法苑珠林 5.104

5.104

又玄奘法師云。貞觀十三年。奘在中印度摩伽陀國那爛陀寺。見一俗人。說云。有一人好色。每承經言。修羅生男極醜生女端正。聞彼山內有阿修羅窟。別有宮殿。甚精殊好。同天佳妙。其人思欲。願見修羅女共為匹對。常受持呪精勤三年。三年將滿所祈遂願。其人先是弟子親友。臨去召弟子相伴同去。弟子于時亦隨同行。既呪有徵。遂到宮門。門首儻者極嚴。志誠求請門人令通夫人。門人為通具述來意。修羅女喜報守門人云。來者幾人。報云。二人。女報門人。呪者來入。同伴者且住門外。門人來報。誦呪者引入。弟子見引入已。自身不覺已到自家。舍南門立。自爾已來。更不知彼人消息。弟子因此發心捨家修道。願在伽藍供養三寶。其人具向奘法師述因緣。

Master Xuanzang also said: In the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, when Xuanzang was at Nālandā Monastery in the kingdom of Magadha in Central India, he saw a layman who recounted: There was a man fond of beauty who had always heard from the sūtras that male asuras are born extremely ugly while the females are born beautiful. Hearing that within that mountain there was an asura cave, with a separate palace that was exceedingly exquisite and fine, as splendid and wondrous as heaven, the man gave rise to lustful desire, wishing to see an asura maiden and take her as his mate. He constantly upheld a mantra with diligent vigour for three years. When the three years were nearly complete, his prayer was fulfilled as desired. This man had previously had a disciple who was a close friend; when he was about to depart, he called upon the disciple to accompany him. The disciple then went along with him. Once the mantra showed its sign of efficacy, they arrived at the palace gate. The gatekeeper was exceedingly stern. Sincerity and reverence in their entreaty, they asked the gatekeeper to report to the lady. The gatekeeper reported on their behalf, recounting in full their reason for coming. The asura maiden rejoiced and asked the gatekeeper: "How many people have come?" He replied: "Two persons." The maiden told the gatekeeper: "Let the reciter of the mantra enter; let his companion stay outside the gate for now." The gatekeeper came and reported, leading the mantra reciter inside. When the disciple saw him led inside, he found himself, without realising it, already at his own home, standing at the south gate of his house. From then on, he never had news of that man again. The disciple consequently gave rise to the aspiration to renounce the household life to cultivate the Way, wishing to make offerings to the Three Jewels in a monastery. That man recounted the entire story to Master Xuanzang.