法苑珠林 87.35

87.35

又依灌頂經云。佛在舍衛國與大眾說法。於是異道有一鹿頭梵志。來到佛所稽首作禮。胡跪合掌白佛言。久聞瞿曇。名聲遠振。令欲捨置異學受三自歸并五戒法。佛言。善哉善哉。梵志。汝能捨置餘道歸命我者。當自悔過。生死之罪。其劫無量。不可稱計。梵志言諾。受教即淨身口意。復作是言。唯願世尊。施我法戒。終身奉行。不敢毀缺。佛告梵志。汝能一心更三自歸已。我當為汝及十方人。勅天帝釋所遣諸鬼神。以護男子女輩受三歸者。梵志因問佛言。何等是耶。願欲聞之。開化十方諸受歸者。佛言。如是灌頂善神。今當為汝略說三十六。

Furthermore, according to the Abhiṣeka-sūtra: The Buddha was in the country of Śrāvastī preaching the Dharma to the great assembly. There was a deer-headed brāhmaṇa of an alien path who came to the Buddha's abode, bowed his head in homage, knelt on his right knee with palms joined, and said to the Buddha: "For a long time I have heard Gautama's fame reverberating far and wide. Now I wish to abandon alien studies and receive the three self-refuges together with the five precepts." The Buddha said: "Excellent, excellent, brāhmaṇa! That you can abandon other paths and take refuge in me—you should repent of your transgressions. The sins of saṃsāra span immeasurable kalpas, beyond calculation." The brāhmaṇa assented, received the instruction, and immediately purified his body, speech, and mind. He further spoke these words: "I only pray that the World-Honoured One grant me the Dharma precepts, which I shall uphold for the rest of my life and never dare violate or break." The Buddha addressed the brāhmaṇa: "If you can with single-mindedness further receive the three self-refuges, I shall, for you and the people of the ten directions, command the various spirits and ghosts dispatched by Śakra, the lord of gods, to protect men and women who receive the three refuges." The brāhmaṇa then asked the Buddha: "What are they? We wish to hear of them, so as to instruct and transform those in the ten directions who receive the refuges." The Buddha said: "Of such good spirits of abhiṣeka, I shall now briefly explain thirty-six for you: