眾經撰雜譬喻 1.22

1.22

行者求道，不得貪著好美色，若貪破人功德之本。譬如昔有一阿羅漢，常入龍宮食，為龍說法。食已出於龍宮，持鉢授與沙彌，令洗鉢中殘數粒飯。沙彌噉之大香甚美，便作方便入師繩床下，兩手捉繩床脚，至時與繩床俱入龍宮。龍曰：「此未得道何以將來？」師言：「不覺不知。」沙彌得飯食，又見龍女身體端正香妙無比，心大貪著即作誓願：「我當奪此龍處，居其宮。」龍言：「後更莫復將此沙彌來。」沙彌還已，一心布施持戒，專求所願早作龍身。是時遶寺，足下水出，自知必得作龍，徑至師本所入處大池水邊，以袈裟覆頭而入水中，即死。返為大龍，福德大故即殺彼王，舉池盡赤。未爾之前，諸師眾僧皆呵罵之，沙彌言：「我心已定諸相已出。」將諸眾僧就池見之。以是因緣故，不當貪著好香美色，喪失善根見墮惡道。

When practitioners seek the path, they must not greedily cling to fine fragrances and beautiful forms; if they are greedy, it destroys the foundation of one's merit. For example, once an arhat would regularly enter the dragon palace to eat and preach the Dharma for the dragon. Having finished eating, he would emerge from the dragon palace and hand his bowl to a śrāmaṇera, having him wash the few remaining grains of rice in the bowl. The śrāmaṇera ate them; they were exceedingly fragrant and delicious. He then devised an upāya, getting under his master's corded bed and holding the legs of the corded bed with both hands; when the time came, he entered the dragon palace together with the corded bed. The dragon said: “This one has not attained the path; why did you bring him?” The master said: “I was unaware of it.” The śrāmaṇera obtained food and ate, and also saw that the dragon maiden's body was upright and graceful, fragrant and marvelous beyond compare. His heart was greatly attached, and he immediately made a vow: “I shall seize this dragon's place and dwell in his palace.” The dragon said: “Hereafter do not bring this śrāmaṇera again.” After returning, the śrāmaṇera practiced dāna and observed the precepts with single-minded devotion, exclusively seeking his wish to soon take on a dragon's body. At that time, as he circumambulated the monastery, water came out from under his feet; knowing for certain that he would become a dragon, he went straight to the edge of the large pool where his master had originally entered, covered his head with his kāṣāya, entered the water, and immediately died. He was reborn as a great dragon; because his merit was great, he immediately killed that king, and the whole pool turned entirely red. Before that, his masters and the saṃgha had all scolded him; the śrāmaṇera said: “My mind is already fixed, and the signs have already appeared.” He led the monks of the saṃgha to the pool to see it. Due to this cause and condition, one should not greedily cling to fine fragrances and beautiful forms, losing the roots of wholesome goodness and falling into the evil paths.