經律異相 18.48

18.48

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*.)