高僧傳 2.36

2.36

Buddhabhadra, translated as Juexian (“Enlightened Worthy”), was originally of the Śākya clan, a native of Kapilavastu and a descendant of King Amṛtodana. His grandfather, Dharmadeva (meaning “Dharma God”), once engaged in commerce in northern India and consequently settled there. His father, Dharmasūrya (meaning “Dharma Sun”), died young. Bhadra was orphaned at the age of three and lived with his mother; at age five he also lost his mother and was raised by his maternal relatives. His great-uncle Gopāla heard of his intelligence and also pitied his orphaned plight, so he brought him back and ordained him as a śrāmaṇera. By the age of seventeen, together with several fellow students, he engaged in memorisation and recitation; while the others took a month, Bhadra finished reciting in a single day. His master sighed and said: “In one day, Bhadra rivals thirty men.” When he received full ordination, he cultivated his practice with diligence, studied widely across numerous sūtras, and attained mastery in many of them.