高僧傳 9.8

9.8

The water source of the moat of the city of Xiangguo lay five li northwest of the city, beneath the Tuanwan shrine; its water suddenly dried up. Le asked Deng how water could be brought. Deng said: 'Now we must command the dragon.' Le's style name was Shilong ('Generational Dragon'); thinking Deng was mocking him, he replied: 'It is precisely because the dragon cannot bring water that I am asking you.' Deng said: 'These are sincere words, not a jest. At the source of the spring, there must be a divine dragon dwelling. If we go now and command it, water can certainly be obtained.' He then went to the spring source with several disciples, including Fashou. The old site of the source had long been dry, cracked like carriage ruts. His followers harbored doubts, fearing that water would be difficult to obtain. Deng sat on a rope bed, burned benzoin incense, and made praṇidhānas of several hundred words. After three days of this, water began to trickle gently. A small dragon, about five or six inches long, emerged following the water. When the various Daoist masters saw it, they vied to go and look at it. Deng said: 'The dragon is venomous; do not go near it.' After a short while, a great rush of water arrived, and the moats and ditches were completely filled.