唯識二十論述記 1.4

1.4

In Sanskrit, vijñapti means 'consciousness' (shi); mātratā means 'only' (wei); viṃśikā means 'twenty' (ershi); śāstra means 'treatise' (lun). In accordance with the language of this region, it is named Viṃśikāvijñaptimātratāsiddhi. 'Only' has the meaning of sole, mere, and exclusionary; 'consciousness' has the meaning of discernment, expression, and distinction. Because there is only inner mind and no external objects outside the mind, the name vijñapti-mātra is established, as will be explained below. Consciousness is itself 'only', hence one says 'vijñapti-mātra', which is a karmadhāraya compound. Furthermore, saying 'twenty' is the designation of the number of verses; combining them as the Viṃśikāvijñaptimātratāsiddhi is a compound carrying a number (dvigu). 'Treatise' is explained as usual; the exposition of its meaning and objections will be presented when we come to the text. The older treatise was called simply Treatise on Vijñapti-mātra because the translators abbreviated it.