經律異相 16.28

16.28

In the kingdom of Kaśmīra, when the rice had just begun to form ears, the dragon king Aravāla poured down a great deluge of rain, drowning and destroying the rice crops. At that time, the Venerable Bhikṣu Madhyāntika and four others flew through the air from the kingdom of Pāṭaliputra to the edge of the snowy mountains, into Aravāla's pool. There, upon the water, they walked, stood, sat, and lay down. The dragon king's retinue went in and reported to the dragon king. Enraged, the dragon king displayed various supernormal powers: violent wind, torrential rain, thunder and lightning, mountain crags collapsing, trees snapping, his body emitting smoke and fire, and raining down large gravel and stones, intending to terrify the Venerable Madhyāntika. He also summoned an army, yet still could not subdue him. Madhyāntika said, "Even if you made all the devas and all worldly people come to terrify me, not a single hair of mine would stir. If you were to take Sumeru and various small mountains and fling them upon me, I would still not move." He then gradually instructed and showed him with the flavor of the Dharma, causing him to submit joyfully. Hearing the Dharma, the dragon king immediately received the refuges and precepts, becoming a disciple together with his retinue. The snowy mountain ghosts, yakṣas, gandharvas, and kumbhāṇḍa ghosts, hearing this, all believed and submitted, also becoming disciples; all perceived the traces of the Way. Madhyāntika told the dragons and ghosts, "From now on, do not give rise to anger, harm the people, or destroy the rice crops. You should give rise to compassion so that they may attain peace and happiness." They all bowed their heads and received his instruction and precepts. They offered a precious couch for Madhyāntika to sit upon; the dragon king stood in attendance, fanning him with a fan. The people of the kingdom of Gandhāra in Kaśmīra, seeing this, gave rise to great reverence; they all came to hear the Dharma, and many attained the fruits of the Way (from the second fascicle of the Samantapāsādikā).