高僧傳 2.5

2.5

鳩摩羅什，此云童壽，天竺人也，家世國相。什祖父達多，倜儻不群，名重於國。父鳩摩炎，聰明有懿節，將嗣相位，乃辭避出家，東度葱嶺。龜茲王聞其棄榮，甚敬慕之，自出郊迎，請為國師。王有妹，年始二十，識悟明敏，過目必能，一聞則誦。且體有赤黶，法生智子，諸國娉之，並不肯行。及見摩炎，心欲當之，乃逼以妻焉，既而懷什。什在胎時，其母自覺神悟超解有倍常日。聞雀梨大寺名德既多，又有得道之僧，即與王族貴女，德行諸尼，彌日設供，請齋聽法。什母忽自通天竺語，難問之辭，必窮淵致，眾咸歎之。有羅漢達摩瞿沙曰：「此必懷智子。」為說舍利弗在胎之證。及什生之後，還忘前言。頃之，什母樂欲出家，夫未之許，遂更產一男，名弗沙提婆。後因出城遊觀，見塚間枯骨異處縱橫，於是深惟苦本，定誓出家，若不落髮，不咽飲食。至六日夜，氣力綿乏，疑不達旦，夫乃懼而許焉。以未剃髮故，猶不嘗進。即勅人除髮，乃下飲食。次旦受戒，仍樂禪法，專精匪懈，學得初果。

Kumārajīva, translated as Tongshou (Youth-Longevity), was an Indian whose family had for generations served as state chancellors. Jīva's grandfather, Datta, was untrammeled and outstanding, enjoying high renown in his country. His father, Kumārāyana, possessed bright intelligence and admirable integrity; when he was about to inherit the post of chancellor, he declined it and left home to enter the religious life, travelling east across the Pamir Mountains. The king of Kucha, hearing that he had renounced worldly glory, held him in deep reverence and admiration; he went out to the suburbs in person to welcome him and invited him to become State Preceptor. The king had a younger sister, just twenty years of age, whose insight and intelligence were sharp and keen; whatever met her eyes she could master, and what she heard once she could recite. Moreover, she had a red birthmark on her body, indicating she would give birth to a wise son. Many kingdoms had sought her in marriage, but she would accept none of them. When she saw Kumārāyana, her heart wished to be matched with him, and so they compelled him to take her as his wife, after which she became pregnant with Jīva. While Jīva was in the womb, his mother herself felt that her spiritual insight and understanding had doubled compared to ordinary days. Hearing that the Great Cīkkhaṭa Monastery had many renowned and virtuous monks as well as monks who had attained the Way, she together with noble ladies of the royal clan and virtuous nuns made offerings throughout the day, inviting monks to meals and listening to the Dharma. Jīva's mother suddenly became spontaneously fluent in the language of India; when she raised difficult questions, she penetrated their profoundest depths, and all who heard were amazed. The arhat Dharmaghosa said: "She must be carrying a wise son," and recounted to them the proofs from when Śāriputra was in the womb. After Jīva was born, she forgot that language again. Soon after, Jīva's mother wished to leave home to become a nun, but her husband would not permit it, and she subsequently gave birth to another boy, named Puṣyadeva. Later, when going outside the city on an excursion, she saw dry bones lying scattered in different places among the graves; thereupon she deeply contemplated the root of suffering and firmly vowed to leave home, swearing that if she could not shave her hair she would swallow no food or drink. By the night of the sixth day, her breath and strength were so depleted that it was feared she would not survive till dawn; her husband was terrified and gave his permission. Because her hair was not yet shaven, she still would not taste anything. Only when he ordered someone to shave her head did she take food and drink. The next morning she received the precepts, continued to delight in dhyāna practice, and through tireless and undivided effort, attained the first fruit [of stream-entry].