經律異相 44.78

44.78

Formerly, a person used three coins to make an offering and prayed for three wishes: first, that in the future he might become a king; second, that he might understand the speech of all living beings; third, that he might have abundant wisdom. When the person died, he was born into a commoner's family, his appearance upright and handsome. The king recruited attendants, and this boy answered the recruitment and was able to serve at the king's side. Seeing a swallow in its nest, he looked up, watched it, and laughed. The king asked why he laughed, and he replied: 'The swallow said: "I have obtained a dragon girl whose hair is one hundred feet long; call our companions to look at her!"' The king said: 'If it is truly so, that is fine; if there is no such person, I will kill you.' Sending someone to check, they indeed found her. The king wished to take the girl as his wife, and said to the boy: 'You understand the speech of birds and must certainly have many strategies. I will provide you with provisions; go find this woman! If you find her, you will be richly rewarded; if you do not find her, I will kill you and your household.' Braving death, the boy went toward the Eastern Sea. He saw two men quarreling over an invisibility cap, water-walking boots, and a life-and-death staff. The boy said: 'Why make such a fuss? I will shoot an arrow, and you two chase it; whichever of you gets it first, I will give him these three items.' They said: 'Very well.' He drew his bow and shot an arrow, and the two men competed in running. The boy took the cap, put on the boots, seized the staff, and went straight into the sea to the dragon's abode. Taking off the invisibility cap, he let the dragon girl see him. Women have much desire, so she took a disc of gold and returned with the boy to the foreign country. The king sent someone to welcome her, ordering the woman to enter alone. The woman then went forward, and the boy, wearing the invisibility cap, followed the woman inside. Seeing that the king was ugly, the woman threw the gold at the king's forehead, breaking it, and he died. The boy took off the cap, went up to the hall with the woman, and called out in a loud voice: 'I shall be king, and the woman shall be queen, ruling supreme over all under Heaven!' (Taken from the Miscellaneous Parables Sūtra.)