諸經要集 19.43

19.43

When the elder heard this, his mind was opened and he forgot his grief. Kneeling upright, he addressed the Buddha: 'What crime or fault did this son commit in a past life that in the flower of his prime he should meet with a premature death? We only pray that you will explain the crimes he previously committed.'
The Buddha told the elder: 'In ancient times there was a young boy who carried a bow and arrows and entered among sacred trees to play. Beside him were three men, also looking on. There was a sparrow in a tree, and the boy wanted to shoot it. The three men encouraged him, saying, "If you can hit the sparrow, you will be a brave fellow in the world!" Flattered by their fine words, the boy drew his bow and shot it. It struck the sparrow and it died at once. The three men laughed together, joined in his joy, and then each departed. Traversing samsara for several kalpas, wherever they met, they suffered the punishment for this crime. Among the three men, one possessed merit and is now in heaven; one was born in the ocean as a magically born dragon king; and one is your present person, the elder. As for the boy, he was previously born in heaven as the son of a deity, but fell from a tree at the end of that life and died. He was immediately born in the ocean as the son of the dragon king; and on the very day of his birth, the king of the garuḍas seized and ate him. Today in three places there is anguish and weeping—how could words express it? Because in their past lives they abetted his joy, these three people receive such retribution.' Thereupon the Bhagavat spoke this verse: