高僧傳 2.14

2.14

什停涼積年，呂光父子既不弘道，故蘊其深解，無所宣化，符堅已亡，竟不相見。及姚萇僣有關中，亦挹其高名，虛心要請，諸呂以什智計多解，恐為姚謀，不許東入。及萇卒，子興襲位，復遣敦請。興弘始三年三月，有樹連理，生于廣庭，逍遙園葱變為[卄/(〡*臣)]，以為美瑞，謂智人應入。至五月，興遣隴西公碩德西伐呂隆，隆軍大破。至九月，隆上表歸降，方得迎什入關，以其年十二月二十日至于長安。興待以國師之禮，甚見優寵。晤言相對，則淹留終日，研微造盡，則窮年忘勌。

Kumārajīva stayed in Liangzhou for many years. Since Lü Guang and his son did not promote the Way, he kept his profound understanding concealed and had nowhere to propagate it. Fu Jian had already died, so they never met after all. When Yao Chang claimed illicit rule over Guanzhong, he also admired his high fame, sincerely inviting him; but the Lüs, knowing that Kumārajīva had much wisdom and strategy, feared he would devise plans for the Yaos and would not permit him to go east. When Chang died and his son Xing succeeded to the throne, he again dispatched envoys with earnest invitations. In the third year of Yao Xing's Hongshi era, in the third month, trees with entwined branches grew in the wide courtyard, and scallions in the Xiaoyao Garden turned into fragrant rue; this was regarded as an auspicious omen, indicating that a wise man was about to enter. In the fifth month, Xing dispatched Shuode, Duke of Longxi, to march west against Lü Long, and Long's army suffered a great defeat. In the ninth month, Long submitted a memorial offering surrender; only then was it possible to welcome Kumārajīva into the Pass. On the twentieth day of the twelfth month of that year, he arrived in Chang'an. Xing treated him with the honors of a National Preceptor and showed him exceptional favor. When they met in conversation, they would linger the whole day; inquiring into subtle points and penetrating them fully, he forgot weariness year after year.