大唐西域記 11.20

11.20

摩訶剌侘國，周六千餘里。國大都城西臨大河，周三十餘里。土地沃壤，稼穡殷盛。氣序溫暑，風俗淳質。其形偉大，其性傲逸，有恩必報，有怨必復，人或陵辱，殉命以讎，窘急投分，忘身以濟。將復怨也，必先告之，各被堅甲，然後爭鋒。臨陣逐北，不殺已降。兵將失利，無所刑罰，賜之女服，感激自死。國養勇士，有數百人，每將決戰，飲酒酣醉，一人摧鋒，萬夫挫銳。遇人肆害，國刑不加，每出遊行，擊鼓前導。復𩚅暴象，凡數百頭，將欲陣戰，亦先飲酒，群馳蹈踐，前無堅敵。其王恃此人象，輕陵隣國。王，剎帝利種也，名補羅稽舍。謀猷弘遠，仁慈廣被，臣下事之，盡其忠矣。今戒日大王東征西伐，遠賓邇肅，唯此國人獨不臣伏，屢率五印度甲兵，及募召諸國烈將，躬往討伐，猶未克勝。其兵也如此，其俗也如彼。人知好學，邪正兼崇。伽藍百餘所，僧徒五千餘人，大小二乘，兼功綜習。天祠百數，異道甚多。

This country is about 5000 li in circuit. The capital borders on the west on a great river. It is about 30 li round. The soil is rich and fertile ; it is regularly cultivated and very productive. The climate is hot ; the disposition of the people is honest and simple ; they are tall of stature, and of a stern, vindictive character. To their benefactors they are grateful ; to their enemies relentless. If they are insulted, they will risk their life to avenge themselves. If they are asked to help one in distress, they will forget themselves in their haste to render assistance. If they are going to seek revenge, they first give their enemy warning ; then, each being armed, they attack each other with lances (spears). When one turns to flee, the other pursues him, but they do not kill a man down (a person who submits). If a general loses a battle, they do not inflict punishment, but present him with woman's clothes, and so he is driven to seek death for himself. The country provides for a band of champions to the number of several hundred. Each time they are about to engage in conflict they intoxicate themselves with wine, and then one man with lance in hand will meet ten thousand and challenge them in fight. If one of these champions meets a man and kills him, the laws of the country do not punish him. Every time they go forth they beat drums before them.

Moreover, they inebriate many hundred heads of elephants, and, taking them out to fight, they themselves first drink their wine, and then rushing forward in mass, they trample everything down, so that no enemy can stand before them. The king, in consequence of his possessing these men and elephants, treats his neighbours with contempt. He is of the Kshattriya caste, and his name is Pulakeśi (Pu-lo-ki-she). His plans and undertakings are wide-spread, and his beneficent actions are felt over a great distance. His subjects obey him with perfect submission. At the present time Śīlāditya Mahārāja has conquered the nations from east to west, and carried his arms to remote districts, but the people of this country alone have not submitted to him. He has gathered troops from the five Indies, and summoned the best leaders from all countries, and himself gone at the head of his army to punish and subdue these people, but he has not yet conquered their troops. So much for their habits. The men are fond of learning, and study both heretical and orthodox (books). There are about 100 sangharamas, with 5000 or so priests. They practise both the Great and Small Vehicle. There are about 100 Deva temples, in which very many heretics of different persuasions dwell.