集古今佛道論衡 3.31

3.31

貞觀二十一年。西域使李義表還奏。稱東天竺童子王所未有佛法外道崇盛。臣已告云。支那大國未有佛教已前舊有得道聖人說經在俗流布。但此文不來。若得聞者必當信奉。彼王言。卿還本國。譯為梵言。我欲見之。必道越此徒傳通不晚登。即下。

In the twenty-first year of Zhenguan, Li Yibiao, an envoy to the Western Regions, returned and memorialized that in the domain of King Kumāra in Eastern India, the Buddhadharma had not yet arrived, and heterodox paths flourished. He had informed them: “Before the Buddhist teaching arrived in the great state of Cīna, there were previously sages who attained the Way, who expounded scriptures circulating among the secular world. But these texts have not arrived here. If you were to hear them, you would surely believe and revere them.” That king said: “When you return to your native country, translate them into Sanskrit. I wish to see them. If their Way surpasses these groups, their transmission will not be slow.” Immediately, [an edict] was issued...