大唐西域記 12.29

12.29

大崖東北，踰嶺履險，行二百餘里，至奔（通論反）穰舍羅（唐言福舍）。葱嶺東岡，四山之中，地方百餘頃，正中墊下。冬夏積雪，風寒飄勁。疇壟舃鹵，稼穡不滋，既無林樹，唯有細草。時雖暑熱，而多風雪，人徒纔入，雲霧已興，商侶往來，苦斯艱險。聞諸耆舊曰：昔有賈客，其徒萬餘，槖駝數千，齎貨逐利，遭風遇雪，人畜俱喪。時朅盤陀國有大羅漢，遙觀見之，愍其危厄，欲運神通，拯斯淪溺；適來至此，商人已喪。於是收諸珍寶，集其所有，構立館舍，儲積資財，買地隣國，鬻戶邊城，以賑往來。故今行人商侶，咸蒙周給。從此東下葱嶺東岡，登危嶺，越洞谷，谿徑險阻，風雪相繼，行八百餘里，出葱嶺，至烏鎩國。

In the midst of four mountains belonging to the eastern chain of the T'sung-ling mountains there is a space comprising some hundred k'ing (thousand acres). In this, both during summer and winter, there fall down piles of snow; the cold winds and icy storms rage. The ground, impregnated with salt, produces no crops; there are no trees and nothing but scrubby underwood. Even at the time of great heat the wind and the snow continue. Scarcely have travellers entered this region when they find themselves surrounded by vapour from the snow. Merchant bands, caravans, in coming and going suffer severely in these difficult and dangerous spots. The old story says: "Formerly there was a troop of merchants, who, with their followers, amounted to 10,000 or so, with many thousand camels. They were occupied in transporting their goods and getting profit. They were assailed by wind and snow, and both men and beasts perished. At this time there was a great Arhat who belonged to the kingdom of Kie-p'an-to, who, taking a wide look, saw them in their danger, and being moved by pity, desired to exert his spiritual power for their rescue; but when he arrived they were already dead. On this he collected the precious objects that lay scattered about and constructed a house, and gathering in this all the wealth he could, he bought the neighbouring land and built houses in the bordering cities for the accommodation of travellers, and now merchantmen and travellers enjoy the benefit of his beneficence.

Going north-east from this, descending the T'sung-ling mountains to the eastward, after passing dangerous defiles and deep valleys, and traversing steep and dangerous roads, assailed at every step by snow and wind, after going 100 li or so, we emerge from the T'sung-ling mountains and come to the kingdom of U-sha.

At this time in the east was Asvaghosha, in the south Deva, in the west Nagarjuna, in the north Kumaralabdha. These four were called the four sons that illumined the world. The king of this country, therefore, having heard of the honourable one (Kumâralâbdha) and his great qualities, raised an army to attack Takshaśilâ, and carried him off by force. He then built this sanghârâma. Going south-east 300 li or so from the city, we come to a great rocky scarp in which two chambers are excavated, in each of which is an Arhat plunged in complete ecstasy. They are sitting upright, and they could be moved but with difficulty. Their appearance is shrivelled, but their skin and bones still survive. Though 700 years have elapsed, their hair still grows, and because of this the priests cut their hair every year and change their clothes. To the north-east of the great crag after going 200 li or so along the mountain-side and the precipices, we come to a Puñyaśâlâ (a hospice).