大唐西域記 5.7

5.7

初，受拘摩羅王請曰，自摩揭陀國往迦摩縷波國。時戒日王巡方在羯朱嗢祇羅國，命拘摩羅王曰：「宜與那爛陀遠客沙門速來赴會。」於是遂與拘摩羅王往會見焉。戒日王勞苦已曰：「自何國來，將何所欲？」對曰：「從大唐國來，請求佛法。」王曰：「大唐國在何方？經途所亘，去斯遠近？」對曰：「當此東北數萬餘里，印度所謂摩訶至那國是也。」王曰：「嘗聞摩訶至那國有秦王天子，少而靈鑒，長而神武。昔先代喪亂，率土分崩，兵戈競起，群生荼毒，而秦王天子早懷遠略，興大慈悲，拯濟含識，平定海內，風教遐被，德澤遠洽，殊方異域，慕化稱臣。民庶荷其亭育，咸歌《秦王破陣樂》。聞其雅頌，于茲久矣。盛德之譽，誠有之乎？大唐國者，豈此是耶？」對曰：「然。至那者，前王之國號；大唐者，我君之國稱。昔未襲位，謂之秦王；今已承統，稱曰天子。前代運終，群生無主，兵戈亂起，殘害生靈。秦王天縱含弘，心發慈愍，威風鼓扇，群凶殄滅，八方靜謐，萬國朝貢。愛育四生，敬崇三寶，薄賦斂，省刑罰，而國用有餘，氓俗無穴，風猷大化，難以備舉。」戒日王曰：「盛哉！彼土群生，福感聖主。」

The king said, "Whereabouts is the great Tang country? by what road do you travel ? and is it far from this, or near ? " In reply he said, "My country lies to the north-east from this several myriads of li ; it is the kingdom which in India is called Mahachina." The king answered, "I have heard that the country of Mahachina has a king called Ts'in, the son of heaven, when young distinguished for his spiritual abilities, when old then (called) ' divine warrior.' The empire in former generations was in disorder and confusion, everywhere divided and in disunion ; soldiers were in conflict, and all the people were afflicted with calamity. Then the king of Ts'in, son of heaven, who had conceived from the first vast purposes, brought into exercise all his pity and love; he brought about a right understanding, and pacified and settled all within the seas. His laws and instruction spread on every side. People from other countries brought under his influence declared themselves ready to submit to his rule. The multitude whom he nourished generously sang in their songs of the prowess of the king of Ts'in. I have learned long since his praises sung thus in verse. Are the records (laudatory hymns) of his great (complete) qualities well founded? Is this the king of the great Tang, of which you speak?"

Replying, he said, "China is the country of our former kings, but the 'great Tang' is the country of our present ruler. Our king in former times, before he became hereditary heir to the throne (before the empire was established), was called the sovereign of Ts'in, but now he is called the 'king of heaven' (emperor). At the end of the former dynasty the people had no ruler, civil war raged on every hand and caused confusion, the people were destroyed, when the king of Ts'in, by his supernatural prowess, exercised his love and compassion on every hand; by his power the wicked were destroyed on every side, the eight regions found rest, and the ten thousand kingdoms brought tribute. He cherished creatures of every kind, and submitted with respect to the three precious ones. He eased the burdens of the people and mitigated punishment, so that the country abounded in resources and the people enjoyed complete rest. It would be difficult to recount all the great changes he accomplished." Śīlāditya replied, "Very excellent indeed! the people are happy in the hands of such a holy king."

If there was any irregularity in the manners of the people of the cities, he went amongst them. Wherever he moved he dwelt in a ready-made building during his sojourn. During the excessive rains of the three months of the rainy season he would not travel thus. Constantly in his travelling-palace he would provide choice meats for men of all sorts of religion. The Buddhist priests would be perhaps a thousand; the Brahmans, five hundred. He divided each day into three portions. During the first he occupied himself on matters of government; during the second he practised himself in religious devotion (merit) without interruption, so that the day was not sufficiently long. When I received the invitation of Kumara-raja, I said I would go from Magadha to Kie-shu-ho-kilo. At this time Siladitya-raja was visiting different parts of his empire, and found himself at Kie-shu-ho-ki-lo, when he gave the following order: order to Kumara-raja : " I desire you to come at once to the assembly with the strange Sramana you are entertaining at the Nalanda convent." On this, coming with Kumara-raja, we attended the assembly. The king, Siladitya, after the fatigue of the journey was over, said, " From what country do you come, and what do you seek in your travels ? " He said in reply, " I come from the great Tang country, and I ask permission to seek for the law (religious books) of Buddha."