釋摩訶衍論 1.31

1.31

論曰：馬鳴菩薩，若剋其本大光明佛，若論其因第八地內住位菩薩。西天竺誕生，盧伽為父、瞿那為母，同生利益。過去世中有一大王名曰輪陀，有千白鳥皆悉好聲，若鳥出聲大王增德，若不出聲大王損德。如是諸鳥若見白馬即出其聲，若不見時常不出聲。爾時大王遍求白馬終日不得，作如是言：「若外道眾此鳥鳴者，都破佛教，獨尊獨信。若佛弟子此鳥鳴者，都破外道教，獨尊獨信。」爾時菩薩用神通力，現千白馬鳴千白鳥，紹隆正法令不斷絕，是故世尊名曰馬鳴。

The commentary states: If we investigate his origin, Bodhisattva Aśvaghoṣa was the Great Radiant Buddha; if we discuss his causal state, he was a bodhisattva abiding in the eighth bhūmi. He was born in Western India; Loka was his father and Guṇa was his mother, together bringing benefit to beings. In a past age, there was a great king named Ruṇḍa who possessed a thousand white birds, all with sweet voices. If the birds made their sounds, the great king's virtue increased; if they did not make their sounds, the great king's virtue diminished. When these birds saw white horses, they would make their sounds; when they did not see them, they never made any sound. At that time, the great king sought white horses everywhere and could not find any all day long, so he spoke thus: “If the non-Buddhists make these birds sing, I will completely destroy the Buddhist teachings and solely honour and solely believe [in theirs]. If the disciples of the Buddha make these birds sing, I will completely destroy the non-Buddhist teachings and solely honour and solely believe [in the Buddha's].” At that time, using his supernormal powers, the Bodhisattva manifested a thousand white horses to make the thousand white birds sing, thereby continuing and exalting the true Dharma so that it was not cut off. For this reason, the World-Honoured One named him Aśvaghoṣa [Horse-Neigh].