大唐西域記 2.1-4

2.1

三藏法師玄奘奉　詔譯

ON examination, we find that the names of India (T'ien-chu) are various and perplexing as to their authority. It was anciently called Shin-tu, also Hien-tau; but now, according to the right pronunciation, it is called In-tu. The people of In-tu call their country by different names according to their district. Each country has diverse customs. Aiming at a general name which is the best sounding, we will call the country In-tu. In Chinese this name signifies the Moon. The moon has many names, of which this is one. For as it is said that all living things ceaselessly revolve in the wheel (of transmigration) through the long night of ignorance, without a guiding star, their case is like (the world), the sun gone down; as then the torch affords its connecting light, though there be the shining of the stars, how different from the bright (cool) moon; just so the bright connected light of holy men and sages, guiding the world as the shining of the moon, have made this country eminent, so it is called In-tu.
The families of India are divided into castes, the Brahmans particularly (are noted) on account of their purity and nobility. Tradition has so hallowed the name of this tribe that there is no question as to difference of place, but the people generally speak of India as the country of the Brahmans (Po-lo-men).

2.2

大總持寺沙門辯機撰

2.3

濫波國
那揭羅曷國
健馱邏國

2.4

詳夫天竺之稱，異議糺紛，舊云身毒，或曰賢豆，今從正音，宜云印度。印度之人，隨地稱國，殊方異俗，遙舉總名，語其所美，謂之印度。印度者，唐言月。月有多名，斯其一稱。言諸群生輪迴不息，無明長夜莫有司晨，其猶白日既隱，宵燭斯繼，雖有星光之照，豈如朗月之明。苟緣斯致，因而譬月。良以其土聖賢繼軌，導凡御物，如月照臨。由是義故，謂之印度。印度種姓族類群分，而婆羅門特為清貴，從其雅稱，傳以成俗，無云經界之別，總謂婆羅門國焉。