SA 1222（一二二二） 鸟巢

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying at Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "In the past, the gods and asuras fought a battle, and the asuras won while the gods were defeated. At that time, the army of Śakra, Lord of the Devas, was destroyed and scattered, and they were extremely frightened. Riding in a chariot, they fled north and returned to the heavenly palace.

"The road below Mount Sumeru passes through a forest. Under the forest is a nest of garuḍas, with many garuḍa chicks. At that time, Śakra, Lord of the Devas, was afraid that the passing chariots and horses would trample the chicks to death. He told the charioteer, 'Turn the chariot around and return. Do not kill the chicks.' The charioteer said to the king, 'The asura army is chasing after us. If we turn back, we will be trapped by them.' Śakra said, 'It is better to turn back and be killed by the asuras than to have the army trample and kill sentient beings.' On the road, the charioteer turned the chariot to face south. The asura army saw from afar that Śakra, Lord of the Devas, was turning the chariot around and returning. They thought it was a battle strategy and immediately retreated in fear. The army was greatly terrified, their formation was destroyed, and they scattered and returned to the asura palace."

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "That Śakra, Lord of the Devas, is the sovereign king of the Thirty-three Heavens. Because of his compassionate mind, his power subdued the asura army. He also always praised the merits of the compassionate mind. You bhikṣus, having renounced the household life with right faith, should cultivate the compassionate mind and also praise the merits of the compassionate mind."

Having spoken this sūtra, the bhikṣus heard what the Buddha said and joyfully upheld it.