大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 28.13

28.13

Regarding the commentary's: "The location is at the Bodhi [Tree]" and below: The *Xiyu ji* (Record of the Western Regions) explains [this]. Xianshou also says: "Traditional accounts state: Because a nāga saw the Tathāgata having just attained complete awakening and sitting exposed beneath the tree, it built it for the Buddha." According to the *Xiyu ji*, "Outside the south gate of the Bodhi Tree there is a great nāga pool, where Śakra offered a square stone into this pool. In the forest east of the pool there is the pool of the nāga king Mucilinda; its water is clear and dark, and its taste is sweet and delicious. On the west bank of the nāga pool there is a small vihāra, with an image of the Buddha made inside. In the past, when the Tathāgata had just attained complete awakening, he sat serenely in samādhi here for seven days. At that time, this nāga king guarded the Tathāgata: he circled the Buddha seven times with his body, and manifested many heads bending down to form a canopy; hence there is his room on the east bank of the pool." The explanation says: If one holds that it was built by the nāga, it corresponds precisely to this. Although it does not mention building a hall, since the nāga guarded him, there is no contradiction in his building it later, which would face southeast. It also says: "East of the Bodhi Tree there is a vihāra six hundred and seventy feet high, with a base over twenty paces wide, built with stacked blue bricks and coated with plaster; within its tiered niches are all golden images. The four walls are carved with marvelous designs, sometimes strings of pearls, sometimes heavenly figures; atop it is set a vajra *āmalaka* jewel vase. On the eastern facade it connects into a multistoried pavilion, with eaves rising separately in three tiers; rafters, pillars, ridgepoles, beams, doors, panels, and windows are adorned with carved gold and silver, and inlaid with interspersed pearls and jade; its inner chambers and deep halls have three tiers of opening doorways. Outside the gates, to the left and right, are niche-rooms each with an image: on the left is the image of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, on the right that of Maitreya Bodhisattva, cast in white silver and over ten feet high. On the old site of the vihāra, King Aśoka formerly built a small vihāra; later, a Brahmin built the great vihāra, having seen Maheśvara in the Snow Mountains, who commanded him to establish it." The explanation says: This interpretation is also suitable. If one takes the meaning of the Universal Light Hall, it would rather be to the west of the tree. The *Xiyu ji* says: "Not far west of the Bodhi Tree, within a great vihāra, there is a brass Buddha image adorned with rare gems, standing facing east. In front of it is a blue stone of wondrous veins and unusual colors. This is where formerly, when the Tathāgata had just attained complete awakening, King Brahmā built a seven-jeweled hall and Śakra built a seven-jeweled seat; the Buddha contemplated upon it for seven days, emitting extraordinary light that illuminated the Bodhi Tree; as the Holy One grew further distant in time, the jewels turned to stone." The explanation says: This is definitively the Universal Light Dharma Hall. But traditional accounts merely say it was to the east. If it was two or three *li* to the east or west, that would be the dwelling of the blind nāga, not built by a nāga. The Holy One is distant in time, and records contain errors and discrepancies; hence I have briefly presented three places, hoping they will be further examined.