釋迦譜 1.473

1.473

爾時世尊。即便思惟。我今應度何等眾生。而能廣利一切人天。唯有優樓頻螺迦葉兄弟三人。在摩竭提國學於仙道。國王臣民皆悉歸信。又其聰明利根易悟。然其我慢亦難摧伏。我今當往而度脫之。思惟是已。即發波羅柰。趣摩竭提國。日將昏暮。往優樓頻螺迦葉住處。于時迦葉。忽見如來相好莊嚴。心大歡喜而作是言。年少沙門從何而來。佛即答言。我從波羅柰國當詣摩竭提。日既晚暮欲寄一宿。迦葉又言。寄宿止者甚不相違。但諸房舍悉弟子住。唯有石室極為潔淨。我事火具皆在其中。此寂靜處可得相容。然有惡龍。居在其內恐相害耳。佛又答言。雖有惡龍但以見借。迦葉又言。其性兇暴必當相害。非是有惜。佛又答言。但以見借必無辱也。迦葉又言。若能住者便自隨意。佛言善哉。即於其夕而入石室。結跏趺坐而入三昧。爾時惡龍。毒心轉盛舉體烟出。世尊即入火光三昧。龍見是已。火焰衝天焚燒石室。迦葉弟子。先見此火而還白師。彼年少沙門聰明端嚴。今為龍火之所燒害。迦葉驚起見彼龍火。心懷悲傷。即勅弟子。以水澆之水不能滅。火更熾盛石室融盡。爾時世尊。身心不動容顏怡然。降彼惡龍使無復毒。授三歸依置於鉢中。至天明已。迦葉師徒俱往佛所。年少沙門龍火猛烈。將無為此之所傷也。沙門借室。我昨所以不相與者正為此耳。佛言。我內清淨。終不為彼外災所害。彼毒龍者今在鉢中。即便舉鉢以示迦葉。迦葉師徒。見於沙門處火不燒。降伏惡龍置於鉢中。歎未曾有。語弟子言。年少沙門雖復神通。然故不如我道真也。

At that time, the World-Honoured One reflected: "Which sentient beings should I now cross over so as to broadly benefit all humans and devas? There are only the three brothers of Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa, who practice the path of the ṛṣis in the country of Magadha. The king, ministers, and common people all take refuge in and believe in them. Moreover, they are intelligent, of sharp faculties, and easy to awaken; yet their arrogance is also difficult to subdue. I should now go and deliver them." Having reflected thus, he set out from Vārāṇasī and proceeded toward the country of Magadha. As dusk fell, he went to the dwelling place of Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa. At that time, Kāśyapa suddenly saw the adorned marks and signs of the Tathāgata. His heart was filled with great joy, and he said: "Young śramaṇa, where have you come from?" The Buddha answered, saying: "I have come from the country of Vārāṇasī and am bound for Magadha. The day is now late, and I wish to lodge for a night." Kāśyapa said again: "Lodging for the night is not at all objectionable, but the chambers are all occupied by disciples. There is only a stone chamber that is extremely clean; my fire-worship implements are all inside it. This quiet place could accommodate you. However, there is a vicious nāga dwelling within it, and I fear it might harm you." The Buddha answered again: "Although there is a vicious nāga, just lend it to me." Kāśyapa said again: "Its nature is fierce and violent; it will certainly harm you. It is not that I begrudge it." The Buddha answered again: "Just lend it to me, and there will certainly be no disgrace." Kāśyapa said again: "If you can stay there, then suit yourself." The Buddha said: "Excellent." That evening, he entered the stone chamber, sat cross-legged, and entered samādhi. At that time, the venomous mind of the vicious nāga grew increasingly intense, and smoke issued from its entire body. The World-Honoured One immediately entered the fire-light samādhi. When the nāga saw this, flames shot up to the sky, burning the stone chamber. Kāśyapa's disciples saw this fire first and went back to report to their master: "That young śramaṇa was intelligent, dignified, and handsome, but now he is being burned and harmed by the nāga's fire." Kāśyapa arose in alarm, and seeing the fire of that nāga, felt grief in his heart. He immediately ordered his disciples to pour water on it, but the water could not extinguish it; the fire became even more blazing, and the stone chamber melted away completely. At that time, the World-Honoured One was unmoved in body and mind, his countenance serene. He subdued the vicious nāga so that it had no more poison, gave it the three refuges, and placed it in his bowl. When day broke, Kāśyapa and his disciples all went to the Buddha's dwelling [and said]: "Young śramaṇa, the nāga's fire was fierce; could it be that you were not harmed by it? When you asked to borrow the chamber, the reason I did not grant it to you yesterday was precisely because of this." The Buddha said: "I am pure within; I will never be harmed by external calamities. That venomous nāga is now inside my bowl." He then raised the bowl to show Kāśyapa. Kāśyapa and his disciples saw that the śramaṇa had stayed in the fire without being burned, and had subdued the vicious nāga and placed it in his bowl. Marveling at what was unprecedented, he said to his disciples: "Although this young śramaṇa possesses supernatural powers, he is still not equal to the truth of my path."