諸經要集 16.84

16.84

Furthermore, the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa states: In the past, a wildfire burned a forest. In the forest there was a pheasant that made earnest efforts with its own strength, flying to enter the water and sprinkling the water upon the forest. Going back and forth until exhausted, it did not consider it suffering. At that time, Śakra, the King of Gods, came and questioned it, saying: 'What are you doing?' It answered, saying: 'I am rescuing this forest because I take pity on sentient beings. This forest has shaded and nourished us, serving as a dwelling for a long time, cool and joyful. My kind and all my kin all rely on it. I have physical strength; why should I not rescue it?' The King of Gods asked, saying: 'You are so assiduous; until when will this last?' The pheasant said: 'Until death is my limit.' The King of Gods said: 'Who will bear witness for you?' It immediately made a vow: 'My mind is utterly sincere. If my faith is not false, may the fire extinguish of itself.' At that time, the gods of the Pure Abodes (Śuddhāvāsa) knew the pheasant's vast vow and immediately extinguished the fire for it. From beginning to end it remained evergreen and was not burned by fire. (Therefore the sūtra says: 'When a person has a good vow, Heaven will certainly comply with it.' These words are indeed verified.)