投深㵎即便命終。得生天上受極快樂。以是因緣。若人負債不可不償。

Furthermore, the Avadāna-sūtra says: Long ago, in the kingdom of Kaśmīra, there were two brothers. The elder brother left the household life and attained the state of an arhat; the younger brother remained at home, managing the household business. Often the elder brother would come to instruct him, urging his younger brother to practice generosity, keep the precepts, cultivate goodness, and produce merit: 'In the present you will have a good reputation, and upon death you will be born in a good realm.' But the younger brother replied, 'Brother, you have now left the household life; you have no worries about public or private affairs, nor do you care for wife, children, fields, estates, wealth, or treasures. I have these duties, yet you repeatedly admonish me. I have no use for your teachings.' Later, falling ill, he died and was born among oxen. Driven by men, he was laden with salt to enter the city. The elder brother, coming out from the city, happened to see him, and immediately preached the Dharma for him. At that time, having heard it, the ox choked with grief and became despondent. Seeing this, the ox's owner said to the man of the Way, 'What have you said that has made my ox so sorrowful and unhappy?' The man of the Way replied, 'This ox in its previous life was originally my younger brother. In the past, he owed you a debt of one coin for salt; therefore he fell among oxen to repay your labor.' Hearing this, the ox's owner said to the man of the Way, 'Your brother was formerly a close friend of mine.' At that time, the ox's owner said to the ox, 'I now release you and will no longer work you.' Hearing this, the ox was deeply moved, and with wholehearted focus practiced buddhānusmṛti. Casting itself into a deep ravine, it died immediately, and was born in the heavens, where it enjoyed supreme bliss. By these causal conditions, if a person incurs a debt, it must be repaid.