金光明經文句記 5.77

5.77

Third, surpassing the three treatises. The "Four Vedas" are the texts of externalists. The Mātaṅga Sūtra states: "The first man, named Brahmā, created one Veda. Next, an ascetic named Śuddhadāna transformed the one into four: the first is called Praise and Recitation (Ṛg), the second is called Sacrificial Ritual (Yajur), the third is called Chanting and Melody (Sāma), and the fourth is called Dispelling Calamities (Atharva). Next, one named Puṣya had twenty-five disciples, each of whom could extensively distinguish one Veda, thereby forming twenty-five Vedas. Next was Parrot (Śuka), next was Good Way (Sadgati), and with their disciples, they gradually multiplied, thus successively becoming one thousand two hundred and six Vedas." Mentioning four now is naming them according to their root. They all elucidate Brahmā affairs and transcendence from the defilement of desire, hence it is said that Brahmā taught the treatise on transcending desire. The Vyākaraṇa treatise is here called the treatise on grammar (jilun); it was composed by Pāṇini, elucidating various scriptures and miscellaneous languages, and is also the source of words. Hexi says: "It is the root of worldly writing and the treatise on the sounds of classical texts; it fully communicates the four analytical knowledges, reproaches worldly dharmas, and praises the dharma of leaving home; its words are pure and elegant, and its principles are profound. Although it is an externalist treatise, it is devoid of heterodox dharma; could it not have been made by a great being of skilful means?" Sāṃkhya is here translated as the Enumeration Treatise (Shulun), because all dharmas arise from numbers; it was composed at the beginning of the kalpa by the Yellow-Headed Ascetic (Kapila). Vaiśeṣika is here translated as the Superior Treatise (Shenglun), meaning superior among all treatises, or composed by a superior person; it was composed at the end of the kalpa of formation by the Owl-Eating Non-Buddhist (Ulūka). Ṛṣabha is here translated as Austerity; the time of his appearance in the world is unknown, and the treatise composed was named after the person. What these three ascetics taught lacks the supernormal power of the cessation of out處 (āsravakṣaya), hence they had only five supernormal powers.