景德傳燈錄 1.116

1.116

第十三祖迦毘摩羅者。華氏國人也。初為外道有徒三千通諸異論。後於馬鳴尊者得法領徒至西印度。彼有太子。名雲自在。仰尊者名請於宮中供養尊者曰。如來有教沙門不得親近國王大臣權勢之家。太子曰。今我國城之北有大山焉。山中有一石窟。師可禪寂于此否。尊者曰諾。即入彼山行數里逢一大蟒。尊者直進不顧。遂盤繞師身。師因與受三歸依。蟒聽訖而去。尊者將至石窟。復有一老人素服而出合掌問訊。尊者曰。汝何所止。答曰。我昔甞為比丘多樂寂靜。有初學比丘數來請益。而我煩於應答起瞋恨想。命終墮為蟒身。住是窟中今已千載。適遇尊者。獲聞戒法故來謝耳。尊者問曰。此山更有何人居止。曰北去十里有大樹蔭覆五百大龍。其樹王名龍樹。常為龍眾說法。我亦聽受耳。尊者遂與徒眾詣彼。龍樹出迎尊者曰。深山孤寂龍蟒所居。大德至尊何枉神足。師曰。吾非至尊來訪賢者。龍樹默念曰。此師得決定性明道眼否。是大聖繼真乘否。師曰。汝雖心語吾已意知。但辦出家。何慮吾之不聖。龍樹聞已悔謝。尊者即與度脫。及五百龍眾俱受具戒。復告龍樹曰。今以如來大法眼藏付囑於汝。諦聽偈言。

The thirteenth patriarch, Kapimala, was a person of the land of Pāṭaliputra. Originally an outsider (tīrthika), he had three thousand disciples and was thoroughly versed in the various non-Buddhist treatises. Later, having attained the Dharma from the Venerable Aśvaghoṣa, he led his disciples to Western India. There was a crown prince there named Yunjizai (Cloud Sovereign), who revered the Venerable's name and invited him into the palace to make offerings to him. The Venerable said, "The Tathāgata taught that śramaṇas must not associate closely with kings, ministers, and powerful families." The crown prince said, "Now, to the north of our royal city, there is a great mountain. Within the mountain there is a stone cave. Could the master practice dhyāna in tranquility there?" The Venerable said, "Yes." He then entered that mountain. Having walked several li, he encountered a great python. The Venerable proceeded straight ahead without looking back. Thereupon it coiled around the master's body. The master then conferred the three refuges upon it; having heard them, the python departed. As the Venerable was about to reach the stone cave, an old man in plain clothes came out, joined his palms, and inquired after him. The Venerable said, "Where do you dwell?" He answered, "In the past, I was once a bhikṣu who greatly delighted in quietude. There were novice bhikṣus who repeatedly came to seek instruction, and I grew annoyed with responding to them, giving rise to thoughts of resentment and hatred. At the end of my life, I fell into the body of a python, dwelling in this cave for a thousand years now. Just now I met the Venerable and was able to hear the rules of the precepts; therefore I have come to express my gratitude." The Venerable asked, "Who else resides in this mountain?" He replied, "Ten li to the north, there is a great tree that shelters five hundred great nāgas. The king of those trees is named Nāgārjuna; he constantly preaches the Dharma to the assembly of nāgas. I also listen and receive it." The Venerable then went there with his assembly of disciples. Nāgārjuna came out to welcome him, saying to the Venerable, "In the deep mountains, solitary and quiet, is where nāgas and pythons dwell. Most Virtuous and Foremost One, why have you deigned to direct your divine footsteps here?" The master said, "I am not the foremost one; I have come to visit a worthy." Nāgārjuna thought silently: "Has this master attained the determined nature and clarified the eye of the Way? Is he a great sage continuing the true vehicle?" The master said, "Although you speak in your mind, I already know your thoughts. Just prepare to leave the household; why worry whether I am a sage or not?" Having heard this, Nāgārjuna repented and apologized. The Venerable immediately delivered him, and along with the assembly of five hundred nāgas, they all received the full precepts. He further addressed Nāgārjuna, saying, "Now I entrust the Tathāgata's Great Dharma Eye Treasury to you. Listen attentively to the verse:"