三寶感應要略錄 2.19

2.19

Formerly, when the Buddha was in the world, there were five hundred merchants in the country of Śrāvastī who went out into the great ocean to seek rare gems together. They invited the monk Saṅgharakṣita to serve as their Dharma master. Before they reached the place of treasures, a dragon king came and held the ship fast. The merchants, terrified, looked up and asked, "What spirit is this that has made our ship halt?" At that time, the dragon king manifested his form and invited the monk Saṅgharakṣita. Overawed by his might, the merchants gave him up and departed. The dragon king was delighted and led him to his palace. The dragon had four sons, all intelligent and wise. Becoming Saṅgharakṣita's disciples, they said, "Teach these four dragons for my sake, one Āgama for each. Teach the first dragon the Ekottarika-āgama; teach the second dragon the Madhyama-āgama; teach the third dragon the Saṃyukta-āgama; teach the fourth dragon the Dīrgha-āgama." Saṅgharakṣita then taught them. The first dragon listened and received it in silence. The second dragon closed his eyes and recited it with his mouth. The third dragon turned his head away as he listened and received it. The fourth dragon stood far off as he listened and received it. These four dragon sons were intelligent and wise; within six months, they recited the four Āgamas, retaining them completely in their minds without any omission. At that time, the great dragon inquired, "Are you not grieved and weary?" Saṅgharakṣita replied, "I am exceedingly grieved and weary. Why? Those who receive and uphold the Dharma must observe proper deportment. These dragon sons belong to the animal realm and have no mind for deportment, failing to receive, uphold, recite, and practice in accordance with the Buddha's Dharma." The dragon king said, "The Venerable One should not scold them. It was to protect the Master's life. Dragons possess four kinds of poison, so they could not receive, uphold, recite, and practice in the usual manner. Why? He who received it in silence did so because of his vocal poison: had he made a sound, it would surely have taken the Master's life; therefore he received it in silence. He who received it with closed eyes did so because of his gaze poison. He who received it with averted head did so because of his grasping poison. He who received it standing far off did so because of his contact poison." At that time, the merchants returned to the place where they had lost their master. The dragon, knowing the merchants' minds, immediately returned Saṅgharakṣita to them, and so forth. Even dragons strive to recite it; how much more should human beings!