[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) › 5.34 # 大唐西域記 5.34 大唐西域記 5.34 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [5.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5.34) 城中有天祠，瑩飾輪煥，靈異多端。依其典籍，此處是眾生殖福之勝地也，能於此祠捐捨一錢，功踰他所惠施千金。復能輕生，祠中斷命，受天福樂，悠永無窮。 > By the side of this is an old sanghârâma; this is the place where Dêva Bôdhisattva composed the Kwang-peh-lun (S'ata-sâstra vaipulyam), refuted the principles of the Little Vehicle and silenced the heretics. At first Dêva came from South India to this sanghârâma. There was then in the town a brâhman of high controversial renown and great dialectic skill. Tracing to its origin the meaning of names, and relying on the different applications of the same word, he was in the habit of questioning his adversary and silencing him. Knowing the subtle skill of Dêva, he desired to overcome him and refute him in the use of words. He therefore asked:— "What is your name?" Dêva said, "They call me Dêva." The heretic rejoined, "Who is Dêva?" Dêva answered, "I am." The heretic said, "And 'I,' what is that?" Dêva answered, "A dog." The heretic said, "And who is a dog?" Dêva said, "You." The heretic said, "And 'you,' what is that?" Dêva said, "Dêva." The heretic said, "And who is Dêva?" Dêva said, "I." The heretic said, "And 'I,' what is that?" Dêva answered, "A dog." Again he asked, "And who is a dog?" Dêva said, "You." The heretic said, "And who is 'you'?" Dêva answered, "Dêva." So they went on till the heretic understood; from that time he greatly honoured him. In the city also is a Dêva temple beautifully ornamented and celebrated for numerous miracles. According to their records, this place is a noted one (fortunate ground) for all living things to acquire merit. > — Samuel Beal 1884, Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World > If in this temple a man gives a single farthing, his merit is greater than if he gave a 1000 gold pieces elsewhere. Again, if in this temple a person is able to contemn life so as to put an end to himself, then he is born to eternal happiness in heaven. Before the hall of the temple there is a great tree with spreading boughs and branches, and casting a deep shadow. There was a body-eating demon here, who, depending on this custom (viz., of committing suicide), made his abode here; accordingly on the left and right one sees heaps of bones. Hence, when a person comes to this temple, there is everything to persuade him to despise his life and give it up: he is encouraged thereto both by the promptings of the heretics and also by the seductions of the (evil) spirit. From very early days till now this false custom has been practised. > — Samuel Beal 1884, Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World - [Previous: 5.33](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5.33) - [Next: 5.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5.35) - [Up: 5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5) ## Translations (1) - [Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087~en-beal.5.4.2) — Samuel Beal 1884, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5.34) · Pramāṇa