大唐西域記 4.39

4.39

閻牟那河東行八百餘里，至殑伽河河源，廣三四里，東南流入海處廣十餘里。水色滄浪，波流浩汗，靈怪雖多，不為物害，其味甘美，細沙隨流。彼俗書記，謂之福水，罪咎雖積，沐浴便除；輕命自沈，生天受福；死而投骸，不墮惡趣；揚波激流，亡魂獲濟。時執師子國提婆菩薩深達實相，得諸法性，愍諸愚夫，來此導誘。當是時也，士女咸會，少長畢萃，於河之濱，揚波激流。提婆菩薩和光汲引，俯首反激，狀異眾人。有外道曰：「吾子何其異乎？」提婆菩薩曰：「吾父母親宗在執師子國，恐苦飢渴，冀斯遠濟。」諸外道曰：「吾子謬矣！曾不再思，妄行此事。家國綿邈，山川遼敻，激揚此水，給濟彼飢，其猶却行以求前及，非所聞也。」提婆菩薩曰：「幽途罪累，尚蒙此水；山川雖阻，如何不濟？」時諸外道知難謝屈，捨邪見，受正法，改過自新，願奉教誨。

On the east of the Yamunā, going about 800 li, we come to the Ganges river. The source of the river (or the river at its source) is 3 or 4 li wide; flowing south-east, it enters the sea, where it is 10 li and more in width. The water of the river is blue, like the ocean, and its waves are wide-rolling as the sea. The scaly monsters, though many, do no harm to men. The taste of the water is sweet and pleasant, and sands of extreme fineness border its course. In the common history of the country this river is called Fo-shwui, the river of religious merit, which can wash away countless sins. Those who are weary of life, if they end their days in it, are borne to heaven and receive happiness. If a man dies and his bones are cast into the river, he cannot fall into an evil way; whilst he is carried by its waters and forgotten by men, his soul is preserved in safety on the other side (in the other world).

At a certain time there was a Bodhisattva of the island of Siṁhala (Chi-sse-tseu—Ceylon) called Deva, who profoundly understood the relationship of truth and the nature of all composite things (fa). Moved with pity at the ignorance of men, he came to this country to guide and direct the people in the right way. At this time the men and women were all assembled with the young and old together on the banks of the river, whose waves rolled along with impetuosity. Then Deva Bodhisattva composing his supernatural appearance bent his head and dispersed it (the rays of his glory?) again — his appearance different from that of other men. There was an unbeliever who said, "What does my son in altering thus his appearance?" Deva Bodhisattva answered: "My father, mother, and relations dwell in the island of Ceylon. I fear lest they may be suffering from hunger and thirst; I desire to appease them from this distant spot."

The heretic said: "You deceive yourself, my son; have you no reflection to see how foolish such a thing is? Your country is far off, and separated by mountains and rivers of wide extent from this. To draw up this water and scatter it in order to quench the thirst of those far off, is like going backwards to seek a thing before you; it is a way never heard of before." Then Deva Bodhisattva said: "If those who are kept for their sins in the dark regions of evil can reap the benefit of the water, why should it not reach those who are merely separated by mountains and rivers?" Then the heretics, in presence of the difficulty, confessed themselves wrong, and, giving up their unbelief, received the true law. Changing their evil ways, they reformed themselves and sought to become his disciples. After crossing the river and going along the eastern side of it, we come to the country of Ma-ti-pu-lo (Matipura).