大唐西域記 8.21

8.21

初，此城中有婆羅門，葺宇荒藪，不交世路，祠鬼求福，魍魎相依。高論劇談，雅辭響應，人或激難，垂帷以對。舊學高才，無出其右，士庶翕然，仰之猶聖。有阿濕縛窶沙（唐言馬鳴）菩薩者，智周萬物，道播三乘，每謂人曰：「此婆羅門學不師受，藝無稽古，屏居幽寂，獨擅高名，將非神鬼相依，妖魅所附，何能若是者乎？夫辯資鬼授，言不對人，辭說一聞，莫能再述，吾今往彼，觀其舉措。」遂即其廬，而謂之曰：「仰欽盛德，為日已久。幸願褰帷，敢申宿志。」而婆羅門居然簡傲，垂帷以對，終不面談。馬鳴心知鬼魅，情甚自負，辭畢而退，謂諸人曰：「吾已知矣，摧彼必矣。」尋往白王：「唯願垂許，與彼居士較論劇談。」王聞駭曰：「斯何人哉！若不證三明，具六通，何能與彼論乎？」命駕躬臨，詳鑒辯論。是時馬鳴論三藏微言，述五明大義，妙辯縱橫，高論清遠。而婆羅門既述辭已，馬鳴重曰：「失吾旨矣，宜重述之。」時婆羅門默然杜口，馬鳴叱曰：「何不釋難？所事鬼魅宜速授辭！」疾褰其帷，視占其怪。婆羅門惶遽而曰：「止！止！」馬鳴退而言曰：「此子今晨聲問失墜，虛名非久，斯之謂也。」王曰：「非夫盛德，誰鑒左道？知人之哲，絕後光前，國有常典，宜旌茂實。」

He constantly spoke (about the Brahman) thus : " This Brahman is learned without a master ; he is skilful without examining the ancients ; he lives apart in the gloomy desert, and arrogates a great name. It is all done by the connivance of the evil spirits and the assistance of occult powers ; this is the way he does it ! Men, therefore, on account of his eloquence derived from the devil, are unable to reply, and exalt his renown and say he is invincible. I will go to his place, and see what all this means, and expose it." Forthwith he went to his cabin and addressed him thus : "I have long felt respect for your illustrious qualities; pray keep up your curtain whilst I venture to express my mind to you." But the Brahman, maintaining an air of proud indifference, let down his curtain in order to reply, and to the end would not face his adversary. Asvaghosha feeling in his heart the presence of the evil spirits, his feelings revolted, and he finished the discussion; but as he retired he said, "I have found him out, and he shall be overthrown." Going straightway to the king, he said, "Pray condescend to permit me to propose a subject and discuss it with that lay-doctor!" The king, hearing the request, said with feeling, "Do you know your man? Unless well learned in the three vidyâs and in the six supernatural faculties, who can discuss with him?" Giving permission, he himself ordered his chariot in order to be present during the discussion, and to decide as to the victory.

Then Asvaghosha discoursed on the minute words of the three Pitakas, and alluded to the great principles of the five Vidyâs, and nicely divided the length and breadth of his argument with a high and various discourse. Then the Brahman following in the argument, Asvaghosha said, "You have lost the thread of the subject. You must follow my points consecutively." The Brahman then was silent and closed his mouth. Asvaghosha finding fault, said, "Why do you not solve the difficulty? Call the spirits to your help to give you words as quickly as you can;" and then he lifted up his curtain to see how he looked. The Brahman, terrified, cried out, "Stop! stop!" Asvaghosha, retiring, said, "This doctor has forfeited his high renown. 'A hollow fame lasts not long,' as the saying is." The king answered and said, "Without the eminent ability of a master, who can detect the errors of the ignorant! The acumen of the person who knows men casts honour on his ancestors, and shuts out possibility of superiority among his successors. The country has a standing rule that such a person should ever be honoured and remembered."

Then the heretics came together with their flags and drums, and began to discuss together with respect to their opinions; each displayed the point of his argument to his best ability. Then Deva Bodhisattva, having mounted the preaching-throne, attending to their former arguments, and following each point, refuted them one by one. In less than one hour he refuted the sectaries, and the king and his ministers being satisfied, raised this venerable monument in honour of his extreme virtue (reverence). To the north of the stupa built where the ghanta was sounded is an old foundation. This was the dwelling-place of a Brahman that was inspired by demons. At the beginning there was in this city a Brahman who had constructed for himself a hut in a wild and desert spot far from the haunts of men ; he sacrificed to demons, seeking religious merit. By the assistance of such spiritual connection he discoursed in a high tone and disputed with eagerness. The report (echo) of his eloquent discourses resounded through the world. If any one came to propose a difficult question, he answered him after letting down a curtain. Old men of learning and of high talent could not wrest from him his precedence. Officers and people were silenced in his presence, and looked on him as a saint. At this time lived Asvaghosha Bodhisattva (O-shi-po-kiu-sha-pu-sa). His wisdom embraced all subjects, and in his career he had traversed the arguments of the three Vehicles (Little, Great, and Middle Vehicle ? ).