經律異相 42.11

42.11

Formerly, inside the city of Śilāveśma, there were three householders. The first was named Jāli, the second was named Pūtina, and the third was named Bhāvana. These three were full brothers. They possessed abundant riches and valuables—elephants, horses, and the seven gems. There was a brāhmaṇa who kept the dragon Elāpatra's fast in the hope of wealth and status. The dragon manifested his body and said to the brāhmaṇa: "Why do you now toil so bitterly, abstaining from grains and renouncing flavours to keep this fast here? What is it you seek?" The brāhmaṇa said: "I hope for great wealth." The dragon said: "I have two names. The first is Elāpatra; the second is Insatiable of Wealth. Given that my name is Insatiable, do you still seek from me?" The brāhmaṇa said: "If you do not bestow it, I shall immediately perish." The dragon brought forth fine jambūnada gold to give to him, saying: "At the city gate there is a rich and noble elder who came from India. Take this gold and give it to him to ask for wealth and goods." The elder saw it and said to him: "Conceal it and do not let anyone see it." He told his five relations, made feast and made merry, and hid the gold in his treasury. The various articles in the treasury entirely sank back into the earth, returning to that dragon's treasury; and likewise it happened to the goods and riches of the seven neighbouring households. Hearing of this, the three householders said among themselves: "The riches acquired by our three households in accordance with Dharma will not end unjustly, nor be snatched away at random by the five adversaries." When the people of the state heard this, they regarded it as boastful talk. They gathered together at the three houses and asked the householders: "You say that because you acquired your wealth in accordance with Dharma it will never be unjustly lost: what proof can you show?" Then the three householders each produced ten catties of gold, divided it into six portions, and led the people along with the owners of the lost goods of the seven houses to the dragon spring, where they cast the gold into the water. The water all surged and boiled like a cauldron of boiling soup. The dragon king was terrified, and at once dispatched a dragon maiden to bring forth the gold and return it, apologizing and sending them back. What is obtained from the Dharma is accomplished through principle, and in the end cannot be encroached upon by the five adversaries; but those who fraudulently hoard wealth against the Dharma are like those seven households. (Extracted from the Bifang shili jing)