傳法正宗記 3.17

3.17

The Great Being Nāgārjuna was a native of Western India. His original surname is not known in detail. Some say that he came from a Brahmin family. By nature, he was exceptionally intelligent and quick-witted, with outstanding talent and wisdom, hardly an ordinary vessel. In his youth he could already chant the four Vedic scriptures. As he grew older, he was proficient in astronomy and geography, and thoroughly comprehended the arts and techniques of the hundred schools; what he knew was like that of the divine spirits. Earlier, in his country, there was a mountain named Dragon Victory, which had long been a dwelling place for nāgas. On the mountain stood a gigantic tree that could shelter the host of nāgas under its shade. When the Great Being had an awakening and wished to renounce the household life, he entered the mountain to cultivate the Path and relied on that tree. Moreover, he also thoroughly penetrated the profound meaning of the Tripiṭaka on his own, and was able to preach the Dharma to that host of nāgas; for this reason, he acquired the name Nāgārjuna (Dragon Tree). When the Venerable Kapimala arrived at this mountain, their encounter was exceptionally felicitous. The Great Being, together with the host of nāgas, paid homage to him as their master. Just as his head was being shaved for ordination, the king of that country, along with Indra and Brahmā, all attended the magnificent assembly. Receiving the precepts from the great arhat, he immediately accomplished the noble path and attained the six supernatural powers. Kapimala soon entrusted the great Dharma-eye to him. Afterward, he wandered and converted beings until he reached South India. Prior to this, the people of that country were fond of cultivating karmic merit. When the Great Being arrived and preached the essentials of the correct Dharma, they spoke to one another in turn, saying, "Only promoting merit is the supreme endeavor; how could this talk of Buddha-nature ever be seen?" The Great Being therefore said to them, "If you people wish to see the Buddha-nature, you must eliminate self-pride; only then can you reach it." The people asked, "Is the Buddha-nature large or small?" He replied, "It is neither small nor large, neither broad nor narrow; it has neither merit nor retribution, neither dying nor being born." Since what the Great Being spoke reached the utmost principle, the multitude of people were all delighted and wished to learn his Dharma. Thereupon the Great Being transformed his body on the seat into the likeness of a moon disc. Though the assembly at that time heard the preaching of the Dharma, they could not see his form. It happened that there was an elder's son named Kāṇadeva among the people who looked at it, and he alone was able to resonate and awaken. He hastily said to the assembly, "Do you recognise this mark?" The assembly said, "It is not something we can discern." Deva said, "This is merely the Great Being manifesting it to signify the Buddha-nature, wanting us to examine it closely. The signless samādhi has a shape like the full moon; the meaning of the Buddha-nature is vastly void and luminous." As soon as his words ended, the mark of the disc suddenly disappeared. The Great Being once again sat solemnly on his original seat and spoke a verse, saying: