From Indian Folklore
When Virudhaka, the fierce king of Kosala, marched against Kapilavastu and exterminated the noble Sakya race whereof the Buddha had been born, four of the tribe resisted the advance. These were driven away by their clansmen, and each fled in a different direction. When one of these Sakyas, being worn out by travel, sat down to rest in the middle of the road, there appeared a wild goose which alighted before him, and because of its docile ways, he at last mounted on its back. The goose then flying away, took him to the side of this lake: here he went to sleep under the shadow of a tree.
At this time a young Naga maiden was walking beside the lake, and suddenly espied the Sakya youth. Fearing that she might not be able otherwise to accomplish he wish she transformed herself into a human shape and began to caress him. The youth, because of this, awoke affrighted from his sleep, and addressing her said: “I am but a poor wanderer worn out with fatigue; why then showest thou me such tenderness!” In the course of events the youth, becoming deeply moved, besought her to consent to his wishes. “My father and mother,” quoth she, “require to be asked and obeyed in this matter. Thou hast favoured me with thy affection, but they have not yet consented.” The Sakya youth rejoined: “The mountains and valleys surround us with their mysterious shadows; where, then, is thy home?” She said: “I am a Naga maiden belonging to this pool. I have heard with awe of thy holy tribe having suffered such things, and of thy being driven away from home to wander hither and thither in consequence. I have fortunately been able as I wandered, to administer somewhat to thy comfort, and thou hast desired me to yield to thy wishes in other respects, but I have received no commands to that effect from my parents. Unhappily, too, this Naga-body is the curse following my evil deeds in a former existence.” The Sakya youth answered: “One word uttered from the bottom of the heart and agreed to by us both and this matter is ended.” Said she: “I respectfully obey thine orders; let whatsoever may follow.” Then the Sakya youth spake: “By the power of my accumulated merit let this Naga woman be turned into human shape.” The woman was immediately so converted. On seeing herself thus restored to human shape she was overjoyed, and gratefully addressed the Sakya youth thus: “By my evil deeds, I have been compelled to migrate through evil forms of birth, till now happily, by the power of thy religious merit, the body which I have possessed through many aeons hath been changed in a moment. My gratitude is boundless, nor could it be expressed even if I wore my body to dust with frequent prostrations. Let me but acquaint my father and mother; I will then follow thee and obey thee in all things.”
The Naga maiden then returning to the lake addressed her father and mother, saying,” Just now, as I was wandering abroad, I lighted upon a Sakya youth, who by the power of his religious merit succeeded in changing me into a human shape. Having formed an affection for me, he desireth to marry me. I lay before you the matter in its truth.”
The Nagaraja was rejoiced to see his daughter restored to human form, and from a true affection to the holy tribe he gave consent to his daughter’s request. Then coming up from the lake, he expressed his deep gratitude to the Sakya youth, saying: “Thou hast not despised creatures of other kinds, and has condensed to those beneath thee I beseech thee come to my abode, and there do thou receive my humble services.”
The Sakya youth having accepted the Nagaraja’s invitation, went forthwith to his abode. Upon which all the family of the Naga received the youth with extreme reverence, and desired to delight his mind by an excess of feasting and pleasure; but the youth, seeing the dragon forms of his entertainers, was filled with affright and disgust, and he desired to depart. The Nagaraja detaining him, spake: “Of thy kindness go not away. Do thou occupy a neighbouring abode; I will prevail to make thee master of this land and obtain for thee lasting fame. All the people shall be thy servants, and thy dynasty shall endure for successive ages.”
The Sakya youth expressed his gratitude, saying: “I can hardly expect thy words to be fulfilled.” Then the Nagaraja took a precious sword and placed in it a casket covered with a white camlet, very fine and beautiful, and then he said to the Sakya youth; “Now of thy kindness go thou to the king and offer him this white camlet as a tribute. The king will be sure to accept it as the offering of a distant person; then, as he taketh it, draw thou forth the sword and kill him. Thus thou wilt seize his kingdom. Is this not excellent?”
The Sakya youth, receiving the Naga’s directions, went forthwith to make his offering to the king of Udyana. When the king was about to take the piece of white camlet, the youth took hold of his sleeve, and pierced him with his sword. The attendant ministers and the guards raised a great outcry and ran about in confusion. The Sakya youth, waving his sword, cried out: “This sword that I hold was given me by a holy Naga wherewith to punish the contumelious and subdue the arrogant.” Being affrighted by the divine warrior, they submitted, and gave him the kingdom. Whereupon he corrected abuses and established order; he advanced the good and relieved the unfortunate; and then with a great train he advanced towards the Naga palace to acquaint him with the completion of his undertaking; and then taking his wife he went back to the capital.
Now the former demerits of the Naga girl were not yet effaced, and their consequences still remained. Every time he went to rest by her side from her head came forth the ninefold crest of the Naga. The Sakya prince, filled with affright and disgust, finding no other plan, waited till she slept, and then cut off the dragon’s crest with his sword. The Naga girl, alarmed, awoke and said: “This will bring no good hereafter to thy posterity; it will inevitably afflict slightly me during my life, and thy children and grandchildren will all suffer from pains in the head.” And so the royal line of this country are ever afflicted with this malady, and albeit they are not all so continually, yet every succession brings a worse affliction.
After the death of the Sakya youth his son succeeded him under the name of Uttarasena.
Source:
Indian Serpent-Lore, J. PH. Vogel, 1926
Kotharian Lightning 