龍王兄弟經

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Jeta Grove, the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the country of Śrāvastī, together with countless bhikṣus, all of whom were Arhats. The lay devotee Anāthapiṇḍika came to where the Buddha was, paid homage, then withdrew and sat to one side.

The Buddha taught:

"As a person, one should know Giving, Keeping the Precepts, Patience, Diligence, Meditative Concentration, and Wisdom."

Having heard this, Anāthapiṇḍika rejoiced, and at once rose and addressed the Buddha:

"Tomorrow morning I respectfully invite the Buddha and the virtuous Saṅgha to come to my home to partake of a humble meal."

The Buddha silently accepted the invitation. Anāthapiṇḍika circumambulated the Buddha three times, then withdrew.

The Buddha said to the assembly of bhikṣus:

"Tomorrow morning I shall ascend to the heavenly realm, and only at midday shall I return; I will meet you all at the home of the donor Anāthapiṇḍika." In but a moment, as brief as the bending and stretching of an arm, the Buddha then abided in the midst of empty space.

There was an Arhat named Sudanta, who straightened his robes and, in the midst of empty space, knelt and addressed the Buddha:

"I often ascend and descend, yet never have I seen such darkness as there is this day."

The Buddha taught:

"There are two Dragon Kings who, out of anger, are producing all manner of transformations, spewing forth vapor to make clouds."

Then there was an Arhat named Aiba who addressed the Buddha:

"I wish to go and stop this."

The Buddha taught:

"These two dragons possess great majestic spiritual power. If you go, you will surely cause them to give rise to evil intentions, and they will send up waters to drown the multitude of people throughout the world."

The Venerable Mahāmaudgalyāyana then straightened his robes and, kneeling in the midst of empty space, addressed the Buddha:

"Why is it that today heaven and earth are dark, so that one cannot see Mount Sumeru, the palace of Śakra, or the Pārijāta tree?"

The Buddha taught:

"There are two Dragon Kings, one named Nanda, the other named Upananda, who, in extreme anger, declare: 'What śramaṇas wish to fly across and tread upon our heads? The bodies of dragons can coil around Mount Sumeru seven times, and using our heads to cover that mountain, we shall spew forth vapor, forming mist and fog, causing heaven and earth to grow dark.'"

The Venerable Maudgalyāyana addressed the Buddha:

"I wish to go there to reproach them and put a stop to this."

The Buddha taught:

"Very good!"

The Venerable Maudgalyāyana then circumambulated the Buddha three times and flew away. Śakra Devānām Indra, together with eighty-eight thousand jade maidens, was behind the flower garden, all enjoying themselves together in delight. First the Venerable Maudgalyāyana passed by that place; Śakra came forth to welcome the Venerable One, bowed his head and offered greetings, and only then did the Venerable One proceed to where the two Dragon Kings were.

When the two Dragon Kings saw the Venerable One, they grew angry and at once transformed into smoke, and in a moment transformed again into fire. The Venerable Maudgalyāyana then, by the spiritual power of the Buddha, likewise transformed into smoke and fire that coiled around the bodies of the two dragons in three layers. First, the Venerable Maudgalyāyana divided his body and entered into the bodies of the two dragons: entering the right eye, he came out the left eye; entering the left eye, he came out the right eye; entering the right ear, he came out the left ear; entering the left ear, he came out the right ear; entering the right nostril, he came out the left nostril; entering the left nostril, he came out the right nostril; and he flew into their mouths.

The two dragons found the Venerable Maudgalyāyana within their own bellies; the Venerable Maudgalyāyana also transformed into the body of a dragon that coiled around their bodies in fourteen layers, using his head to cover over Mount Sumeru and the two dragons. The two dragons trembled in fear, shaking Mount Sumeru, and then with their tails they fanned and splashed the waters of the sea, causing the hundred kinds of beasts to be terrified.

From afar the Buddha said to the Venerable Maudgalyāyana:

"Today those dragons may pour forth great waters and inundate the world; you should now desist."

The Venerable Maudgalyāyana said:

"I have followed the Buddha and have heard and clearly understood this Dharma. I possess the Four Bases of Spiritual Power, and ever faithfully uphold their practice, so that I am able to take hold of these two dragons and Mount Sumeru, place them in the palm of my hand, and fly across to the other realms of the world; I am also able to grind Mount Sumeru to bits, crushing it like dust, and am further able to grind down Mount Sumeru level with the surface of the earth, all without the multitude of people being aware of it."

The two dragons, terrified, bowed their heads. The Venerable Maudgalyāyana manifested once more in the body of a śramaṇa, and the two dragons transformed into human form, and before the Venerable Maudgalyāyana they made obeisance, confessed, and repented. The Venerable Maudgalyāyana then brought them to where the Buddha was.

The two dragons said:

"We, out of arrogance and delusion, did not recognize the majestic spiritual power of the Most Honored One; we gave offense and caused upheaval, and we are deeply grieved over our initial wrongdoing."

They then received the Five Precepts, took their leave, and departed.

The lay devotee Anāthapiṇḍika went to the monastery to seek the Buddha and the Saṅgha, but did not see a single person. He then knelt down and addressed the Buddha:

"The food I have set out with solemn reverence—the World-Honored One can himself bear witness to it."

The Buddha descended from empty space and came to that man's home. When he had finished partaking of the meal, Anāthapiṇḍika said:

"I sought the Buddha but did not find him; from where, then, has the World-Honored One come?"

The Buddha taught:

"The Venerable Maudgalyāyana did battle with the two Dragon Kings; I have just come down from the heavens."

Anāthapiṇḍika asked:

"Who won, World-Honored One?"

The Buddha replied:

"Maudgalyāyana."

Anāthapiṇḍika exclaimed in praise:

"Excellent, excellent! These dragons were originally firm in upholding the precepts, and as for this fault, it was but a very small one for dragons; it was thanks to the venerable, majestic spiritual power of the World-Honored One that the Venerable Maudgalyāyana was able to subdue them. From this day forth I respectfully invite the Buddha and the Saṅgha, and proclaim the merit of the Venerable Maudgalyāyana."

The Buddha pronounced a blessing upon the donor Anāthapiṇḍika:

"Because you have, from first to last, offered food to the Buddha and the Saṅgha, you shall attain the fruit of the Way, and the good spirits shall protect and uphold your family, keeping it ever at peace."

Having heard this, the lay devotee Anāthapiṇḍika rejoiced greatly, paid homage, and withdrew.