Elder Syagriha Subdues the Evil Dragon

Original text from Section Five of the Upasaka Precept Sutra: The Buddha was in the city of Bhadravati in the country of Ceti. In this place, there was a fierce dragon named Ambarapati, who was violent, wicked, and harmful. No one could reach its location. Elephants, horses, cattle, sheep, donkeys, mules, or camels—none could approach it. Even birds could not fly over it. When the autumn grains ripened, it would destroy them all.

Explanation: The Buddha was in the city of Bhadravati in the country of Ceti. Here, there was a fierce dragon named Ambarapati, who was violent and wicked. No one could reach its location. Livestock such as elephants, horses, cattle, sheep, donkeys, mules, and camels could not approach it. Even all birds were unable to fly over the dragon’s head. When the autumn rice ripened, even those grains would be destroyed.

Original text: The elder Sāgata traveled to the country of Ceti and gradually arrived at Bhadravati. After spending the night there, he put on his robes in the morning, took his alms bowl, and entered the village to beg for food. While begging, he heard that in this city there was a fierce dragon named Ambarapati, who was violent, wicked, and harmful. Neither people nor birds and beasts could approach its dwelling. When the autumn grains ripened, it would destroy them all.

Explanation: At this time, the elder Sāgata traveled to the country of Ceti and gradually reached the city of Bhadravati. After spending one night, the elder put on his robes in the morning, took his alms bowl, and entered the village to beg for food. While begging, he heard that in this city there was a fierce dragon named Ambarapati, who was violent and wicked. Neither people nor birds and beasts could approach its dwelling. When the autumn rice ripened, it would destroy all the grains.

Original text: After hearing this and finishing his alms round, he went to the dwelling place of the dragon Ambarapati. Beside a spring under a tree, he spread his sitting mat and sat cross-legged. The dragon, smelling the scent of his robes, became enraged and emitted smoke from its body. The elder Sāgata immediately entered samadhi and, through his spiritual power, also emitted smoke from his body. The dragon became even more enraged and emitted fire from its body. Sāgata again entered the fire-light samadhi and emitted fire from his body.

Explanation: After hearing about the dragon and finishing his alms round, the elder went to the dwelling place of the dragon Ambarapati. Beside a spring under a tree, he spread his sitting mat and sat cross-legged. The dragon, smelling the scent of his robes, became enraged and emitted smoke from its body. The elder Sāgata immediately entered samadhi and, through his spiritual power, emitted smoke from his own body. The dragon became even more enraged and emitted fire from its body. Sāgata then entered the fire-light samadhi and emitted fire from his body.

Original text: The dragon then rained down hailstones. Sāgata transformed the hailstones into double-layered cakes, marrow cakes, and popara cakes. The dragon then released thunderbolts. Sāgata transformed them into various kinds of joy-ball cakes. The dragon rained down arrows, bows, knives, and spears. Sāgata transformed them into utpala flowers, padma flowers, and kumuda flowers.

Explanation: The dragon rained down hailstones, and Sāgata immediately transformed the hailstones into double-layered cakes, marrow cakes, and popara cakes. The dragon then released thunderbolts, and Sāgata transformed the thunderbolts into various kinds of joy-ball cakes. The dragon rained down arrows, bows, and large knives, and Sāgata transformed them into utpala flowers, padma flowers, and kumuda flowers.

Original text: Then the dragon rained down poisonous snakes, centipedes, earth vipers, and millipedes. Sāgata transformed them into utpala flower garlands, campaka flower garlands, mallika flower garlands, and atimuktaka flower garlands. In this way, the dragon displayed all its powers against Sāgata. After displaying all its virtues in this manner, being unable to overcome him, it lost its majestic power and radiance.

Explanation: At this time, the dragon rained down poisonous snakes, centipedes, earth vipers, and millipedes like rain from the sky. Sāgata immediately transformed these harmful creatures into utpala flower garlands, campaka flower garlands, mallika flower garlands, and atimuktaka flower garlands. Thus, the dragon displayed all its powers against Sāgata. After fully manifesting its powers, it still could not overcome Sāgata and thus lost its majestic virtue and radiance.

Original text: The elder Sāgata, knowing that the dragon’s powers were exhausted and it could no longer move, transformed himself into a subtle body. He entered through the dragon’s two ears and emerged from its two eyes. After emerging from the eyes, he entered through the nose and emerged from the mouth. He then walked back and forth on the dragon’s head without harming its body.

Explanation: The elder Sāgata knew that all the dragon’s powers had been exhausted and it could no longer move. He transformed himself into an extremely subtle body, entered through the dragon’s two ears, and emerged from its two eyes. After emerging from the eyes, he entered through the dragon’s two nostrils and emerged from its mouth. Finally, he walked back and forth on the dragon’s head without harming its body.

Original text: At that time, seeing such things, the dragon was greatly alarmed and terrified, its hair standing on end. It joined its palms and said to the elder Sāgata, “I take refuge in you.” Sāgata replied, “Do not take refuge in me. Take refuge in my teacher, take refuge in the Buddha.” The dragon said, “From this day forward, I take refuge in the Triple Gem. Know that for the rest of my life, I will be a Buddhist upasaka.” After the dragon took the Threefold Refuge and became a disciple of the Buddha, it no longer engaged in its former wicked deeds. People, birds, and beasts could all approach its dwelling. When the autumn grains ripened, it no longer damaged them. Thus, its reputation spread throughout various countries.

Explanation: At this time, the dragon witnessed these events and was greatly alarmed, terrified to the point that its hair stood on end. It joined its palms and said to Sāgata, “I take refuge in you.” Sāgata replied, “Do not take refuge in me. Take refuge in my teacher, take refuge in the Buddha.” The dragon said, “From today onward, I take refuge in the Triple Gem. For the rest of my life, I will be a lay disciple of the Buddha.” After the dragon took the Threefold Refuge and became a disciple of the Buddha, it no longer committed wicked acts as before. All people, birds, and beasts could come to its dwelling. When the autumn grains ripened, it no longer destroyed them. These changes and its sincere turn toward goodness became known throughout other lands.