大方便佛報恩經 4.24

4.24

"At that time, the venomous dragons immediately opened a path to let the crown prince pass, even through the venomous dragons guarding the city at the seven tiers of moats. When he reached beneath the city gate, he saw two jade maidens spinning crystal thread. The prince asked: 'Who are you?' They replied: 'We are the dragon king's bondservants who guard the outer gate.' Having asked, he advanced to beneath the middle gate, where he saw four jade maidens spinning white silver thread. The prince asked again: 'Are you wives of the dragon king?' They replied: 'No. We are merely the dragon king's bondservants who guard the middle gate.' Having asked, the prince advanced to the inner gate, where he saw eight jade maidens spinning yellow gold thread. The prince asked: 'Who are you?' They replied: 'We are merely the dragon king's bondservants who guard the inner gate.' The prince said to them: 'Announce me to the great dragon king of the sea: "Crown Prince Kalyāṇamitra of the king of Vārāṇasī in Jambudvīpa has come intentionally to see you, and is now beneath the gate."' Then the gatekeeper reported this accordingly. When the king heard these words, he wondered at the cause and thought to himself: 'Unless one is a person of pure goodness and merit, there is no way one could have traveled from afar through such perilous paths.' He immediately invited him into the palace, and the king came out to welcome him.