大唐西域記 12.42

12.42

王城西百五六十里，大沙磧正路中，有堆阜，並鼠壤墳也。聞之土俗曰：此沙磧中，鼠大如蝟，其毛則金銀異色，為其群之酋長，每出穴遊止，則群鼠為從。昔者，匈奴率數十萬眾，寇掠邊城，至鼠墳側屯軍，時瞿薩旦那王率數萬兵，恐力不敵，素知磧中鼠奇，而未神也。洎乎寇至，無所求救，君臣震恐，莫知圖計。苟復設祭，焚香請鼠，冀其有靈，少加軍力。其夜瞿薩旦那王夢見大鼠。曰：「敬欲相助。願早治兵，旦日合戰，必當克勝。」瞿薩旦那王知有靈祐，遂整戎馬，申令將士，未明而行，長驅掩襲。匈奴之聞也，莫不懼焉。方欲駕乘被鎧，而諸馬鞍、人服、弓弦、甲縺，凡厥帶系，鼠皆齧斷。兵寇既臨，面縛受戮。於是殺其將，虜其兵，匈奴震懾，以為神靈所祐也。瞿薩旦那王感鼠厚恩，建祠設祭，奕世遵敬，特深珍異。故上自君王，下至黎庶，咸修祀祭，以求福祐。行次其穴，下乘而趨，拜以致敬，祭以祈福。或衣服、弓、矢，或香花、肴膳，亦既輸誠，多蒙福利。若無享祭，則逢災變。

To the west of the capital city 150 or 160 li, in the midst of the straight road across a great sandy desert, there are a succession of small hills, formed by the burrowing of rats. I heard the following as the common story: — "In this desert there are rats as big as hedgehogs, their hair of a gold and silver colour. There is a head rat to the company. Every day he comes out of his hole and walks about; when he has finished the other rats follow him. In old days a general of the Hiung-nu came to ravage the border of this country with several tens of myriads of followers. When he had arrived thus far at the rat-mounds, he encamped his soldiers. Then the king of Kustana, who commanded only some few myriads of men, feared that his force was not sufficient to take the offensive. He knew of the wonderful character of these desert rats, and that he had not yet made any religious offering to them; but now he was at a loss where to look for succour. His ministers, too, were all in alarm, and could think of no expedient. At last he determined to offer a religious offering to the rats and request their aid, if by these means his army might be strengthened a little. That night the king of Kustana in a dream saw a great rat, who said to him, "I wish respectfully to assist you. To-morrow morning put your troops in movement; attack the enemy, and you will conquer."

The king of Kustana, recognising the miraculous character of this intervention, forthwith arrayed his cavalry and ordered his captains to set out before dawn, and at their head, after a rapid march, he fell unexpectedly on the enemy. The Hiung-nu, hearing their approach, were overcome by fear. They hastened to harness their horses and equip their chariots, but they found that the leather of their armour, and their horses' gear, and their bowstrings, and all the fastenings of their clothes, had been gnawed by the rats. And now their enemies had arrived, and they were taken in disorder. Thereupon their chief was killed and the principal soldiers made prisoners. The Hiung-nu were terrified on perceiving a divine interposition on behalf of their enemies. The king of Kustana, in gratitude to the rats, built a temple and offered sacrifices; and ever since they have continued to receive homage and reverence, and they have offered to them rare and precious things. Hence, from the highest to the lowest of the people, they pay these rats constant reverence and seek to propitiate them by sacrifices. On passing the mounds they descend from their chariots and pay their respects as they pass on, praying for success as they worship. Others offer clothes, and bows, and arrows; others scents, and flowers, and costly meats. Most of those who practise these religious rites obtain their wishes; but if they neglect them, then misfortune is sure to occur.