釋氏稽古略 3.96

3.96

華嚴經　太后聞于闐國有梵本華嚴大經。遣使往求之。并請善梵學者一人隨經。於是于闐國主以尊者實叉難陀此云覺喜。妙善華嚴宗旨遣應旨太后大悅。是年三月。詔入大遍空寺。同菩提流志復禮法師等翻譯。次移佛授記寺。太后時幸其寺。親究筆削。施供食饌。至聖曆二年十月譯新經成八十卷。太后親製序文。御太極殿宣示百官。長安四年。實叉難陀出楞伽經七卷。比之諸本尤為詳明。難陀總譯經論一十九部凡一百七卷。辭還于闐。詔遣御史霍嗣光送還本國（並見唐書舊史）。至中宗景龍二年。再詔難陀至京。帝親迎勞備法儀。送止薦福寺講演經旨。睿宗景雲元年十月師入滅。闍維舌根不壞。詔送歸于闐建塔（本傳）。

*Avataṃsaka-sūtra*: The Empress Dowager, hearing that there was a Sanskrit text of the great *Avataṃsaka-sūtra* in the Kingdom of Khotan, dispatched an envoy to request it, and to invite someone well versed in Sanskrit studies to accompany the scripture. Thereupon the King of Khotan dispatched the Venerable Śikṣānanda—translated here as Juexi [Awakening-Joy]—who was profoundly skilled in the tenets of the *Avataṃsaka*, to comply with the imperial order; the Empress Dowager was greatly pleased. In the third month of this year, an edict summoned him to enter Da Biankong Monastery to translate it together with Bodhiruci, Dharma Master Fuli, and others; later, they moved to Foshouji Monastery. The Empress Dowager visited the monastery in person at times, personally inspecting the drafting and correction, and bestowing offerings of food. By the tenth month of the second year of Shengli, the translation of the new scripture was completed in eighty fascicles. The Empress Dowager personally composed a preface and ascended the Taiji Hall to proclaim it to the civil and military officials. In the fourth year of Chang'an, Śikṣānanda produced the seven-fascicle *Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra*, which was particularly detailed and clear compared to other versions. Altogether, Śikṣānanda translated nineteen works of sūtras and treatises in one hundred and seven fascicles. Taking his leave to return to Khotan, an imperial decree dispatched Censor Huo Siguang to escort him back to his native country (all seen in the old and new *Tang Histories*). In the second year of Jinglong under Zhongzong, an edict once again summoned Śikṣānanda to the capital. The Emperor personally welcomed and comforted him with complete ritual decorum, sending him to reside at Jianfu Monastery to lecture on the scripture's tenets. In the tenth month of the first year of Jingyun under Ruizong, the Master entered cessation. After cremation, his tongue remained unconsumed. An edict was issued to send [his remains] back to Khotan to build a stūpa (*Ben zhuan*).