[III. The Miracles at Uruvelā]



right click to download mp3

22: The First Miracle This is the same story told again, but in verse. Comm: near the (river) Nerañjarā the Fortunate One, etc. (these) verses were placed here later.
(The Dragon-King - Verse)

Near the (river) Nerañjarā the Fortunate One said this to Uruvelakassapa:

“If it is not troublesome to you, Kassapa, we would live for this moonlight night in the fire shelter.”
“It is not troublesome to me, Great Ascetic, but seeking your comfort I (would) prevent you,

(For) there is a fierce, venomous, poisonous, Dragon-King here, having psychic power - he should not (be allowed to) harass you!”

“It is all right, he will not harass me, come now, Kassapa, allow me the sacrificial firehouse.”

Having understood that “(permission is) given”, not daunted he entered, unafraid.
Having seen the Seer enter, the Snake-Dragon, depressed, belched out smoke.

With intent and gladdened mind the Human-Dragon also belched out smoke right there.
Unbearably angry, the Snake-Dragon blazed forth like fire.

Skilled in the fire-element, the Human-Dragon also blazed forth right there,
They both burned so brightly that the yogis surveying the sacrificial firehouse, (said):

“The Great Ascetic is surely intelligent, but he is harassed by the Dragon.”
With the passing of the night, the Dragon’s flames were destroyed,

But the multi-coloured flames of the One of Psychic Power remained.
Then there were blue, red, crimson, yellow, and quartz-coloured

Multi-coloured flames on the body of Aṅgirasa. DPPN: a name applied to the Buddha several times in the Piṭakas ... Buddhaghosa says that “it means emitting rays of various hues from the body” ... It is, however, well-known that, according to Vedic tradition, the Gautamas belong to the Aṅgirasa tribe (see Vedic Index: Gotama); the word, as applied to the Buddha, therefore, is probably a patronymic, in which case we have another example of a Kṣatriya tribe laying claim to a brāhmaṇa Gotra.
After putting (him) in his bowl, he showed the Snake-Dragon to the brāhmaṇa, (saying):

“This is your Dragon, Kassapa, his psychic power was overcome by (my) power.”

Then the yogi Uruvelakassapa convinced by this psychic miracle of the Fortunate One, said this to the Fortunate One: “Live right here, Great Ascetic, I (will give) a constant supply of food to you.”

The First Miracle (is Finished)