大唐西域記 6.3.2

6.3.2

I venture to ask you to detain your carriage awhile and condescend to visit my dwelling." The king replied, "And where is your dwelling? is it near at hand?" The Brahman said, "I am the Naga king of this lake. As I have heard that the great king desires to build a superior field of merit, I have ventured to ask you to visit my abode." The king, receiving this invitation, immediately entered the dragon precinct, and sitting there for some time, the Naga advanced towards him and said, "Because of my evil karma I have received this Naga body; by religious service to these sariras of Buddha I desire to atone for and efface my guilt. Oh, that the king would himself go and inspect (the stupa, or, the relics) with a view to worship. Asoka-raja having seen (the character of the place), was filled with fear, and said, "All these appliances for worship are unlike anything seen amongst men." The Naga said, "If it be so, would that the king would not attempt to destroy the stupa!" The king, seeing that he could not measure his power with that of the Naga, did not attempt to open the stupa (to take out the relics). At the spot where the dragon came out of the lake is an inscription to the above effect.