陀羅尼雜集 9.17

9.17

一時佛在王舍城迦蘭陀竹林中。爾時王舍城內有一比丘，為賊所劫、為蛇所螫、為鬼所嬈，受大苦惱。爾時鬼神大將阿吒婆拘，見是比丘受如是苦，心生憐愍，即往佛所。至佛所已，頭面禮足，在一面立，白佛言：「世尊以降伏一切極惡諸鬼神等。我今憐愍一切眾生故，為降伏一切諸惡鬼神及一切惡人惡毒等故，上佛世尊極嚴惡呪，以用降伏諸鬼神等。若有讀誦是呪之者，其人威德乃至力能降伏梵天，何況餘惡。」爾時佛告阿吒婆拘鬼神大將：「我不須此極嚴惡呪，儻能傷害諸眾生等。」爾時阿吒婆拘重白佛言：「世尊！後惡世之中惡鬼增盛、惡人眾多、惡毒虫狩侵害眾生，或值諸難，所謂王賊水火刀兵、恐畏怨憎、惡鬼等難。若佛弟子出家在家，若住寂靜乞食道人、塚間樹下四部等眾，若行曠野山林道中，若在城邑村里巷陌，當為救護不令遇惡。世尊慈矜願垂納受。善逝世尊願垂顧錄。」爾時世尊聞是語已，默然受之。爾時阿吒婆拘見佛默然，心懷喜悅，即於佛前而說呪曰：

At one time the Buddha was in Rājagṛha, at the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove. At that time, a monk inside the city of Rājagṛha had been robbed by bandits, bitten by a snake, and troubled by ghosts, suffering great distress. At that time, the great general of spirits Āṭavaka, seeing that this monk was suffering such distress, felt pity in his heart and immediately went to the Buddha's dwelling. Having arrived at the Buddha's dwelling, he bowed his head to [the Buddha's] feet in worship, stood to one side, and addressed the Buddha, saying: "The World-Honoured One has already subdued all the most evil spirits and the like. Now, out of pity for all sentient beings, in order to subdue all evil spirits, as well as all evil people, evil poisons, and the like, I present to the Buddha, the World-Honoured One, an extremely fierce and severe mantra to be used for subduing spirits and the like. If anyone recites this mantra, that person's majestic power will even be able to subdue Brahmā, how much more so any other evil!" At that time the Buddha said to Āṭavaka, the great general of spirits: "I have no need for this extremely fierce and severe mantra; it might harm sentient beings." At that time, Āṭavaka addressed the Buddha once again, saying: "World-Honoured One! In the future evil age, evil ghosts will multiply and flourish, evil people will become numerous, and venomous insects and beasts will harm sentient beings; or they may encounter various perils, namely the perils of rulers, bandits, water, fire, weapons of war, terror, hostile enmity, evil spirits, and the like. If the Buddha's disciples—monastics or householders, whether renunciants dwelling in quietude begging for food, or members of the four assemblies staying among tombs or beneath trees—travel through wildernesses, mountains, forests, or along roads, or are in cities, towns, villages, or alleys, I shall provide protection for them so that they do not meet with evil. May the World-Honoured One, out of compassion, deign to accept it. May the Sugata, the World-Honoured One, deign to give it regard." At that time, having heard these words, the World-Honoured One silently accepted it. At that time, seeing the Buddha remain silent, Āṭavaka felt joy in his heart, and thereupon recited the mantra before the Buddha, saying: