經律異相 18.48

18.48

時摩偷羅國。有一男子。從優波笈多出家。多喜睡眠。笈多化作一鬼。而有七頭。手捉樹枝身懸空中。比丘見已即便驚覺。生大怖畏。還其本所。笈多語云。還坐禪處。比丘白言。和上彼林中有一鬼。七頭當我前。手捉樹枝懸在空中。甚可怖畏。笈多言。此鬼不足畏。睡眠最可畏。若比丘為此鬼所殺。必不入生死。若為睡眠所殺。則生死無窮。比丘即還坐禪處。復見此鬼。畏此鬼故不敢睡眠。是時比丘精進思惟。得阿羅漢果（出阿育王經第十卷）。

At that time, in the kingdom of Mathurā, there was a man who went forth under Upagupta. He was very fond of sleeping. Upagupta manifested a ghost that had seven heads, was holding a tree branch with its hands, and was suspended in the air. When the monk saw it, he was immediately startled awake, gave rise to great dread, and returned to his original place. Upagupta said to him, 'Return to the meditation place.' The monk addressed him, saying, 'Upādhyāya, in that grove there is a ghost. It has seven heads and stands before me, holding a tree branch with its hands and suspended in the air. It is exceedingly terrifying.' Upagupta said, 'This ghost is not worth fearing; sleep is what is most to be feared. If a monk is killed by this ghost, he will certainly not enter birth and death; but if killed by sleep, then birth and death will be endless.' The monk immediately returned to the meditation place and saw this ghost again. Because he feared this ghost, he did not dare sleep. At that time, the monk contemplated with vigor and attained the fruit of an arhat. (Extracted from the tenth fascicle of the *Aśokarāja-sūtra*.)