《太上元始天尊说大雨龙王经》

At that time, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning brought the lands of the five directions to peace and fulfillment. If the land where good men and good women dwell meets with drought, they, together with the assembly, transmit and read this scripture, recite and chant it, receive and uphold it, and make offerings to it; when they pray for rain, the rain descends and the wind subsides. If the living beings of a land receive and uphold, recite, copy, expound, or hear this scripture, one should know that these are persons of good roots, constantly protected and aided by gods and spirits. Why is this so? Because the scripture contains the power of the various sages and can broadly rescue living beings. Thereupon the Celestial Worthy proclaimed to the assembly:

The Celestial Worthy, cherishing great compassion, cares universally for all living beings. The various merits of which the Dao (the Way) speaks are subtle beyond conception. When living beings have a prayer, they receive a response, and sweet rain then falls. So long as one earnestly upholds and recites, a response comes in accordance with one’s wish. All affairs and all methods are like this.

The Celestial Worthy said: Good men and good women who recite and copy the Dragon King Scripture (Longwang Jing) will be praised by the multitude. If a land prays for rainfall, on the Six Fasting Days (days of Daoist fasting, purification, and pure cultivation), one should, in a clean place, carefully sprinkle and sweep, burn incense and make offerings, worship, and pray with sincerity. The Celestial Worthy will then answer the prayer, summon the Dragon Kings to send rain and dispel calamity, and cause living beings universally to receive the moistening of the rain. Thereupon the scripture gives the names of the Dragon Kings:

The Dragon King of Purity and Clarity, the Dragon King of the Great Earth, the Dragon King of the Dharma Sea, the Miaoluo Dragon King, the Xiuji Dragon King, the Dragon King Who Receives Affection, the Dragon King of the Great Sea, the Fierce and Severe Dragon King, the Pure-Eyed Dragon King, the Lion Dragon King, the Conch-Voiced Dragon King, the Golden-Colored Dragon King, the Golden-Radiant Dragon King, the Black-Haired Dragon King, the Dragon King of Great Rain, the Celestial Master (Tianshi) Dragon King, the Dragon King of Thunder and Lightning, the Dragon King of the Nine Rivers, the Water Emperor Dragon King, the Chiluo Dragon King, the Dragon King of Mount Suo, the Great Brahma Dragon King, the Dragon King Who Accepts Vows, the Yiluo Dragon King, the Dragon King Who Sends Rain, the Dragon King of the Ganges, the Dragon King of the Wondrous Dharma, the Dragon King of Heavenly Flowers, the Dragon King of the Jeweled Canopy, the Dragon King of Sweet Dew, the Dragon King of Immortals and Perfected Beings, the Dragon King of the Pure Moon, the Nonhuman Dragon King, the Dragon King Possessed of De (Virtue/Power), the Dragon King Who Descends from Heaven, the Dragon King Who Descends to Earth, the Left and Right Dragon Kings, the White Tiger Dragon King, the Azure-Colored Dragon King, the Dragon-Scaled Dragon King, the Venerably Holy Dragon King, the Truly Holy Dragon King, the Yama (Yanluo) Dragon King, the Dragon King of the Lord on High, the Yellow Dragon King, the Dragon King of the Dharma Gate, the Dragon King of Transformation, the Dragon Kings of the Thousands and Myriads, the Dragon Kings of the Heavens, the Dragon King Who Moves Heaven, the Dragon King Who Moves Earth, the Dragon King of Majestic De, the Dragon King of the Dharma Body, the Dragon King Who Recites the Jing (scripture/classic), the Dragon King of Rainwater, the Four Great Dragon Kings, the Dali Dragon King, the Dragon King of Prostrate Homage, the Dragon King of the Great Dharma, the Dragon King of Wondrous De, the Unsurpassed Dragon King, the Dragon King Who Rules the Realm, the Most High (Taishang) Dragon King, the Dragon King of the Dao (the Way) and De, the Dragon King Who Proclaims and Transforms, the Perfected (Zhenren) Dragon King, the Lord Lao (Laojun) Dragon King, and the Household Director Dragon King.

This scriptural passage lists in sequence the titles of numerous Dragon Kings. They include those who preside over the great earth, the rivers, lakes, and seas, the rain, and thunder and lightning, as well as Dragon Kings named for virtuous conduct, Dharma power, sacred identity, or cultivation. Titles of this kind are commonly found in Daoist scriptures for praying for rain, where they are used to invoke the names of the Dragon Kings and to invite them with ritual courtesy. Some titles are repeated in the original text; they are retained above in the original order. After the “Yama Dragon King,” the original appears to contain an omission or a disordered join.

Having heard this teaching, all the Dragon Kings praised it. They then manifested a miraculous response, raising clouds and vapors and sending down rain, which broadly moistened the human world, rescued all withered things, and caused them to grow once more. The drought was brought to an end without harm to the seedlings; rivers and canals were thereby cleared, and the sources of the rivers were also nourished.

The merit of this Jing (scripture) is hard to exhaust in words. It can bring relief to all living beings and possesses sacred power such as this. If the lands, cities, and villages where good men and good women dwell encounter drought, if the rains are slow to come, if Yin-Yang falls out of balance, and if the people grow anxious and afraid, they should copy this scripture and uphold it with reverence and purity, invite a virtuous ritual master to establish a ritual space, offer banners and fresh flowers, and recite this scripture. In this way the plea can ascend to the heavenly realm: sweet rain will fall from heaven, numinous springs will surge up from the earth, grasses and trees will flourish, the fields will yield abundant harvests, the people will be without sorrow, the year will be peaceful and secure, disasters will be removed, the locality will be auspicious, households will rejoice, and blessings will be endless. All manner of good virtues will thereby be made complete, and the hundred spirits will also reverently protect and bless them.

Once the rain is sufficient, one should, with a devout heart, gratefully recall the spirits’ responsive power, and recite this scripture often.

At that time, the great assembly present, having heard this scripture through to the end, rejoiced and leapt with joy, practiced in accordance with the teaching, paid their respects, and withdrew.

The Scripture of the Dragon Kings of Great Rain, Spoken by the Most High Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, has hereby been fully expounded.