諸經要集 2.104

2.104

又阿育王經云。昔阿恕伽王見一七歲沙彌。將至屏處而為作禮。語沙彌言。莫向人道我禮汝。時沙彌前有一澡瓶。沙彌即入其中。從澡瓶中復還來出。而語言。王慎莫向人道沙彌入澡瓶中復還來出。王即語沙彌言。我當現向人說。不復得隱。是以諸經皆云。沙彌雖小亦不可輕。王子雖小亦不可輕。龍子雖小亦不可輕。沙彌雖小能度人。王子雖小能殺人。龍子雖小能興雲。由興雲故。致雨雷電礔礰感其所小而不可輕也。

Also, the Sūtra of King Aśoka says: In the past, King Aśoka saw a seven-year-old śrāmaṇera, led him to a secluded place, and bowed down to him. He said to the śrāmaṇera, 'Do not tell others that I bowed to you.' At that time, in front of the śrāmaṇera was a water jar; the śrāmaṇera immediately entered into it and then emerged from the water jar. He then said to the king, 'Sire, take care not to tell others that the śrāmaṇera entered the water jar and came out again.' The king then said to the śrāmaṇera, 'I shall openly speak of this to others; it can no longer be concealed.' Therefore, the various sūtras all say: Although a śrāmaṇera may be young, he must not be despised; although a prince may be young, he must not be despised; although a dragon child may be young, it must not be despised. A śrāmaṇera, though young, can deliver human beings; a prince, though young, can kill human beings; a dragon child, though young, can stir up clouds, and because it stirs up clouds, it brings rain, thunder, and lightning bolts. Due to these qualities, small though they be, they must not be despised.