高僧傳 2.26

2.26

初，弗若多羅誦出《十誦》，未竟而亡。廬山釋慧遠聞支既善毘尼，希得究竟律部，乃遣書通好曰：「佛教之興，先行上國，自分流以來，四百餘年。至於沙門德式，所闕尤多。頃西域道士弗若多羅，是罽賓人。甚諷《十誦》梵本。有羅什法師，通才博見，為之傳譯。《十誦》之中，文始過半，多羅早喪，中途而寢，不得究竟大業，慨恨良深，傳聞仁者齎此經自隨，甚欣所遇，冥運之來，豈人事而已耶。想弘道為物，感時而動，叩之有人，必情無所悋。若能為律學之徒，畢此經本，開示梵行，洗其耳目，使始涉之流，不失無上之津，參懷勝業者，日月彌朗，此則惠深德厚，人神同感矣。幸願垂懷，不乖往意一二。悉諸道人所具。」流支既得遠書，及姚興敦請，乃與什共譯《十誦》都畢。研詳考覈，條制審定，而什猶恨文煩未善。既而什化，不獲刪治。流支住長安大寺，慧觀欲請下京師，支曰：「彼土有人有法，足以利世，吾當更行無律教處。」於是遊化餘方，不知所卒。或云終於涼土，未詳。

Earlier, Puṇyatāra had recited the Daśabhāṇavāra, but died before it was finished. When Śramaṇa Huiyuan of Mount Lu heard that Dharmaruci was skilled in the Vinaya and hoped to bring the Vinaya section to completion, he sent a letter to establish cordial relations, saying: 'The flourishing of the Buddha's teachings first spread in the upper realm; since it branched out, it has been more than four hundred years. As for the virtuous models of the śramaṇas, what is lacking is especially great. Recently, the foreign practitioner Puṇyatāra, a man of Kashmir, deeply memorized and chanted the Sanskrit text of the Daśabhāṇavāra. There was Dharma Master Kumārajīva, possessing comprehensive talent and broad learning, who translated it for him. Within the Daśabhāṇavāra, the text had just passed the halfway mark when Puṇyatāra passed away early and the work ceased midway, unable to bring the great enterprise to completion, which is a cause of profound regret. It is rumored that you, Benevolent One, carry this scripture with you; I am overjoyed at this encounter. Could the coming of such hidden destinies be mere human affairs? I imagine that in propagating the Path for living beings, you act in resonance with the times; when someone appeals to you, your feelings will certainly hold nothing back. If you can complete this scriptural text for the followers of Vinaya studies, disclose the brahma-conduct, cleanse their ears and eyes, and ensure that those who are just setting out do not lose the unsurpassed ford, while those who participate in this sublime work shine more brilliantly day by day, then this kindness will be deep and your virtue profound, moving both humans and spirits alike. I humbly hope you will bestow your care and not turn against the intention of this message in any way. The details have been fully set forth by the monks.' Having received Huiyuan's letter as well as Yao Xing's earnest invitation, Dharmaruci and Kumārajīva translated the Daśabhāṇavāra together to completion. They examined it in detail and collated it, carefully determining the rules and regulations, yet Kumārajīva still regretted that the wording was overly verbose and not yet polished. Soon afterward Kumārajīva passed away, and no opportunity was found to edit and prune it. Dharmaruci stayed at the Great Temple of Chang'an. Huiguan wished to invite him south to the capital, but Dharmaruci said: 'That land has people and has the Dharma, which are sufficient to benefit the world; I shall go instead to places where there is no Vinaya teaching.' Thereupon he traveled to teach in other regions, and it is not known where he passed away. Some say he died in Liang territory, but this is uncertain.