傳法正宗定祖圖 1.27

1.27

The Twelfth Patriarch, Aśvaghoṣa, was a man of the country of Vārāṇasī; his clan and surname are not known. He initially followed Puṇyayaśas, left home, and received the precepts. His master explained to him his past karmic connections, saying: "In the past, you once transformed the people of a certain country who were naked like horses, and those people neighed sorrowfully, yearning for your virtue; because of this, you are called Aśvaghoṣa (Horse Neigh)." Traveling and transforming, he reached the country of Pāṭaliputra, where he subdued the great demon Kapimala, subjugating him and taking him as a disciple. When about to enter parinirvāṇa, he transmitted the Dharma to him, speaking a verse, saying: