（一一）
昔有天人食福欲盡，七證自知——一者頭上華萎、二者頸中光滅、三者形身損瘦、四者腋下汗出、五者蠅來著身、六者塵土坌衣、七者自然去離本座。自知福盡下生世間貧窮家，與疥癩母猪作子，愁憂不樂。更有一天人來問：「汝何以不樂？」答曰：「吾壽將終，下生為疥癩母猪作子，是故愁耳！」彼天曰：「釋迦文佛在忉利天宮為母說法，當往歸依，及比丘僧，可得免苦。」便往詣佛所志心歸命，七日之後壽盡。來生世間大長者家，母妊娠後恒聞三歸聲，至十月滿乃生墮地，長跪叉手歸命佛法僧。其母驚謂是不祥，便欲殺之，思惟言：「長者之子不可便爾，罪我不少。」即往白長者具說此意。長者言：「人生居世不知歸命三尊，而生此兒，纔生已知三尊，將是神人，好養之，勿怪也！」此兒之福才聰特異，父母愛重。至年五歲與同輩道邊戲，時舍利弗、目連過，前為作禮。舍利弗曰：「未見小兒作禮如此！」兒白道人：「不相識耶！」舍利弗即入定觀其本相，乃知是彼天人，便長跪詣舍利弗、目連：「願尊為請佛及僧，明日造鄙舍食。」即便許之。兒歸白父母言：「向請舍利弗、目連，願世尊明日屈意飯食。」父母歡喜即為竭財上饍食具。明日佛將諸大眾往到其家，兒及父母迎佛作禮。佛即就座，行水下食須臾已訖，佛為說法，父母及兒皆得無所從來法忍，百千天人發無上正真道意。經言能竭慈，可謂如此矣！
Once upon a time, a celestial being’s blessings were about to run out. He recognized the seven signs of his impending fall: first, the flowers on his head withered; second, the light around his neck faded; third, his body grew thin and weak; fourth, sweat appeared under his arms; fifth, flies began to land on him; sixth, dust settled on his clothes; and seventh, he naturally drifted away from his seat.
Knowing his merit was exhausted, he realized he would be reborn in a poor human family—as the piglet of a mangy, scabby sow. Filled with sorrow and despair, he became deeply unhappy.
Another celestial being came and asked, “Why are you so unhappy?”
He replied, “My life is ending. I’m going to be reborn as a piglet born to a mangy, scabby sow—that’s why I’m so sad.”
The other being said, “The Buddha Shakyamuni is currently in the Trayastrimsa Heaven, teaching the Dharma to his mother. Go and take refuge in him and in the community of monks—that will free you from this suffering.”
So he went to the Buddha, sincerely took refuge, and focused his mind on that devotion. Seven days later his life ended, and he was reborn into a wealthy household in the human world. From the time his mother became pregnant, she constantly heard the sound of the Three Refuges— “I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dharma, I take refuge in the Sangha.” When the ten months were up and she gave birth, the baby immediately knelt on the ground, pressed his palms together, and recited the Three Refuges.
The mother was startled, thinking it was an evil omen, and wanted to kill the baby. But then she thought, “This is the son of a wealthy man—I can’t just do away with him. That would bring me great wrongdoing.” So she went to her husband and told him everything.
The husband said, “In this world, people live their whole lives without knowing to take refuge in the Three Jewels. But this child, as soon as he was born, already knew the Three Refuges. He must be a sage. Raise him well—don’t be alarmed.”
The child was exceptionally intelligent and blessed, and his parents loved and cherished him. When he reached the age of five, he was playing on the road with other children. At that time, Shariputra and Maudgalyayana passed by, and the boy went forward to bow to them.
Shariputra said, “I have never seen such a young child pay respects like this!”
The boy replied, “Don’t you recognize me?”
Shariputra entered meditative concentration and saw the boy’s former nature, realizing he was that celestial being. Then the boy knelt before Shariputra and Maudgalyayana and said, “I would like to invite the Venerable Ones to ask the Buddha and the Sangha to come to my home for a meal tomorrow.”
They agreed.
The boy returned home and told his parents, “I have just invited Shariputra and Maudgalyayana. Please let the World-Honored One honor us with his presence for a meal tomorrow.”
The parents were delighted and spent all their wealth to prepare the finest food and offerings. The next day, the Buddha came with his great assembly to their home. The boy and his parents greeted the Buddha and bowed. The Buddha took his seat, water was served, and the meal was soon finished. Then the Buddha taught the Dharma, and the parents and the boy all attained the patience of the non-arising of all dharmas. Hundreds of thousands of celestial beings awakened to the unsurpassed, perfect, right enlightenment.
The scripture says, “One who can exhaust compassion is like this.”