佛祖歷代通載 11.38

11.38

（二十三　乙巳）　十九年正月丙子。法師玄奘齎經像歸于京師。留守房玄齡館于宏福寺。以表聞帝。壬辰奘如東都。二月己亥見于儀鸞殿。帝曰師去何不相報。對曰。當去時表三上。以誠願微淺。不蒙諒許。無任慕道之至。乃輟私行。專擅之罪惟深愧懼。帝曰。師出家與俗殊隔。能委命求法惠利蒼生。朕甚嘉焉固不煩為愧。但念山川阻遠方俗異心。怪師能達也。對曰。奘聞乘疾風者造天地而非遠馭龍舟者涉江海而不難。自陛下握乾符清四海。德籠九域仁被八區。淳風扇炎景之南。聖威震葱嶺之外。所以戎夷君長。每見翔雲之鳥自東來者。猶疑發於上國。斂衽而敬之。況玄奘圓頂方親承化育者耶。既賴天威。故得往還無難。帝曰。此長者之言。朕何敢當。因廣問雪嶺以西印度之境玉燭和氣物產風俗八王故迹七佛遺蹤。並博望之所不傳。班馬無得而載者。奘既親游其地。記憶無遺。隨問而對。皆有條理。帝大悅曰。師所經一百餘國。可盡掇其山川風俗。撰大唐西域記以遺後來。不亦美乎奘奉詔將罷。帝謂侍臣曰。昔符堅稱道安為神器。舉國遵敬朕觀法師。詞吐溫雅風節貞峻。非徒不愧古人。實過之遠甚。司徒長孫無忌曰。誠如明詔。道安雖高行博識。然弘法之功。固不如法師躬趨聖域討論眾妙究探宗極者矣。時車駕將問罪高麗。聞法師之還。期暫引見。及對談論不覺日莫。帝曰。匇匇言不盡懷。欲共法師東行。省方觀俗。指揮之暇。別更談敘可乎。對曰玄奘遠歸。兼有病疾。不堪陪駕。帝曰。師向能孤游絕域。今此行如跬步耳。尚何辭。對曰。陛下東征六軍奉衛。伐亂誅姦必有牧野之功昆陽之捷。玄奘無所裨助。虛負道路之費。且兵刃交戰。佛制沙門不得觀視。惟陛下矜察。帝嘉納而止。奘因奏西域所獲梵本經論凡六百五十七部。乞就嵩山少林寺為國宣釋。帝曰。朕頃為穆太后剏宏福寺。極為虛靜。可就彼翻譯。所須並與玄齡平章。奘因進曰。百姓無知見奘遠歸妄有窺看。不徒妨廢法務。兼慮不測之患。願得監門官以防釁隙。帝悅曰。此言可謂保身之計當為處分。及罷即別。有旨差官監護。

(23. Yisi) Nineteenth year [645 CE], first month, bingzi day. Dharma Master Xuanzang returned to the capital carrying scriptures and statues. Regent Fang Xuanling lodged him at Hongfu Monastery and reported this to the Emperor in a memorial. On the renchen day, Xuanzang went to the Eastern Capital. In the second month, on the yihai day, he was granted an audience at the Yiluan Hall. The Emperor said, "Why did you not notify [Us] when you departed, Master?" He replied, "When I was about to depart, I submitted three memorials, but because my sincere aspiration was slight and shallow, I was not granted permission. Unable to bear my utmost yearning for the Way, I thereupon ceased waiting and departed privately. For the crime of taking matters into my own hands, I feel deeply ashamed and fearful." The Emperor said, "You, Master, left home and are separated far from the mundane; you were able to abandon your life to seek the Dharma and benefit the multitudes of living beings. We greatly commend you, so there is truly no need to feel ashamed. We only reflect upon the阻distant mountains and rivers, and the divergent customs and minds; We marvel that you were able to reach [your goal]." He replied, "Xuanzang has heard that one who rides a swift wind reaches heaven and earth without distance; one who pilots a dragon boat crosses rivers and seas without difficulty. Since Your Majesty grasped the heavenly tally and purified the four seas, your virtue encompasses the nine realms and your benevolence covers the eight directions. Your pure influence blows south of the blazing sun, and your holy awe shakes beyond the Onion Ranges (Pamir). Therefore, whenever the barbarian chieftains see clouds of birds flying from the east, they still suspect they originate from the Sovereign Country, and adjust their lapels to revere them. How much more so for Xuanzang, whose head is shaved, who personally received your transforming nurture! Having relied upon the heavenly majesty, I was thus able to go and return without difficulty." The Emperor said, "These are words of an elder. How could We dare presume to accept them?" Thereupon he asked extensively about the regions of India west of the Snow Mountains, the harmonious climate, the produce, the customs, the former traces of the eight kings, and the bequeathed relics of the seven Buddhas—all of which were not transmitted by the Bowang [Marquis Zhang Qian] and could not be recorded by Ban [Gu] and Ma [Sima Qian]. Since Xuanzang had personally traveled to those lands, his memory lacked nothing; answering in accordance with each question, all was orderly. The Emperor was greatly pleased and said, "Of the more than one hundred states you traversed, Master, you may gather all their mountains, rivers, and customs, and compile the Great Tang Record of the Western Regions to bequeath to posterity. Would that not be fine?" Xuanzang accepted the decree and was about to retire. The Emperor said to his attendant ministers, "Formerly, Fu Jian praised Dao'an as a divine vessel, revered by the entire state. As We observe the Dharma Master, his speech is gentle and refined, his integrity pure and lofty. Not only is he not ashamed before the ancients, he truly surpasses them by far." Minister of Works Zhangsun Wuji said, "It is truly as the enlightened decree says. Although Dao'an possessed lofty conduct and broad learning, his merit in propagating the Dharma was certainly not equal to that of the Dharma Master personally hastening to the holy realm, discussing the many wonders, and thoroughly plumbing the ultimate principle." At that time, the imperial entourage was about to punish Gaogouli. Hearing of the Dharma Master's return, [the Emperor] intended to grant only a brief audience, but when they conversed, they did not notice the day turning to evening. The Emperor said, "In this rush of time, words cannot exhaust my thoughts. I wish to travel east together with you, Master, to inspect the regions and observe customs; in the leisure between commands, could we converse further?" He replied, "Xuanzang has returned from afar and also suffers from illness; I am unfit to accompany the imperial carriage." The Emperor said, "You, Master, were previously able to travel alone to remote lands; now this journey is merely like a single pace. Why still decline?" He replied, "Your Majesty campaigns to the east, escorted by the six armies; in chastising disorder and executing wickedness, there will surely be the merit of Muye and the victory of Kunyang. Xuanzang would provide no assistance, only vainly burdening the journey's expenses. Moreover, when weapons clash in combat, the Buddha's precepts forbid śramaṇas from watching. I only ask Your Majesty to pity and consider this." The Emperor graciously accepted this and ceased. Xuanzang thereupon memorialized that he had obtained 657 Sanskrit scriptures and treatises in the Western Regions, begging to go to Shaolin Monastery on Mount Song to expound and translate them for the state. The Emperor said, "We recently founded Hongfu Monastery for Empress Dowager Mu, which is extremely quiet and secluded. You may translate them there. For all necessities, consult with Xuanling." Xuanzang then stepped forward and said, "The common folk are ignorant; seeing Xuanzang return from afar, they come to gawk indiscreetly. Not only does this hinder and disrupt Dharma affairs, but I also worry about unforeseen calamities. I wish to obtain a gatekeeper official to guard against friction." The Emperor was pleased and said, "These words may be called a strategy for preserving oneself; We shall make arrangements." When [the audience] ended, an imperial decree was issued separately appointing an official to supervise and protect him.