集神州三寶感通錄 3.67

3.67

漢桓帝時。沙門安清字世高者。安息國王之太子也。捨位出家入於聖果。自云。過去曾至廣州值一昔怨。見便唾手以刀逐之。高曰。卿之宿忿猶未除也。其人曰。真得汝矣。便申頸受刃。於彼命終。今生為太子。即高身也。有一同學好施多瞋。高曰。卿明經好施不在吾後。然多瞋忿命報如何。彼曰。物來相惱誠難忍之。冀受報時希垂拯濟。高然之。彼命終已。便於此土為䢼亭湖神。威力所統上下千里。祈禱給福分風㳂泝。高歷遊中原將往度之。寄載至湖。舟人奉牲請福。神曰。船上沙門可召來也。即召來至。神曰。吾昔與君本惟同學。但以多瞋故受神報。命在旦夕死入地獄。然此形骸恐污江湖。當徙於西岸。有布絹千匹并寶物。可用致福。高曰。故來相造敘昔舊緣。報至難免。長慨如何。可現真形。心願盡矣神曰。醜形可恥。如何示人。高曰。但出無損。神乃從座後出身。乃是大蟒。伸頸至高膝上。高見已淚出如泉。蟒亦下泣。便作胡唄三契為除。鱗內小虫又作胡語數百言已。蟒便漸隱。高命舟人盡取財寶。載往豫章舉帆西引。蟒又登山出身極望。夜宿江浦。有青衣者上船曰。蒙為興福得免苦趣極受安樂。高以其物為造東寺。明日江西澤中有一死蟒。頭尾相去極遠。今潯陽蛇頭蛇尾村是也。高重往廣州。問昔害者身猶尚在。執手解仇為善知識。又曰。小債未償須往會稽至市亂鬪。妄被打死云云。

In the time of Emperor Huan of the Han, there was the śramaṇa An Qing, courtesy name Shigao, who was the crown prince of the King of Parthia. Giving up the throne, he went forth from household life and attained holy fruition. He recounted of himself that in a past life he had once arrived in Guangzhou, where he encountered an old enemy. Upon seeing him, the man spat on his hands and pursued him with a knife. Shigao said, 'Your former grudge has still not been removed.' The man said, 'Now I truly have you!' [Shigao] then stretched out his neck and received the blade, meeting his end there. In this life he was born as the crown prince, and that was Shigao’s person. He had a fellow student who was fond of giving but possessed much anger. Shigao said, 'In your understanding of the scriptures and fondness for giving, you are not behind me; yet you have much anger and wrath—what will your karmic retribution be in your next life?' That person said, 'When things come to trouble me, it is truly difficult to bear. When I receive my retribution, I hope you will deign to rescue me.' Shigao consented. After that person died, he became the spirit of Gongting Lake in this land. His awe-inspiring power held sway over a thousand li upstream and downstream. He answered prayers, bestowed blessings, and divided the wind for those sailing with or against the current. Shigao traveled extensively through the Central Plains and was about to go and liberate him. Taking passage on a boat, he arrived at the lake. The boatmen offered sacrifices to pray for blessings. The spirit said, 'The śramaṇa on board the boat may be summoned here.' He was immediately summoned and arrived. The spirit said, 'Formerly, you and I were fellow students. But because of my frequent anger, I received the retribution of being a spirit. My life is ending at any moment, and upon death I will enter hell. However, fearing that this corporeal frame will pollute the rivers and lakes, it should be moved to the western shore. I have a thousand bolts of cloth and silk, along with precious objects, which may be used to cultivate merit.' Shigao said, 'I have purposely come to visit you and recount our former ties. When retribution arrives, it is difficult to avoid; what is the use of long lamentations? You may reveal your true form, and my mind's wish will be completely fulfilled.' The spirit said, 'My hideous form is shameful; how could I show it to others?' Shigao said, 'Just come out; there will be no harm.' The spirit then emerged from behind the seat; it was indeed a giant python. It stretched its neck onto Shigao's knees. Seeing it, Shigao’s tears flowed like a spring, and the python also wept. [Shigao] then performed three sections of barbarian chanting to remove the small vermin within its scales, and moreover spoke several hundred words in a barbarian tongue. After that, the python gradually withdrew into hiding. Shigao ordered the boatmen to take all the wealth and treasures, loaded them toward Yuzhang, and hoisted sail heading west. The python again ascended the mountain, showing its body to gaze into the far distance. Spending the night at a river port, a person in dark-blue clothing boarded the boat and said, 'Having received the cultivation of merit on my behalf, I have been spared the realms of suffering and have attained the utmost peace and joy.' Shigao used those goods to build the Eastern Temple for him. The next day, in the marshes west of the river, there was a dead python; its head and tail were extremely far apart. The present Snake Head and Snake Tail Villages of Xunyang are named for this. Shigao again went to Guangzhou, inquired whether the person who had formerly slain him was still alive, took his hand to resolve the enmity, and became his good friend. He also said, 'A small debt has not yet been repaid; I must go to Kuaiji.' When he reached the marketplace there was a riotous brawl, and he was mistakenly beaten to death, and so forth.