入楞伽心玄義 1.40

1.40

First, translating the name: in Sanskrit it is called Laṅkā, which is rendered here as 'difficult to enter,' also called 'precipitous and steep,' further called 'formidable,' and also called 'adorned.' Avatāra is rendered here as 'descending into.' Because in the Sanskrit language descending into and ascending into each have separate names, solely entering downward from above has this distinct name, as explained in entering the bodhisattva [stages], and so forth. The four-fascicle version translates it as 'unsurpassed'—this is very erroneous; examining various Sanskrit manuscripts and the ten-fascicle version, there is no character 'jewel' [or 'unsurpassed'] at all. The translation as 'entering' in the ten-fascicle version is the correct name.