大唐西域記 5.46

5.46

龍窟東北大林中，行七百餘里，渡殑伽河，北至迦奢布羅城，周十餘里，居人富樂。城傍有故伽藍，唯餘基址，是昔護法菩薩伏外道處。此國先王扶於邪說，欲毀佛法，崇敬外道。外道眾中召一論師，聰敏高明達幽微者，作偽邪書千頌，凡三萬二千言，非毀佛法，扶正本宗。於是召集僧眾，令相摧論。外道有勝，當毀佛法；眾僧無負，斷舌以謝。是時僧徒懼有退負，集而議曰：「慧日已沈，法橋將毀，王黨外道，其可敵乎？事勢若斯，計將安出？」眾咸默然，無竪議者。護法菩薩年在幼稚，辯慧多聞，風範弘遠，在大眾中揚言贊曰：「愚雖不敏，請陳其略。誠宜以我疾應王命。高論得勝，斯靈祐也；徵議墮負，乃稚齒也。然則進退有辭，法、僧無咎。」僉曰：「允諧。」如其籌策。尋應王命，即昇論座。外道乃提頓綱網，抑揚辭義，誦其所執，待彼異論。護法菩薩納其言而笑曰：「吾得勝矣！將覆逆而誦耶？為亂辭而誦耶？」外道憮然而謂曰：「子無自高也。能領語盡，此則為勝，順受其文，後釋其義。」護法乃隨其聲調，述其文義，辭理不謬，氣韻無差。於是外道聞已，欲自斷舌。護法曰：「斷舌非謝，改執是悔。」即為說法，心信意悟。王捨邪道，遵崇正法。

A former king of this country, being partial to the teaching of heretics, wished to overthrow the law of Buddha, whilst he showed the greatest respect to the unbelievers. One day he summoned from among the heretics a master of sastras, extremely learned and of superior talents, who clearly understood the abstruse doctrines (of religion). He had composed a work in a thousand slokas, containing the teaching of the heretics. In this work he contradicted and slandered the law of Buddha, and represented his own school as orthodox. Whereupon the king convoked the body of the (Buddhist) priests, and ordered them to discuss the question under dispute, adding that if the heretics were victorious he would destroy the law of Buddha, but that if the priests did not suffer defeat he would cut out his tongue as proof of the acknowledgment of his fault. At this time the company of the priests being afraid they would be defeated, assembled for consultation, and said, "The sun of wisdom having set, the bridge of the law is about to fall. The king is partial to the heretics; how can we hope to prevail against them? Things have arrived at a difficult point; is there any expedient to be found in the circumstances, as a way of escape?" The assembly remained silent, and no one stood up to suggest any plan.

Dharmapâla Bodhisattva, although young in years, had acquired a wide renown for penetration and wisdom, and the reputation of his noble character was far spread. He was now in the assembly, and standing up, with encouraging words addressed them thus: "Ignorant though I am, yet I request permission to say a few words. Verily I am ready to answer immediately to the king's summons. If by my lofty argument (discourse) I obtain the victory, this will prove spiritual protection; but if I fail in the subtle part of the argument, this will be attributable to my youth. In either case there will be an escape, so that the law and the priesthood will suffer no loss." They said, "We agree to your proposition," and they voted that he should respond to the king's summons. Forthwith he ascended the pulpit. Then the heretical teacher began to lay down his captious principles, and to maintain or oppose the sense of the words and arguments used. At last, having fully explained his own position, he waited for the opposite side to speak. Dharmapala Bodhisattva, accepting his words, said with a smile, "I am conqueror! I will show how he uses false arguments in advocating his heretical doctrines, how his premises are confused in urging his false teaching."

To the south-west of the city 8 or 9 li is a stone dwelling of a venomous Naga. Having subdued this dragon, Tathagata left here his shadow; but though this is a tradition of the place, there is no vestige of the shadow visible. By the side of it is a stupa built by Asoka-raja, about 200 feet high. Near this are marks where Tathagata walked to and fro, and also a hair and nail stupa. The disciples who are afflicted with disease, by praying here mostly are cured. The law of Sakya becoming extinct, this will be the very last country in which it will survive; therefore from the highest to the lowest all who enter the borders of this country are deeply affected, even to tears, ere they return. To the north-east of the Naga dwelling in a forest, after going about 700 li, through which we cross the Ganges, going northward we arrive at the town of Kasapura. This town is about 10 li in circuit; the inhabitants are rich and well-to-do (happy). By the side of the city is an old sangharama, of which the foundation walls alone exist. This was where Dharmapala refuted the heretics.

The opponent, with some emotion, said, "Sir, be not high-minded! If you can expose my words you will be the conqueror, but first take my text fairly and explain its meaning." Then Dharmapala, with modulated voice, followed the principles of his text (thesis), the words and the argument, without a mistake or change of expression. When the heretic had heard the whole, he was about to cut out his tongue; but Dharmapala said, "It is not by cutting out your tongue you show repentance. Change your principles—that is repentance!" Immediately he explained the law for his sake; his heart was opened and his mind embraced the truth. The king gave up his heresy and profoundly respected the law of Buddha. By the side of this place is a stupa built by Asoka; the walls are broken down, but it is yet 200 feet or so in height. Here Buddha in old days declared the law for six months; by the side of it are traces where he walked. There is also a hair and nail stupa. Going north from this 170 or 180 li, we come to the kingdom of Pi-so-kia (Visakha).