大乘起信論義記 1.33

1.33

第八造論時節者，諸說不同，今依《摩耶經》云「如來滅後六百歲已，九十六種諸外道等邪見競興，毀滅佛法。有一比丘名曰馬鳴，善說法要，降伏一切諸外道輩。七百歲已，有一比丘名曰龍樹，善說法要，滅邪見幢、燃正法炬。」以此經文為定說也。

Eighth, regarding the period when the treatise was composed, various explanations differ. Now, relying on the Māyāsūtra, it says: 'Six hundred years after the Tathāgata's extinction, the ninety-six kinds of heterodox paths and evil views will competitively arise and destroy the Buddha's Dharma. There will be a monk named Aśvaghoṣa, skilled at expounding the essentials of the Dharma, who will subdue all the heterodox parties. After seven hundred years, there will be a monk named Nāgārjuna, skilled at expounding the essentials of the Dharma, who will destroy the banner of evil views and light the torch of the true Dharma.' We take this sūtra text as the settled explanation.