法苑珠林 87.35

87.35

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: