法苑珠林 92.21

92.21

時諸商人俛仰不已。將僧護比丘捨與龍王。龍王歡喜將詣宮中。爾時龍王即以四龍聰明智慧者。作僧護弟子。龍王白言。尊者為我教此四龍各一阿含。第一龍者。教增一阿含。第二龍者。教中阿含。第三龍者。教雜阿含。第四龍者。教長阿含。僧護答曰。可爾。僧護即教第一龍者。默然聽受。第二龍者。眠目口誦。第三龍者。迴顧聽受。第四龍者。遠住聽受。此四龍子聰明智慧。於六月中誦四阿含。領在心懷盡無遺餘。時大龍王詣僧護所。拜跪問訊不愁悶耶。僧護答曰。甚大愁悶。龍王問曰。何故愁悶。僧護答曰。受持法者要須軌則。此諸龍等在畜生道無軌則心。不如佛法受持誦習。龍王白言。大德不言呵諸龍等。所以者何。以護師命故作此聽。龍有四毒。不得如法受持讀誦。何以故。初默受者。以聲毒故。不得如法。若出聲者。必害師命。是故默然而受。第二閉目受者。以見毒故。不得如法。若見師者必害師命。是故閉目而受。第三迴顧受者。以氣毒故。不得如法。若氣噓師必害師命。是以迴顧而受。第四遠住受者。以觸毒故。不得如法。若身觸師必害師命。是以遠住而受。時諸商人採寶迴還。至失師處。共相謂言。我等本時於此失師。今若還到佛所。舍利弗目連諸尊者等。若問於我僧護法師何在。當以何答。爾時龍王知商人還。即持僧護來付商人。告商人曰。此是汝師僧護比丘。時諸商人踊躍歡喜。平安得出。

At that time, the merchants hesitated endlessly, [but finally] took the bhikṣu Saṅgharakṣita and gave him up to the dragon king. The dragon king was delighted and led him to his palace. Then the dragon king took four dragons who were clever and wise to be disciples of Saṅgharakṣita. The dragon king addressed him, saying, 'May the Venerable One teach each of these four dragons one of the Āgamas for me. Teach the first dragon the Ekottarāgama; teach the second dragon the Madhyamāgama; teach the third dragon the Saṃyuktāgama; and teach the fourth dragon the Dīrghāgama.' Saṅgharakṣita replied, 'So be it.' Saṅgharakṣita then taught the first dragon, who received it in silence. The second dragon closed his eyes and recited aloud. The third dragon turned his head away while listening and receiving it. The fourth dragon stood at a distance while listening and receiving it. These four young dragons were clever and wise; within six months they had memorized the four Āgamas, grasping them entirely in their hearts without leaving anything out. Then the great dragon king went to Saṅgharakṣita's dwelling, bowed and prostrated, asking after his wellbeing, 'Are you not dejected?' Saṅgharakṣita replied, 'I am exceedingly dejected.' The dragon king asked, 'Why are you dejected?' Saṅgharakṣita answered, 'One who receives and upholds the Dharma requires proper comportment. These dragons, being in the animal destiny, have no mind for proper comportment, and have not received, upheld, recited, and practiced in accordance with the Buddha's Dharma.' The dragon king addressed him, saying, 'Venerable, do not speak reproaching these dragons. Why is this? It was to protect the Master's life that they listened in this manner. Dragons possess four poisons, so they could not receive, uphold, and recite according to the normal rules. Why? The first, who received it in silence, did so because of his voice-poison; he could not act according to the normal rules, for if he uttered a sound, it would surely kill the Master; therefore he received it in silence. The second, who received it with closed eyes, did so because of his gaze-poison; he could not act according to the normal rules, for if he looked upon the Master, it would surely kill the Master; therefore he received it with closed eyes. The third, who received it with head turned away, did so because of his breath-poison; he could not act according to the normal rules, for if his breath blew upon the Master, it would surely kill the Master; therefore he received it with head turned away. The fourth, who received it standing at a distance, did so because of his touch-poison; he could not act according to the normal rules, for if his body touched the Master, it would surely kill the Master; therefore he received it standing at a distance.' Meanwhile, the merchants, having gathered their jewels and returning, reached the place where they had lost their master. They said to one another, 'Originally, we lost our master here. If we now return to the Buddha's dwelling, and the Venerables such as Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana ask us where the Dharma Master Saṅgharakṣita is, how shall we reply?' At that time, the dragon king knew that the merchants had returned; he then brought Saṅgharakṣita and handed him back to the merchants, saying to them, 'This is your master, the bhikṣu Saṅgharakṣita.' Then the merchants leaped with joy, and they departed safely.