大唐西域記 2.45

2.45

大窣堵波東面石陛南鏤作二窣堵波，一高三尺，一高五尺，規摹形狀如大窣堵波。又作兩軀佛像，一高四尺，一高六尺，擬菩提樹下加趺坐像，日光照燭，金色晃曜，陰影漸移，石文青紺。聞諸耆舊曰：數百年前，石基之隙有金色蟻，大者如指，小者如麥，同類相從，齧其石壁，文若雕鏤，廁以金沙，作為此像，今猶現在。

These two stûpas are still visible. In aggravated sickness, if a cure is sought, people burn incense and offer flowers, and with a sincere faith pay their devotions. In many cases a remedy is found. On the southern side of the steps, on the eastern face of the great stûpa, there are engraved (or carved) two stûpas, one three feet high, the other five feet. They are the same shape and proportion as the great stûpa. Again, there are two full-sized figures of Buddha, one four feet, the other six feet in height. They resemble him as he sat cross-legged beneath the Bôdhi tree. When the full rays of the sun shine on them they appear of a brilliant gold colour, and as the light decreases the hues of the stone seem to assume a reddish-blue colour. The old people say, "Several centuries ago, in a fissure of the stone foundation, there were some gold-coloured ants, the greatest about the size of the finger, the longest about a barleycorn in size. Those of the same species consorted together; by gnawing the stone steps they have left lines and marks as if engraved on the surface, and by the gold sand which they left (as deposits) they have caused the figures of Buddha to assume their appearance."