[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [大唐西域記](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087) › 4.42 # 大唐西域記 4.42 大唐西域記 4.42 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [4.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.4.42) 大城南四五里，至小伽藍，僧徒五十餘人。昔瞿拏鉢剌婆（唐言德光）論師於此作《辯真》等論，凡百餘部。論師少而英傑，長而弘敏，博物強識，碩學多聞。本習大乘，未窮玄奧，因覽《毘婆沙論》，退業而學小乘，作數十部論，破大乘綱紀，成小乘執著。又製俗書數十餘部，非斥先進所作典論。覃思佛經，十數不決，研精雖久，疑情未除。時有提婆犀那（唐言天軍）羅漢，往來覩史多天。德光願見慈氏，決疑請益。天軍以神通力，接上天宮。既見慈氏，長揖不禮。天軍謂曰：「慈氏菩薩次紹佛位，何乃自高，敢不致敬？方欲受業，如何不屈？」德光對曰：「尊者此言，誠為指誨。然我具戒苾芻，出家弟子，慈氏菩薩受天福樂，非出家之侶，而欲作禮，恐非所宜。」菩薩知其我慢心固，非聞法器，往來三返，不得決疑。更請天軍，重欲覲禮。天軍惡其我慢，蔑而不對。德光既不遂心，便起恚恨，即趣山林，修發通定，我慢未除，不證道果。 > Four or five li to the south of the capital we come to a little saṅghārāma having about fifty priests in it. In old time the master of śāstras called Xiu-na-pola-po (Guṇaprabha), composed in this convent the treatise called Pin-chin, and some hundred others. When young, this master of śāstras distinguished himself for his eminent talent, and when he grew up he stood alone in point of learning. He was well versed in knowledge of men (or things), was of sound understanding, full of learning, and widely celebrated. Originally he was brought up in the study of the Great Vehicle, but before he had penetrated its deep principles he had occasion to study the Vibhāshā Śāstra, on which he withdrew from his former work and attached himself to the Little Vehicle. He composed several tens of treatises to overthrow the Great Vehicle, and thus became a zealous partisan of the Little Vehicle school. Moreover, he composed several tens of secular books opposing and criticising the writings of former renowned teachers. He widely studied the sacred books of Buddha, but yet, though he studied deeply for a long time, there were yet some ten difficulties which he could not overcome in this school. At this time there was an Arhat called Dêvasêna, who went once and again to the Tushita (Tu-shi-to) heaven. Guṇaprabha begged him to obtain for him an interview with Maitrêya in order to settle his doubts. > — Samuel Beal 1884, Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World > Devasena, by his miraculous power, transported him to the heavenly palace. Having seen Maitreya (Tse-shi) Gunaprabha bowed low to him, but paid him no worship. On this Devasena said, "Maitreya Budhisattva holds the next place in becoming a Buddha, why are you so self-conceited as not to pay him supreme reverence? If you wish to receive benefit (building up, edification) from him, why do you not fall down?" Gunaprabha replied: "Reverend sir! this advice is honest, and intended to lead me to right amendment; but I am an ordained Bhikshu, and have left the world as a disciple, whereas this Maitreya Bodhisattva is enjoying heavenly beatitude, and is no associate for one who has become an ascetic. I was about to offer him worship, but I feared it would not be right." The Bodhisattva (Maitreya) perceived that pride of self (atmamada) was bound up in his heart, so that he was not a vessel for instruction; and though he went and returned three times, he got no solution of his doubts. At length he begged Devasena to take him again, and that he was ready to worship. But Devasena, repelled by his pride of self, refused to answer him. Gunaprabha, not attaining his wish, was filled with hatred and resentment. He went forthwith into the desert apart, and practised the samadhi called fa-tung (opening intelligence); but because he had not put away the pride of self, he could obtain no fruit. > — Samuel Beal 1884, Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World - [Previous: 4.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.4.41) - [Next: 4.43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.4.43) - [Up: 4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.4) ## Translations (1) - [Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087~en-beal.4.10.2) — Samuel Beal 1884, English ## Linked texts (1) - [大唐大慈恩寺三藏法師傳](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2053.2.51) — 慧立 & 彥悰, Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.4.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.4.42) · Pramāṇa