法苑珠林 30.44

30.44

如大集經云。爾時一切諸天。一切諸龍。乃至一切迦吒富單那等。於三寶中得增上信。作如是言。我等一切從今以往護持正法。若諸國王見有如是為佛出家受持禁戒。乃至為佛𩮜鬚髮不受禁戒。受而毀犯。無可積聚。如其事緣。治其身罪鞭打之者。我等不復護持養育。如是國王捨離彼國。以捨離故令其國土而有種種諂詐鬪諍疫病飢饉三兵俱起。非時風雨亢旱毒熱傷害苗稼。令其國土所有世尊聲聞弟子悉向他國。使其國土空無福田。若有世尊聲聞弟子乃至但著袈裟片者。若有宰官鞭打彼等。其剎利王不遮護者。我等亦當出其國土。

As stated in the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra: At that time, all the devas, all the nāgas, and even down to all the kaṭapūtanas and the like obtained supreme faith in the Three Jewels. They spoke thus: "All of us, from this day forth, will protect and maintain the saddharma. If the kings of various countries see those who have gone forth for the sake of the Buddha and received and observed the prohibitive precepts, down to those who have shaved their beard and hair for the sake of the Buddha but have not received the prohibitive precepts, or have received and violated them, possessing no accumulations, and [the kings] punish their bodily crimes and flog them on account of such circumstances, we will no longer protect, maintain, and nurture [them]. We will abandon such kings and depart from their countries. Because of our abandoning and departing, their states will suffer diverse flatteries, deceptions, contentions, pestilences, famines, and the three kinds of warfare all arising together. Unseasonal winds and rains, severe droughts, and virulent heat will harm the sprouts and crops. All the śrāvaka disciples of the World-Honoured One in their countries will entirely depart for other lands, rendering their lands empty of puṇyakṣetras. If there are śrāvaka disciples of the World-Honoured One, down to those who merely wear a scrap of kāṣāya, and if there are governing officials who flog them while the kṣatriya king does not prevent and protect them, we shall also depart from their countries."