大唐西域記 3.19

3.19

昔毘盧釋迦王前伐諸釋，四人拒軍者，宗親擯逐，各事分飛。其一釋種，既出國都，跋涉疲弊，中路而止。時有一雁，飛趣其前，既以馴狎，因即乘焉。其雁飛翔，下此池側。釋種虛遊，遠適異國，迷不知路，假寐樹陰。池龍少女，遊覽水濱，忽見釋種，恐不得當也，變為人形，即而摩拊。釋種驚寤，因即謝曰：「羈旅羸人，何見親拊？」遂欵殷勤，凌逼野合。女曰：「父母有訓，祗奉無違。雖蒙惠顧，未承高命。」釋種曰：「山谷杳冥，爾家安在？」曰：「我此池之龍女也。敬聞聖族流離逃難，幸因遊覽，敢慰勞弊。命有讌私，未聞來旨。況乎積禍，受此龍身，人畜殊途，非所聞也。」釋種曰：「一言見允，宿心斯畢。」龍女曰：「敬聞命矣，唯所去就。」釋種乃誓心曰：「凡我所有福德之力，令此龍女舉體成人。」福力所感，龍遂改形，既得人身，深自慶悅。乃謝釋種曰：「我積殃運，流轉惡趣。幸蒙垂顧，福力所加，曠劫弊身，一旦改變。欲報此德，糜軀未謝。心願陪遊，事拘物議。願白父母，然後備禮。」龍女還池，白父母曰：「今者遊覽，忽逢釋種，福力所感，變我為人，情存好合，敢陳事實。」龍王心欣人趣，情重聖族，遂從女請。乃出池而謝釋種曰：「不遺非類，降尊就卑，願臨我室，敢供灑掃。」釋種受龍王之請，遂即其居。於是龍宮之中，親迎備禮，燕爾樂會，肆極歡娛。釋種覩龍之形，心常畏惡，乃欲辭出。龍王止曰：「幸無遠舍，隣此宅居，當令據疆土，稱大號，總有臣庶，祚延長世。」釋種謝曰：「此言非冀。」龍王以寶劍置篋中，妙好白㲲，而覆其上。謂釋種曰：「幸持此㲲以獻國王，王必親受遠人之貢，可於此時害其王也。因據其國，不亦善乎？」釋種受龍指誨，便往行獻；烏仗那王躬舉其㲲，釋種執其袂而刺之。侍臣、衛兵諠亂階陛，釋種麾劍告曰：「我所杖劍，神龍見授，以誅後伏，以斬不臣。」咸懼神武，推尊大位。於是沿弊立政，表賢恤患。已而動大眾，備法駕，即龍宮而報命，迎龍女以還都。龍女宿業未盡，餘報猶在、每至讌私，首出九龍之頭。釋種畏惡，莫知圖計，伺其寐也，利刃斷之。龍女驚寐曰：「斯非後嗣之利，非徒我命有少損傷，而汝子孫當苦頭痛。」故此國族常有斯患，雖不連綿，時一發動。釋種既沒，其子嗣位，是嗢呾羅犀那王（唐言上軍）。

In old days Pi-lu-tse-kia (Virūḍhaka-rāja) having led his army to attack the Śākyas, four of the tribe resisted the advance. These were driven away by their clansmen, and each fled in a different direction. One of the Śākyas, having left the capital of the country, and being worn out by travel, sat down to rest in the middle of the road. There appeared now a wild goose, who, in his flight (progress), alighted before him; and because of his docile ways, he at last mounted on his back. The goose then flying away, took him to the side of this lake. By this mode of conveyance the Śākya fugitive visited different kingdoms in various directions. Once having mistaken his way, he went to sleep by the side of the lake under the shadow of a tree. At this time a young Naga maiden was walking beside the lake, and suddenly espied the Sakya youth. Fearing that she might not be able otherwise to accomplish her wish, she transformed herself into a human shape and began to caress him. The youth, because of this, awoke affrighted from his sleep, and addressing her said, "I am but a poor wanderer worn out with fatigue; why then do you show me such tenderness?" In the course of matters the youth, becoming deeply moved, prayed her to consent to his wishes. She said, "My father and mother require to be asked and obeyed in this matter.

