大唐西域記 12.43

12.43

王城西五六里，有娑摩若僧伽藍。中有窣堵波，高百餘尺，甚多靈瑞，時燭神光。昔有羅漢，自遠方來，止此林中，以神通力，放大光明。時王夜在重閣，遙見林中光明照曜，於是歷問，僉曰：「有一沙門，自遠而至，宴坐林中，示現神通。」王遂命駕，躬往觀察。既覩明賢，乃心祗敬，欽風不已，請至中宮。沙門曰：「物有所宜，志其所在。幽林藪澤，情之所賞；高堂邃宇，非我攸聞。」王益敬仰，深加宗重，為建伽藍，起窣堵波。沙門受請，遂止其中。頃之，王感獲舍利數百粒，甚慶悅，竊自念曰：「舍利來應，何其晚歟？早得置之窣堵波下，豈非勝迹？」尋詣伽藍，具白沙門。羅漢曰：「王無憂也，今為置之。宜以金、銀、銅、鐵大石函等，以次周盛。」王命匠人，不日功畢，載諸寶輿，送至伽藍。是時也，王宮導從、庶僚凡百，觀送舍利者，動以萬計。羅漢乃以右手舉窣堵波，置諸掌中，謂王曰：「可以藏下也。」遂坎地安函，其功斯畢，於是下窣堵波，無所傾損。觀覩之徒，歎未曾有，信佛之心彌篤，敬法之志斯堅。王謂群官曰：「我嘗聞佛力難思，神通難究。或分身百億，或應迹人天；舉世界於掌內，眾生無動靜之想，演法性於常音，眾生有隨類之悟。斯則神力不共，智慧絕言。其靈已隱，其教猶傳。飡和飲澤，味道欽風，尚獲斯靈，深賴其福。勉哉，凡百！宜深崇敬，佛法幽深，於是明矣。」

To the west of the royal city 5 or 6 li is a convent called Sa-mo-joh (Samajna). In the middle of it is a stupa about 100 feet high, which exhibits many miraculous indications (signs). Formerly there was an Arhat, who, coming from a distance, took up his abode in this forest, and by his spiritual power shed abroad a miraculous light. Then the king at night-time, being in a tower of his palace, saw at a distance, in the middle of the wood, brilliant light shining. Asking a number of persons in succession what their opinion was, they all said, "There is a Sramana who has come from far, and is sitting alone in this wood. By the exercise of his supernatural power he spreads abroad this light." The king then ordered his chariot to be equipped, and went in person to the spot. Having seen the illustrious sage, his heart was filled with reverence, and after having offered him every respect, he invited him to come to the palace. The Sramana said, "Living things have their place, and the mind has its place. For me the sombre woods and the desert marshes have attraction. The storeyed halls of a palace and its extensive courts are not suitable for my tastes." The king hearing this felt redoubled reverence for him, and paid him increased respect. He constructed for him a sanghdrdma and raised a stttpa. The Sramana, having been invited to do so, took up his abode there.

The king having procured some hundred particles of relics, was filled with joy and thought with himself, "These relics have come late; if they had come before, I could have placed them under this stdpa, and then what a miracle of merit it would have been." Going then to the sanghdrdma, he asked the Sramana. The Arhat said, "Let not the king be distressed. In order to place them in their proper place you ought to prepare a gold, silver, copper, iron, and stone receptacle, and place them one in the other, in order to contain the relics. The king then gave orders to workmen to do this, and it was finished in a day. Then carrying the relics on an ornamented car (or, stand), they brought them to the sanghdrdma. At this time the king, at the head of a hundred officers, left the palace (to witness the procession of the relics), whilst the beholders amounted to several myriads. Then the Arhat with his right hand raised the stdpa, and holding it in his palms, he addressed the king and said, "You can now conceal the relics underneath." Accordingly he dug a place for the chest, and all being done, the Arhat lowered the stūpa without hurt or inconvenience.

The beholders, exulting at the miracle, placed their faith in Buddha, and felt increased reverence for his law. Then the king, addressing his ministers, said, "I have heard it said that the power of Buddha is difficult to calculate, and his spiritual abilities difficult to measure. At one time he divided his body into ten million parts; at other times he appeared among Devas and men, holding the world in the palm of his hand without disturbing any one, explaining the law and its character in ordinary words, so that men and others, according to their kind, understood it, exhibiting the nature of the law in one uniform way, drawing all men (things) to a knowledge of it according to their minds. Thus his spiritual power was peculiarly his own; his wisdom was beyond the power of words to describe. His spirit has passed away, but his teaching remains. Those who are nourished by the sweetness of his doctrine and partake of (drink) his instruction; who follow his directions and aim at his spiritual enlightenment, how great their happiness, how deep their insight. You hundred officers ought to honour and respect Buddha; the mysteries of his law will then become clear to you."