宋高僧傳 1.33

1.33

初，帝之第二十五公主甚鍾其愛，久疾不救，移臥於咸宜外館，閉目不語，已經旬朔。有勅令智授之戒法，此乃料其必終，故有是命。智詣彼，擇取宮中七歲二女子，以緋繒纏其面目，臥於地，使牛仙童寫勅一紙，焚於他所，智以密語呪之。二女冥然誦得，不遺一字。智入三摩地，以不思議力令二女持勅詣琰摩王。食頃間，王令公主亡保母劉氏護送公主魂隨二女至，於是公主起坐開目，言語如常。帝聞之，不俟仗衛，馳騎往于外館。公主奏曰：「冥數難移，今王遣迴，略覲聖顏而已。」可半日間，然後長逝。自爾帝方加歸仰焉。

Earlier, the Emperor's twenty-fifth princess was deeply cherished by his love. Having been ill for a long time without recovery, she was moved to lie in the Xianyi Outer Residence, where she kept her eyes closed and did not speak for more than a month. An imperial order was issued commanding Vajrabodhi to administer the precepts to her; this was because they expected her death was certain, hence this command. Vajrabodhi went there, selected two seven-year-old girls from the palace, wrapped their faces and eyes in crimson silk, and had them lie on the ground. He had Niu Xiantong write an imperial edict on a sheet of paper, which was burned in another place, while Vajrabodhi recited secret spells over them. The two girls recited it in their trance without missing a single word. Vajrabodhi entered samādhi, and through his inconceivable power commanded the two girls to take the edict and go to King Yama. Within the space of a meal, King Yama ordered the princess's deceased wet-nurse, Lady Liu, to escort the princess's soul back following the two girls. Thereupon the princess sat up, opened her eyes, and spoke as normal. When the Emperor heard this, he did not wait for his imperial guard and galloped on horseback to the outer residence. The princess memorialized: 'The underworld's span cannot be altered; the King has now sent me back merely to briefly behold Your Majesty's countenance.' After about half a day, she then passed away forever. From that time on, the Emperor increased his devotion and trust.