三寶感應要略錄 1.93

1.93

The śramaṇa An Shigao was the crown prince of the King of Parthia. With supreme filial piety, he traveled to convert others. He went to Yuzhang and entered the shrine at Lake Gongting. The deity said to Shigao: "Formerly, in a foreign land, I left the household to become a practitioner of the Way; I loved practicing generosity, but did not maintain the precepts. Today I am here as the deity of Lake Gongting, governing a circumference of a thousand li. The precious curiosities offered by the common people are countless; this is the recompense for diminishing myself in my past life. Had I been able to maintain the precepts, my merit would have caused me to be born in heaven; because I broke the precepts, I fell into this deity's status. Master, you were my fellow student; meeting each other today, what grief and joy can express! My lifespan will end morning or evening, yet my ugly form is huge and long; I do not wish to cast off my life here and pollute the tidal waters. I should cross to the empty marsh west of the mountain, and when this body perishes, I fear falling into hell. I have a thousand bolts of silk in a stone casket, along with various goods; please erect a stupa for me and establish the Three Jewels, so that after passing away I may be born in a good realm. I deeply entrust this to you." Hearing this, Shigao wept profusely, and said to the deity: "Why not reveal your form and face so we may converse directly?" The deity said: "Due to the sin of breaking the precepts, my form is extremely ugly; seeing it, you will surely be terrified." Shigao said: "Just reveal it for a moment; my body will not be afraid." The deity poked its head out from behind the couch—it was indeed a great python! It reached beside Shigao's knees, its tears falling like rain; neither the length of its tail nor where it lay could be known. Shortly thereafter it withdrew behind the couch. Thereupon Shigao took the silk and goods, put them all into his boat, took his leave, and withdrew. The fellow companions immediately raised sail and set out. The deity again revealed its serpent body, climbed to the mountain summit, and watched them depart from afar. The crowd waved their hands, and only after did it rise and vanish. In an instant, they arrived at Yuzhang, and there in that region erected a Buddhist temple. The deity then moved west of the mountain where its life came to an end; its head and tail were more than forty li apart. Today's Snake Village in Xunyang Commandery is the place. Shigao returned to the commandery, and using the remaining goods from the shrine, built a two-story stupa at Waguan Monastery. Later, Shigao dreamed that the deity came and said: "Relying on the master's creation of merit, I have already cast off the python body."