傳法正宗記 3.12

3.12

Kapimala was a native of the kingdom of Pāṭaliputra. His original surname is not known. At first he was an outsider ascetic possessing great illusory arts. When he visited the Great Being Aśvaghoṣa and debated the Dharma with him, he was unsuccessful; consequently, together with his disciples, he sought renunciation. Once he had realised the noble path, Aśvaghoṣa entrusted the great Dharma-eye to him. Afterward, he wandered and converted beings until he reached Western India. It happened that the crown prince of that country, who was named Cloud of Sovereign Ease, felt great gratitude for the Great Being and wished to invite him to stay in his palace and receive offerings. The Great Being declined, saying, "The Buddha ordained that a śramaṇa may not become close to kings, ministers, or powerful families; I dare not comply with your command." The crown prince said, "If that is so, to the north of our city in this country there is a great mountain. On the mountain is a stone cave, pure and secluded from the worldly dust, where you may take dhyāna dwelling. Although it is guarded by monstrous dragons and serpents, with your utmost virtue, Venerable, they will surely be subdued and transformed." The Great Being assented and went along with him. Just as he reached the mountain, there indeed was a great python, about a li in length, glaring with angry eyes. The Great Being went straight forward without looking back, reached the south side of the mountain, and sat down on a flat clearing. The python then coiled around his body, but he still paid no heed to it. In a moment, the python left. When the Great Being looked back at the followers who had accompanied him, all had already scattered and fled; not a single one remained. Thereupon he went on alone, and as he was about to reach the stone cave, suddenly an old man in white garments came out, joined his palms, and paid homage. The Great Being asked, "Where do you dwell?" He replied, "Long ago I was once a monk (bhikṣu). I loved tranquility very much, and became annoyed by the questions of beginners. Because of this, I gave rise to anger; for that reason, upon dying I fell into the body of a python, dwelling in this cave, where it has now been a thousand years. Just now I encountered the Venerable One's noble virtue, and so I have come to pay respect." The Great Being then asked, "Who else dwells on this mountain? Is there anyone striving for the Path? Point him out so that I may know." The old man said, "Ten li north of here there is a gigantic tree, capable of sheltering five hundred great nāgas under its shade. The king of that tree, named Nāgārjuna, constantly preaches the Dharma for the host of nāgas, and I also attend to listen." The Great Being again assembled his disciples and led them forward. When they arrived at the gigantic tree, Nāgārjuna indeed came out to welcome him. Joyfully offering salutations, he asked, "In this deep mountain and lonely seclusion where dragons and serpents dwell, why has the Greatly Virtuous and Utmost Venerable One condescended to come here?" The Great Being said, "I am no utmost venerable one; I have come to visit a worthy." Nāgārjuna then silently calculated to himself, "Has this venerable one attained the definitive nature and clarified the eye of the Path? Is he a great sage carrying on the true lineage?" The Great Being said, "Though you merely conceived this in your mind, I already know it with my thought. If you can only renounce the household life, why worry whether I am a sage or not?" Thereupon Nāgārjuna repented and apologised, and the Great Being immediately conferred ordination on him. Before long, he commanded him, saying, "I now entrust the Tathāgata's great Dharma-eye treasury to you to transmit. Listen to my verse:"