法苑珠林 46.13

46.13

At that time, in that assembly, there was a blind dragon-woman whose mouth was festering and swollen, filled with various insects, resembling feces and urine, and so filthy and vile that it was like the foul, rancid, unwatchable impurity of a woman's genital organ. Various [insects] devoured it, while pus and blood flowed out. Her entire body was constantly bitten and eaten by mosquitoes, horseflies, and various venomous flies. The stench of her body was difficult to behold or smell. At that time, the World-Honoured One, with great compassion, seeing that dragon-woman blind and tormented by suffering in this way, asked her: “Sister, by what causes and conditions have you obtained this wretched body? What karma did you commit in past lives?” The dragon-woman replied: “World-Honoured One, my present body is oppressed by numerous sufferings without ceasing for even a moment. Even if I wished to speak, I could not express it. I recall that for thirty-six hundred million years, across hundreds of thousands of lives, I have been born among evil dragons and endured such suffering, not stopping day or night for even an instant. In my past ninety-one kalpas ago, during the Dharma of Vipaśyin Buddha, I was a nun. My longing for sensual desire exceeded that of a drunkard. Although I went forth into the homeless life, I could not live according to the Dharma; within the saṃghārāma, I violated the monastic rules and precepts. I have constantly undergone burning and boiling in the three evil destinies.” Having spoken these words, [she said,] “May you save and rescue my body!” Then the World-Honoured One, having uttered words of truth, immediately poured a little water into the dragon’s mouth. The fire, insects, and pus were all completely extinguished and removed. The dragon’s mouth became cool and refreshing. She spoke these words: “O Great Sage Tathāgata, I recall that in the past, at the time of Kāśyapa Buddha, I was once a layperson ploughing a field. A monk came asking to beg fifty coins from me. At that time, I replied, ‘Wait until the grain is ripe, and I will give you food.’ The monk said again, ‘If fifty cannot be obtained, I beg for ten coins.’ At that time, I became angry with that monk and told him, ‘I will not even give you ten coins!’ The monk then felt resentment. At another time, I went to the monastery, entered beneath a grove of trees, and straightaway stole ten mangoes belonging to the present Saṃgha and ate them privately. Due to the causes and conditions of that karma, I suffered pain in hell. With the evil karma not yet exhausted, I was born in the marshes with the body of a hungry dragon, constantly devoured by various insects, with pus and blood overflowing, afflicted by hunger and thirst. Furthermore, because of the evil karmic condition of his wrathful mind, when that monk died, he immediately became a small venomous dragon, born under my armpit, sucking my blood. The heat touching my body was unbearable; for this reason, my body is full of boiling pus and blood.” The dragon said to the Buddha: “O Greatly Compassionate World-Honoured One! We pray only that you take pity, save and rescue me, and allow me to escape from that enemy venomous dragon.” Then the World-Honoured One scooped up water with his hand and made a truthful declaration, saying: “In the past, during an age of famine, I made a vow at that time to become a creature with an immense body, immeasurably long and wide. Through spiritual power, I proclaimed in the open air: ‘In that marsh, there is a large creature named 不瞋 (Free from Anger). You may go and take its flesh to eat, and you will not starve.’ At that time, when the humans, non-humans, and others in that world heard this voice, they all went and vied to take and eat it.” When these truthful and faithful words were spoken, the small dragon under that dragon’s armpit immediately came out. Then both dragons spoke together to the Buddha: “World-Honoured One, how long will it be before we depart from these dragon bodies and be liberated from these offenses and calamities?” The Buddha told the dragons: “This karma is extremely heavy, second only to the five deeds of immediate retribution (ānantarya). Why is this? If there are goods belonging to the permanent Saṃgha of the four quarters, or goods belonging to the present Saṃgha, or goods given with deep devotion by faithful donors—whether flower and fruit orchards, food, requisites for life, bedding, mats, or medicine for illness—and one privately uses any of these necessities, or takes them outside to give to acquaintances, relatives, or white-robed laypeople, this offense is heavier than the retribution suffered in Avīci hell. Therefore, you should receive the three refuges. Only after taking refuge in the Three Jewels can you go into cool water.” Having thus recited three times and received three times, their bodies immediately became peaceful and at ease, and they were able to enter the water. At that time, the World-Honoured One spoke verses for the dragons: