大唐西域記 9.42

9.42

城南門外，道左有窣堵波，如來於此說法及度羅怙羅。從此北行三十餘里，至那爛陀（唐言施無厭）僧伽藍。聞之耆舊曰：此伽藍南菴沒羅林中有池，其龍名那爛陀，傍建伽藍，因取為稱。從其實議，是如來在昔修菩薩行，為大國王，建都此地，悲愍眾生，好樂周給，時美其德，號施無厭，由是伽藍因以為稱。其地本菴沒羅園，五百商人以十億金錢買以施佛，佛於此處三月說法，諸商人等亦證聖果。

At this time the king of Vaisali hearing that Bimbisara-raja was dwelling alone in the "cold forest," raised an army and put it in movement to invade (make a foray) when nothing was ready (to resist him). The lords of the marches (frontiers), hearing of it, built a town, and as the king was the first to inhabit it, it was called "the royal city" (Rajagriha). Then the ministers and the people all flocked there with their families. It is also said that Ajatasatru-raja first founded this city, and the heir-apparent of Ajatasatru having come to the throne, he also appointed it to be the capital, and so it continued till the time of Asoka-raja, who changed the capital to Pataliputra, and gave the city of Rajagriha to the Brahmans, so that now in the city there are no common folk to be seen, but only Brahmans to the number of a thousand families. At the south-west angle of the royal precincts are two small sangharamas; the priests who come and go, and are strangers in the place, lodge here. Here also Buddha, when alive, delivered the law (preached). North-west from this is a stupa; this is the site of an old village where the householder Jyotishka (Ch'u-ti-se-kia) was born. Outside the south gate of the city, on the left of the road, is a stupa. Here Tathagata preached and converted Rahula (Lo-hu-lo). Going north from this 30 li or so, we come to Nalanda sangharama.

The old accounts of the country say that to the south of this sangharama, in the middle of an Amra ('An-mo-lo) grove, there is a tank. The Naga of this tank is called Nalanda. By the side of it is built the sangharama, which therefore takes the name (of the Naga). But the truth is that Tathagata in old days practised the life of a Bodhisattva here, and became the king of a great country, and established his capital in this land. Moved by pity for living things, he delighted in continually relieving them. In remembrance of this virtue he was called "charity without intermission;" and the sanghdrdma was called in perpetuation of this name. The site was originally an Amra garden. Five hundred merchants bought it for ten kdtis of gold pieces and gave it to Buddha. Buddha preached the law here during three months, and the merchants and others obtained the fruit of holiness. Not long after the Nirvana of Buddha, a former king of this country named Sakrāditya (Shi-kia-lo-'o-t'ie-to) respected and esteemed the (system of the) one Vehicle, and honoured very highly the three treasures. Having selected by augury a lucky spot, he built this sanghdrdma. When he began the work he wounded, in digging, the body of the Naga. At this time there was a distinguished soothsayer belonging to the heretical sect of the Nirgranthas. He having seen the occurrence, left this record : " This is a very superior site. If you build here a sanghdrdma, it must of necessity become highly renowned.