高僧傳 2.46

2.46

讖明解呪術，所向皆驗，西域號為「大呪師」。後隨王入山，王渴須水不能得，讖乃密呪，石出水，因贊曰：「大王惠澤所感，遂使枯石生泉。」隣國聞者皆歎王德。于時雨澤甚調，百姓歌詠，王悅其道術，深加優寵。頃之，王意稍歇，待之漸薄，讖以久處致厭，乃辭往罽賓。齎《大涅槃前分》十卷并《菩薩戒經》、《菩薩戒本》等。彼國多學小乘，不信《涅槃》，乃東適龜茲。頃之，復進到姑臧，止於傳舍。慮失經本，枕之而寢。有人牽之在地，讖驚覺，謂是盜者。如此三夕，聞空中語曰：「此如來解脫之藏，何以枕之！」讖乃慚悟，別置高處。夜有盜之者，數過提舉，竟不能勝，明旦讖將經去，不以為重，盜者見之，謂是聖人，悉來拜謝。

Dharmakṣema clearly understood spellcraft (mantra/dhāraṇī), and wherever he applied it, it was effective; in the Western Regions he was called the "Great Master of Spells." Later he followed the king into the mountains. The king was thirsty and needed water but could not find any. Dharmakṣema then silently chanted a spell, and water came forth from a rock. He then praised: "It is the influence of the Great King's benevolent bounty that has caused a spring to spring forth from a dry rock." Neighboring countries that heard of it all praised the king's virtue. At that time, rainfall was very well regulated, and the common people sang praises. The king was pleased with his supernatural arts and treated him with deep favor. After a while, the king's favor gradually waned, and he treated him more coldly. Dharmakṣema, realizing that staying long invited weariness, took his leave and went to Jibin (Kashmir). He carried the earlier portion of the Mahānirvāṇa-sūtra in ten fascicles, together with the Bodhisattvacaryā-sūtra, the Bodhisattva-prātimokṣa, and others. That country mostly studied the Hīnayāna and did not believe in the Nirvāṇa, so he went east to Kucha. Soon afterwards, he advanced further to Guzang and stayed at a post station. Fearing that he might lose the sūtra manuscript, he used it as a pillow to sleep on. Someone dragged him to the ground. Dharmakṣema woke with a start, thinking it was a thief. After three nights like this, he heard a voice in the air say: "This is the Tathāgata's treasury of liberation; why do you use it as a pillow?" Dharmakṣema felt ashamed and awakened [to his fault], placing it separately in a high place. At night, thieves tried to steal it, attempting several times to lift it, but in the end they could not raise it. The next morning, Dharmakṣema carried the sūtra away without finding it heavy. Seeing this, the thieves considered him a holy man and all came to bow and apologize.