大唐西域記 12.4

12.4

漕矩吒國，周七千餘里。國大都城號鶴悉那，周三十餘里，或都鶴薩羅城，城周三十餘里，並堅峻險固也。山川隱軫，疇壟爽塏。穀稼時播，宿麥滋豐，草木扶疎，花菓茂盛，宜欝金香，出興瞿草，草生羅摩印度川。鶴薩羅城中踊泉流派，國人利之，以溉田也。氣序寒烈，霜雪繁多。人性輕躁，情多詭詐。好學藝，多技術，聽而不明，日誦數萬言。文字言辭，異於諸國。多飾虛談，少成事實。雖祀百神，敬崇三寶。伽藍數百所，僧徒萬餘人，並皆習學大乘法教。今王淳信，累葉承統，務興勝福，敏而好學。無憂王所建窣堵波十餘所。天祠數十，異道雜居。計多外道，其徒極盛，宗事䅳（錫苟反，下同）那天。其天神昔自迦畢試國阿路猱山徙居此國南界䅳那呬羅山中，作威作福，為暴為惡，信求者遂願，輕蔑者招殃。故遠近宗仰，上下祗懼。隣國異俗君臣僚庶，每歲嘉辰不期而會，或齎金、銀、奇寶，或以牛、馬、馴畜，競興貢奉，俱伸誠素。所以金、銀布地，羊馬滿谷，無敢覬覦，唯修施奉。宗事外道，克心苦行，天神授其呪術，外道遵行多効，治療疾病，頗蒙痊愈。從此北行五百餘里，至弗栗恃薩儻那國。

This country is about 7000 li in circuit, the capital, which is called Ho-si-na (Ghazna), is about 30 li round. There is another capital, Ho-sa-la, which is about 30 li round. Both of them are naturally strong and also fortified. Mountains and valleys succeed each other, with plains intervening, fit for cultivation. The land is sown and reaped in due season. Winter wheat is grown in great abundance; shrubs and trees grow in rich variety, and there are flowers and fruits in abundance. The soil is favourable for the yo-kin plant (turmeric) and for the hing-kiu; this last grows in the valley Lo-mo-in-tu. In the city Ho-sa-lo is a fountain, of which the water divides itself into many branches, and which the people utilise for the purposes of irrigation. The climate is cold; there are frequent hail and snow storms. The people are naturally light-hearted and impulsive; they are crafty and deceitful. They love learning and the arts, and show considerable skill in magical sentences, but they have no good aim in view.
They daily repeat several myriads of words; their writing and language differ from those of other countries. They are very specious in vain talk, but there is little body or truth in what they say. Although they worship a hundred [many] spirits, yet they also greatly reverence the three precious ones. There are several hundred sanghārāmas, with 1000 or so priests. They all study the Great Vehicle. The reigning sovereign is sincere and honest in his faith, and is the successor of a long line of kings. He applies himself assiduously to religious work [merit] and is well instructed and fond of learning. There are some ten stūpas built by Asōka-rāja, and several tens of Deva temples, in which sectaries of various denominations dwell together.
The Tīrthaka heretics are very numerous; they worship principally the Deva Kshuna (T'seu-na). This Deva spirit formerly came from Mount Aruna ('O-lu-nao) in Kapisa, and took up his abode here in the southern districts of this kingdom, in the Mount Sunagir. He is severe or good, causing misfortune or exercising violence. Those who invoke him with faith obtain their wishes; those who despise him reap misfortune. Therefore people both far off and near show for him deep reverence; high and low alike are filled with religious awe of him. The princes, nobles, and people of this as well as of foreign countries assemble every year at a season of rejoicing which is not fixed, and offer gold and silver and precious objects of rare value (choice trifles), with sheep, and horses, and domestic animals; all which they present in simple and confiding trust, so that though the earth is covered with silver and gold, and the sheep and horses fill the valleys, yet no one would dare to covet them: they consider them as things set apart for sacred purposes. The heretics (Tirthakas), by subduing their minds and mortifying their flesh, get from the spirits of heaven sacred formulae. By the use of these they are frequently able to control diseases and recover the sick.
Going from this northwards 500 li or so, we come to the kingdom of Fo-li-shi-sa-t'ang-na.