仁王經疏 1.14

1.14

Fourth, the translation period and the correct explanation according to the text. There are two sections: first, the translation period; second, the correct explanation according to the text. Regarding the translation period: for this single scripture, in accordance with the text below, there were originally two recensions. The first is the extensive recension; hence the subsequent "Chapter on Scattering Flowers" states: "At that time, the sixteen kings of great states, having heard the Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra of a billion verses throughout the ten directions spoken by the Buddha, scattered flowers in offering." Thus we know that this sūtra also had an extensive recension. The second is the abridged recension. Although the Sanskrit text was one, following differences among translators, it became three versions. First, in the first year of the Taishi era of the Jin dynasty, the Tripiṭaka Master Dharmarakṣa of the Yuezhi kingdom—in Jin called Fahu—translated one fascicle, entitled Renwang bore (Benevolent Kings Prajñā). Second, in the third year of the Hongshi era of the Qin dynasty, the Tripiṭaka Master Kumārajīva—in Qin called Tongshou—translated one recension in the detached lodge of the Xiaoyao Garden at the Ximing Pavilion in Chang'an, entitled Renwang huguo bore boluomi (Benevolent Kings Prajñāpāramitā for the Protection of the State). Third, in the third year of the Chengsheng era of the Liang dynasty, the Tripiṭaka Master Paramārtha of the kingdom of Ujjayinī in West India—in Liang called Zhendi—translated one fascicle at Baotian Temple in Yuzhang, entitled Renwang bore jing, with a commentary in six fascicles. Although there are three versions, the Jin version was the earliest and was feared not to be comprehensive, and Paramārtha's single version became obscure and did not circulate; therefore, we now rely provisionally on the version from the Qin period (according to Fei Zhangfang's Sanbao lu, all three translations are said to be in one fascicle; however, Fei Xueqi's Ruzang mulu states that it is in two fascicles).