[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [高僧傳](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2059) › 2.45 # 高僧傳 2.45 高僧傳 2.45 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [2.45](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2059.2.45) 曇無讖，或云曇摩懺，或云曇無懺，蓋取梵音不同也。其本中天竺人，六歲遭父喪，隨母傭織㲩𣰆為業。見沙門達摩耶舍，此云法明，道俗所崇，豐於利養，其母美之，故以讖為其弟子。十歲，同學數人讀呪，聰敏出群，誦經日得萬餘言。初學小乘，兼覽五明諸論，講說精辯，莫能詶抗。後遇白頭禪師，共讖論議，習業既異，交諍十旬。讖雖攻難鋒起，而禪師終不肯屈，讖伏其精理，乃謂禪師曰：「頗有經典可得見不？」禪師即授以樹皮《涅槃經》本。讖尋讀驚悟，方自慚恨，以為坎井之識，久迷大方，於是集眾悔過，遂專大乘。至年二十，誦大小乘經二百餘萬言。讖從兄善能調象，騎殺王所乘白耳大象，王怒誅之，令曰：「敢有視者，夷三族。」親屬莫敢往者。讖哭而葬之，王怒，欲誅讖，讖曰：「王以法故殺之，我以親而葬之，並不違大義，何為見怒？」傍人為之寒心，其神色自若，王奇其志氣，遂留供養之。 > Dharmakṣema, also called Tanmoxian or Tanwuxian, owes these variations to different phonetic renderings of the Sanskrit. He was originally a native of Madhyadeśa. At the age of six, he lost his father and followed his mother in making a living by weaving woolen blankets. Seeing the śramaṇa Dharmayaśas (here translated as "Faming"), who was revered by both clergy and laity and enriched with material offerings, his mother admired this and therefore made Dharmakṣema his disciple. At the age of ten, he recited dhāraṇīs with several fellow students; his intelligence surpassed the crowd, and he could recite more than ten thousand words of sūtras each day. At first he studied the Hīnayāna, concurrently examining treatises of the five sciences (pañcavidyā); his explanations were precise and eloquent, such that no one could counter or oppose him. Later he met a white-haired dhyāna master and debated with him; their studies being different, they contested for a hundred days. Although Dharmakṣema launched sharp challenges, the dhyāna master refused to yield to the end. Dharmakṣema submitted to his subtle principles and said to the dhyāna master, "Might there be scriptures that I could see?" The dhyāna master then handed him a bark manuscript of the Nirvāṇa-sūtra. Dharmakṣema examined and read it, was startled into awakening, and felt ashamed and regretful, considering that his well-frog understanding had long strayed from the great expanse. Thereupon he gathered the assembly, repented of his errors, and devoted himself exclusively to the Mahāyāna. By the age of twenty, he had recited more than two million words of Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna sūtras. Dharmakṣema's paternal cousin was skilled at training elephants; while riding, he killed the white-eared great elephant ridden by the king. The king was enraged and executed him, issuing an order: "Whoever dares to look upon him shall have their clan exterminated to three generations." None of the relatives dared go. Dharmakṣema wept and buried him. The king was enraged and wished to execute Dharmakṣema. Dharmakṣema said, "Your Majesty killed him according to the law, while I buried him out of kinship; neither of us violates great righteousness. Why should you be angry?" The bystanders froze with fear for him, but his countenance was composed. The king marveled at his determination and courage, and retained him to make offerings to him. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 2.44](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2059.2.44) - [Next: 2.46](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2059.2.46) - [Up: 2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2059.2) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2059~en-mt.2.45) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [貞元新定釋教目錄](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2157.6.32.1) — 圓照, Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2059.2.45](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2059.2.45) · Pramāṇa