四教義 7.3

7.3

First, translation. As for the term 'bodhisattva mahāsattva', this is the language of India; if rendered fully according to that language, it should be called 'bodhisattva mahāsattva'. However, the translations of various masters differ, and will not be fully recounted now. But the *Dà zhìdù lùn* translates it as: ''Bodhi' means the Buddha path; 'sattva' means perfecting sentient beings; 'mahā' means great. This person uses the great path of all buddhas to perfect sentient beings.' There is also a master who translates it as: ''Bodhi' means path; 'sattva' means mind; 'mahā' means great; therefore it is the path-mind, the great path-mind.' As for the sūtras and treatises mostly saying 'bodhisattva mahāsattva', Master [Kumāra]jīva, finding the Indian words cumbersome, took the eight characters of the two phrases as the title, so he removed three characters, retained five characters, and combined them into a single phrase, calling it 'bodhisattva mahāsattva'. But while the bodhi of the three vehicles is commonly called 'the path', the bodhisattva alone receives the title 'great', because in dependence on the four truths he gives rise to the four universal vows of loving-kindness and compassion, seeking the Buddha fruition above and transforming sentient beings below; this mind is expansive and great, and therefore distinctively receives the designation 'mahāsattva'.