Elder Syagriha Subdues the Evil Dragon

Original text from the Five Precepts for Upasakas Sutra, Section Five: The Buddha was in the city of Bhadrapati in the country of Ceti. In that place, there was a fierce dragon named Ambarapati, who was violent, ferocious, and malicious. No one could approach its location. Elephants, horses, cattle, sheep, donkeys, mules, or camels—none could come near. 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 Bhadrapati in the country of Ceti. There resided a fierce dragon named Ambarapati, violent and malicious. No human could reach its dwelling. Livestock such as elephants, horses, cattle, sheep, donkeys, mules, and camels could not approach it. Not even birds could fly over the dragon’s head. When the autumn rice ripened, even those grains would be destroyed.

Original text: The Elder Sagara traveled to the country of Ceti and gradually arrived at Bhadrapati. After spending the night there, he put on his robes in the morning, took his alms bowl, and entered the village to beg for alms. While begging, he heard that in this city there was a fierce dragon named Ambarapati, violent and ferocious, preventing people, birds, and beasts from reaching its dwelling. When the autumn grains ripened, it would destroy them all.

Explanation: At that time, the Elder Sagara traveled to the country of Ceti and gradually reached the city of Bhadrapati. After spending the night, the Elder put on his robes in the morning, took his alms bowl, and entered the village to beg for alms. During his alms round, he heard that in this city there was a fierce dragon named Ambarapati, violent and malicious, preventing people, birds, and beasts from approaching its dwelling. When the autumn rice ripened, it would destroy all the crops.

Original text: Having heard this and finished his alms round, he went to Ambarapati’s dwelling place, by a spring under a tree. He spread out his sitting mat and sat down in the full lotus position. The dragon, smelling the scent of his robes, became enraged and emitted smoke from its body. The Elder Sagara immediately entered samadhi and, through his supernatural power, also emitted smoke from his body. The dragon grew even more furious and emitted fire from its body. Sagara again entered the fiery light samadhi and emitted fire from his body.

Explanation: After hearing about the dragon and finishing his alms round, the Elder went to Ambarapati’s dwelling place, by a spring under a tree. He spread out his sitting mat and sat down cross-legged. The dragon, smelling the scent of the robes, became enraged and emitted smoke from its body. The Elder Sagara immediately entered samadhi and, through his supernatural power, also emitted smoke from his body. The dragon became even angrier and emitted fire from its body. Sagara then entered the fiery light samadhi and emitted fire from his body as well.

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

Explanation: The dragon then rained down hailstones. Sagara immediately transformed the hailstones into double-layered cakes, long cakes, and popara cakes. The dragon then hurled thunderbolts. Sagara transformed the thunderbolts into various joy-pill cakes. The dragon then rained down arrows, bows, and large knives. Sagara transformed them into utpala flowers, padma flowers, and kumuda flowers.

Original text: Then the dragon rained down poisonous snakes, centipedes, venomous earth snakes, and millipedes. Sagara transformed them into utpala flower garlands, campaka flower garlands, mallika flower garlands, and atimuktaka flower garlands. The dragon thus displayed all its powers against Sagara. After displaying all its virtues, being unable to prevail, it lost its majestic radiance and light.

Explanation: At that time, the dragon rained down poisonous snakes, centipedes, venomous earth snakes, and millipedes like rain from the sky. Sagara immediately transformed these vile creatures into utpala flower garlands, campaka flower garlands, mallika flower garlands, and atimuktaka flower garlands. Thus, the dragon displayed all its powers against Sagara. After manifesting all its supernatural abilities, it still could not overcome Sagara and consequently lost its majestic virtue and radiance.

Original text: The Elder Sagara, knowing the dragon’s power was 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 nostrils and came out through the mouth. Then, he walked back and forth upon the dragon’s head without harming its body.

Explanation: The Elder Sagara knew that all the dragon’s power had reached its end and it could no longer move. He then transformed 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 nostrils and came out through its mouth. Finally, he walked back and forth upon the dragon’s head without harming its body.

Original text: At that time, seeing these events, the dragon was greatly alarmed and terrified, its hair standing on end. With palms joined, it addressed the Elder Sagara, saying, “I take refuge in you.” Sagara 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 shall be a lay disciple of the Buddha.” After the dragon took the Three Refuges and became a disciple of the Buddha, it ceased its former violent and malicious acts. People, birds, and beasts could all approach its dwelling. When the autumn grains ripened, they were no longer destroyed. Thus, its reputation spread throughout all lands.

Explanation: At that time, the dragon witnessed these events and was greatly astonished, so terrified that its hair stood on end. With palms joined, it said to Sagara, “I take refuge in you.” Sagara 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 shall be a lay disciple of the Buddha.” After the dragon took the Three Refuges and became a disciple of the Buddha, it no longer committed evil deeds as before. All people, birds, and beasts could approach its dwelling. When the autumn grains ripened, they were no longer destroyed. These changes—its wholehearted turning toward goodness—became known throughout other lands.