You have favoured me with your affection, but they have not yet consented." The Sakya youth replied, "The mountains and valleys (surround us) with their mysterious shades; where then is your home?" She said, "I am a Naga maiden belonging to this pool. I have heard with awe of your holy tribe having suffered such things, and of your being driven away from home to wander here and there in consequence. I have fortunately been able, as I wandered, to administer somewhat to your comfort, and you have desired me to yield to your wishes in other respects, but I have received no commands to that effect from my parents. Unhappily, too, this the curse following my evil deeds." The Sakya youth answered, "One word uttered from the ground of the heart and agreed to (by us both) and this

She said, "I respectfully obey your to approach orders; let that follow whatever it be." Then the Sakya youth said, "By the power of my accumulated merit let this Naga woman be turned into human shape." The woman was immediately so converted. On seeing herself thus restored to human shape she was overjoyed, and gratefully addressed the Sakya youth thus: "By my evil deeds (through the accumulation of evil deeds), I have been compelled to migrate through evil forms of birth, till now happily, by the power of your religious merit, the body which I have possessed through many kalpas has been changed in a moment. My gratitude is boundless, nor could it be expressed if I wore my body to dust (with frequent prostrations). Let me but acquaint my father and mother; I will then follow you and obey you in all things."

The Naga maiden then returning to the lake addressed her father and mother, saying, "Just now, as I was wandering abroad, I lighted upon a Sakya youth, who by the power of his religious merit succeeded in changing me into human form. Having formed an affection for me, he desires to marry me. I lay before you the matter in its truth." The Naga-raja was rejoiced to see his daughter restored to human form, and from a true affection to the holy tribe he gave consent to his daughter's request. Then proceeding from the lake, he expressed his deep gratitude to the Sakya youth, and said, "You have not despised creatures of other kinds, and have condescended to those beneath you. I pray you come to my abode, and there receive my humble services." The Sakya youth having accepted the Naga-raja's invitation, went forthwith to his abode. On this all the family of the Naga received the youth with extreme reverence, and desired to delight his mind by an excess of feasting and pleasure; but the youth, seeing the dragon forms of his entertainers, was filled with affright and disgust, and he desired to go. The Naga-raja detaining him said, "Of your kindness depart not. Occupy a neighbouring abode; I will manage to make you master of this land and to obtain a lasting fame. All the people shall be your servants, and your dynasty shall endure for successive ages." The Sakya youth expressed his gratitude, and said, "I can hardly expect your words to be fulfilled."

Then the Naga-raja took a precious sword and placed it in a casket covered with white camlet, very fine and beautiful, and then he said to the Sakya youth, "Now of your kindness go to the king and offer him this white camlet as a tribute. The king will be sure to accept it as the offering of a remote (distant) person; then, as he takes it, draw forth the sword and kill him. Thus you will seize his kingdom. Is it not excellent?" The Sakya youth receiving the Naga's directions, went forthwith to make his offering to the king of U-chang-na (Udyana). When the king was about to take the piece of white camlet, then the youth took hold of his sleeve, and pierced him with the sword. The attendant ministers and the guards raised a great outcry and ran about in con- :i. The Sakya youth, waving the sword, cried out, s sword that I hold was given me by a holy Naga wherewith to punish the contumelious and subdue the affrighted at the divine warrior, they submitted, and gave him tin- .is ho led abuses and established order; he advanced the good and relieved the in,: ml then with a great c<> palace to acquaint • ii the cumpleliui. ^ing; and then taking his wife he went back to the capital. Now the former demerits of the Naga girl were not yet effaced, and their consequences still remained. Every time he went to rest by her side, from her head came forth the ninefold crest of the Naga.

The Sakya prince, filled with affright and disgust, hitting on no other plan, waited till she slept, and then cut off (the dragon's crest) with his sword. The Naga girl, alarmed, awoke and said, "This will bring no good hereafter to your posterity; it will not be ineffectual in slightly afflicting me during my life, and your children and grandchildren will all suffer from pains in the head." And so the royal line of this country are ever afflicted with this malady, and although they are not all so continually, yet every succession brings a worse affliction. After the death of the Sakya youth his son succeeded under the name of Uttarasena (U-ta-lo-si-na).