中天竺舍衛國祇洹寺圖經 1.25

1.25

東門之東自分九院。初南西有一院，名大梵天王之院。東西二門，中有天螺一十二枚。諸梵集時，先止此中，解脫衣常，裳嚴飾。欲參佛前，螺即自鳴，聲聞三千大千世界。梵王欲問六度四諦，螺如所會，便為吐音。諸聞聲，便集佛所。又院內有玉池，池內有金蓮花，中復有十三天童擎。螺蘃常含，佛至花開。佛涅槃後，大梵天王將歸天上。

East of the eastern gate, it naturally divides into nine compounds. First, to the southwest there is a compound, named the Compound of Mahābrahmā. It has eastern and western two gates; inside are twelve celestial conches. When the Brahmās gather, they first stop herein, removing their ordinary garments and adorning themselves. When they wish to call upon the Buddha, the conches sound of themselves, their sound heard throughout the three-thousand great-thousand world. When Brahmā wishes to ask about the six perfections and four truths, the conches emit sounds according to what is fitting. All who hear the sound gather at the Buddha's place. Moreover, inside the compound is a jade pond, and within the pond are golden lotus flowers, in which thirteen celestial boys also hold them up. The pistils of the conches are ever closed, opening when the Buddha arrives. After the Buddha's nirvāṇa, Mahābrahmā took them back to heaven.