This is the story of a boy who did not drown in the river, was eaten by a big fish, and was raised by two wealthy families.
Thus I have heard at one time.
The Enlightened One was staying in Jatavana Monastery in the city of Sravasti. At that time, there was a wealthy householder. He married a woman he loved. However, they could not give birth to a son. So, they prayed to the gods and their prayer was answered. Soon, the wife gave birth to a son.
Every relative was rejoicing. During the feast for the newborn son, everyone was having a good time, looking at the infant and passing him around. Suddenly, from the hands of a relative, the boy slipped and fell into the water. The river carried it away, and a fish ate it. However, through the boy’s virtue, he survived in the belly of the fish.
At the mouth of the river, a group of fishermen found the fish. They opened it up and found the boy inside. A fisherman went to their master’s wife. She too had no son and was praying hard for one. When the boy was given to her, she rejoiced. “Finally, my prayers were answered”. She took care of the boy like her own son.
When the news broke out, the boy’s real parents went to the riverbank and said, “This is our son. He slipped from our arms into the river stream. He was then swallowed by a big fish, the fish that you caught. Please give him back to us.”
The wife refused. There was a big dispute between the two families. They then brought the dispute to the king. The king decided that the two households will raise the boy together. When the boy has come of age, he may marry two women. And the children from each wife will belong to each family. The dispute was resolved.
When the boy has come of age, he went to the Buddha and requested to become a monk. The Buddha welcomed him to the order of monks. The Enlightened One taught him, and he was released from all his sufferings.
Noble Ananda then asked the Buddha, “Lord, what former virtues did this boy do that is why he did not drown in the river, and was raised in great wealth?”
The Buddha answered, “Ananda, listen well. Long ago, when the Buddha Vipasyin had come to this earth, he instructed many people in the Dharma. At that time, there was a householder who heard the teaching. In the presence of Buddha Vipasyin, he generated firm faith and devotion. He generated the wish to become a Buddha.
“He vowed to abstain from killing, and offered a single golden coin. Because he offered with firm faith and devotion, wherever he was born, he was endowed with great wealth and was never poor.
“This boy is that householder. Because he offered with firm faith, he was born wealthy for sixty-one kalpas. Now, in this life, he did not die in the river, he was brought up by two mothers from wealthy homes. Because he took refuge in the Triple Gems, now, he has met me, and achieved arhathood after listening to my teachings.”
Hearing those words, Ananda and the assembly believed and rejoiced greatly.