There is a demoness who lives East of the Snowy Mountains. Her name is Arita and there are 700 demons whom she makes her followers. She spoke thus: "Before the sramana Gautama explained this method, this mudra and this mantra, we went everywhere and our hearts had no fear. Now we have heard the sutra of this mudra." And raising her voice, she spoke of her pain, "Ah, what grief! Ah, why is it so? Formerly, we took the vital energy of men and we made of it our food. We did evil to men. Now we can no longer harm them. Such is the virtue and the divine majesty of this sramana. Let us go with him all together." She said then, "For a long time, I have heard the lofty reputation of Gautama spread far and wide. But now, in addition I have heard the sutra of this method, of this mudra, and of this mantra. I submit, I believe, I adore the feet of the Buddha. On my knees with hands joined I take refuge in the devati-deva. I pray to him to take me as his disciple; I ask that he give me his precepts." The Buddha said, "This is good, this is good. It is because in a previous existence you acquired merit that now you were able see me." Then the Buddha gave to Arita the law of the three refuges and the five precepts and made there an upasika. Arita, after receiving the precepts, venerated the Buddha and said, " I and my 700 demon followers will protect the four classes of disciples and those places where the Law will be practiced in every country, city, and town, and even without requesting it, we will give to them that which they need."

Arita said again to the Buddha, "I and my 700 demon followers have been accustomed to taking vital energy, blood and flesh, and making of it our food. Today, we took refuge in the Buddha, and the Bhagavat imposed upon us the precept of not killing living things. I ask only that the Venerated of Gods order his disciples that at the time of their usual meal, they give to us an alms-offering of some small remainder of their food." When Arita had concluded these words, the Bhagavat consented to her request; and in the presence of the Buddha, she obtained the Way of Srotapanna.

The Buddha said to Ananda, "After I leave the world, if anyone, man or woman, practices this sutra of the abhiseka, of the mudra and of the great mantra, let him anoint of liquid perfume a circle of earth of the dimension of a wagon's wheel, let him distribute there flowers of sweet-scented lotus, and light seven lamps, and burn p'o hiang, kiao hiang, and benzoin, and let him point the reflection of a mirror made of green copper in the five directions, so that the Maras (sic) will not be able to disguise their forces. Let him take seven arrows and make of these the symbols of the Spirit Kings."

He said again to Ananda, "Among the demons of Arita, there are seven in particular who are the most powerful. When the demons fight among themselves, these demons alone overcome the raksasa. Seeing Arita submit and believe, they too joined their hands in crossing their fingers before the Buddha. Then they made this solemn vow: "After the death of the Buddha, we will protect in every country the places where this mudra and this great mantra are practiced." Ananda said "These seven spirit kings, what are their names?" The Buddha said, "The first is named Indra; the second, Ho-lin-lo; the third, Po-ye-yue-lo; the fourth, Song-lin-lo, the fifth (mistyped in text as septieme), T'an-t'e-lo; the sixth, Tchao-you-mo-lo; the seventh, Kumbhira." The Buddha said, "Ananda, after my death, these seven Spirit Kings will protect all of my disciples and will not permit the Maras to act according to their whim with them. When they are given something to eat, one must make seven portions and completely purify the copper vessels. This must not be overlooked; if one is inattentive, the spirit kings distance themselves from you and will no longer protect you." Ananda, crossing his hands, said to the Buddha, "All of the words of the Bhagavat are in keeping with the True Law. Now he has explained the method of the abhiseka, the mantra, and the mudra. Men who are exposed to danger wish to practice it and to offer food to Arita and to her demons. This must not resemble the law of the heretics and of corrupting ideas." The Buddha replied to Ananda, "This would be misunderstanding my thinking. I prescribe the food offering in order to secure the help of Arita for the four classes of disciples and so that she act in powerful spirit." The Buddha said to Ananda, "Like a king who has in another country an enemy who wishes to invade his frontiers; he gives to his subjects, to all of his generals and soldiers, all kinds of excellent foods, oil of thyme, the honey of the rock and everything agreeable to the palate; he gives them also all sorts of garments, precious jewels, and many sorts of things. Then he overcomes all the rebels, none resist; they are scattered, and all reverts to its original state. There is no more trouble, everyone comes back to righteous rule." The Buddha said to Ananda, "In giving now to Arita that which is needed for her subsistence, I am like that king who makes gifts to his officers and soldiers; there is no difference. It is so that Arita subdues the external Maras and all the evil demons, that there be none who are not dispersed and destroyed and who do not flee, that they return to their dwellings and hide there and are seen no longer."

*Cited in Taisho as: T.XXI, 1331. This account tells of a great assembly at Jetavana during which the Buddha, in disclosing a spell for the suppression of demons, imparts this narrative to Indra. My translation into English is based on Noel Peri's version in "Hariti la mere-de-demons," 24-26.