高僧傳 1.58

1.58

During the Jianyuan era of the Fu clan, when Saṃghabhadra, Dharmanandin, and others entered Chang'an, Zhao Zheng requested the translation of various scriptures. At that time, none of the figures of eminent virtue were able to transmit the translation, and the assembly all recommended Zhu Fonian. Thereupon Saṃghabhadra held the Sanskrit text, and Zhu Fonian translated it into Chinese; only through his decisive resolution of dubious meanings did the pronunciations and characters become clear. In the first month of the twentieth year of Jianyuan, they again requested Dharmanandin to translate the *Ekottarika-āgama* and the *Madhyama-āgama*. In Chang'an, they assembled śramaṇas of doctrinal learning and requested Zhu Fonian to translate, analyzing and examining the text, which was completed after two years. The revelation of the two *Āgamas* was the merit of Zhu Fonian's proclamation and translation. Since An Shigao and Zhi Qian, no one surpassed Zhu Fonian; across the two eras of Fu and Yao, he was the foremost master of translators, and thus the monastic community of Guanzhong unanimously praised him. Later he successively translated the *Pusa yingluo*, the *Daśabhūmika-sūtra*, the *Udānavarga*, the *Garbha-sūtra*, and the *Antarābhava-sūtra*. He had just begun their revision when, with many of his intentions yet unrealized, he fell ill and died in Chang'an. Both the ordained and lay, near and far, lamented and grieved.