三彌勒經疏 1.7

1.7

第三、經本單重者，此中先辨單重、後辨真偽。言單重者，《上生經》八紙者，北涼沮渠舍安陽侯譯。《下生經》九紙者，晉承聖三年羅什於豫章寶因寺譯。《成佛經》十七紙者，西晉竺法護譯。後秦弘始年羅什譯《下生經》六紙，然名「彌勒受決」。又別人譯，名「彌勒成時經」，然三紙，詞謂不備，故存前本。此云十七紙《成佛經》、六紙《下生經》、三紙《成時經》者，弘始四年譯，第二出。《宋錄》云「十七紙成佛經、六紙下生經、三紙成時經，同本異譯。」然不言弘始經。此十七紙、六紙、三紙者，與法護譯大同小異。見《二秦錄》。長安釋道標譯《成佛經》，是第三譯也。齊世江𠚰，沙門道政，更後復斷首尾，名成佛經，又謂下生經。而其經首有大智舍利弗也。基師云：「《下生經》自有二本。大即有『如是我聞』，是晉時笠法護譯；小即有『大智舍利弗』，是晉時羅什譯也。」古云翻人有異，基師云：「大即其三分，然無序分者，是略頌耳。」總而言，初一即單本，後二即重本，謂《下生經》再譯故、《成佛經》三譯故。後辨真偽者，如是三經皆真而非偽。此辨第三門已竟。然今置因論生論更談傍義。

Third, regarding single and multiple editions of the sūtra texts: herein, first differentiate single and multiple editions, and then distinguish the authentic from the apocryphal. To discuss single and multiple editions: The Ascent Sūtra in eight sheets was translated by Juqu Jingsheng, Marquis of Anyang under the Northern Liang. The Descent Sūtra in nine sheets was translated by Kumārajīva at Baoyin Monastery in Yuzhang during the third year of Chengsheng of the Jin. The Attainment of Buddhahood Sūtra in seventeen sheets was translated by Dharmarakṣa of the Western Jin. In the Hongshi era of the Later Qin, Kumārajīva translated the Descent Sūtra in six sheets, though titled Maitreya Receives the Prediction. There was also a translation by another person titled Sūtra of Maitreya’s Time of Attainment, but it was in three sheets and its phrasing was considered deficient, so the earlier text was preserved. These works called the Attainment of Buddhahood Sūtra in seventeen sheets, the Descent Sūtra in six sheets, and the Sūtra of the Time of Attainment in three sheets were translated in the fourth year of Hongshi, being the second production. The Song Catalogue says: 'The Attainment of Buddhahood Sūtra in seventeen sheets, the Descent Sūtra in six sheets, and the Sūtra of the Time of Attainment in three sheets are different translations of the same text.' However, it does not speak of the Hongshi sūtras. These seventeen-sheet, six-sheet, and three-sheet [texts] are largely the same as Dharmarakṣa's translation with minor differences; see the Catalogue of the Two Qin. Shi Daobiao of Chang'an translated the Attainment of Buddhahood Sūtra, which is the third translation. In the Qi period, in Jiangnan, the śramaṇa Daozheng later cut off the beginning and end, naming it Attainment of Buddhahood Sūtra, and also calling it Descent Sūtra; yet the head of that sūtra has 'Great Wisdom Śāriputra'. Master Ji says: 'The Descent Sūtra itself has two texts. The larger has "Thus have I heard", translated by Dharmarakṣa of the Jin; the smaller has "Great Wisdom Śāriputra", translated by Kumārajīva of the Jin.' Ancient authorities said the translators were different; Master Ji says: 'The larger has its three divisions, whereas that which lacks the introductory division is simply an abbreviated recitation.' In summary, the first is a single edition, and the latter two are multiple editions, because the Descent Sūtra was translated twice and the Attainment of Buddhahood Sūtra was translated three times. Next, distinguishing the authentic from the apocryphal: these three sūtras are all authentic and not apocryphal. This concludes the explanation of the third topic. Now, setting aside digressive discussions, let us further examine secondary issues.