一切經音義 10.271

10.271

貝多（西國樹名也。其葉可以裁為梵夾書寫墳籍此葉麤厚鞭而難用若書多以刀畫為文。然後寘墨。為葉厚故也。不如多羅樹葉溥耎光滑白淨細好全勝貝多。其多羅樹最高出眾樹表若斷其苗決定不生。所以諸經多引為喻此等形狀叵似椶櫚五天皆有不及南印度者為上。西域記中具說其梵夾葉數種不同。隨方國土或用赤樺木皮或以紙作或以獸皮或以金銀銅葉良為諸土無紙故也）。

“Pattra” (貝多: The name of a tree in Western countries. Its leaves can be cut to form Sanskrit folios for writing books and records. These leaves are thick, tough, and stiff, making them difficult to use. When writing, one mostly uses a knife to carve characters and then applies ink, because the leaves are thick. They are not as thin, soft, smooth, clean, fine, and beautiful as the leaves of the tāla tree, which are entirely superior to pattra. The tāla tree is the highest, protruding far above all other trees; if its shoot is severed, it definitely will not grow back. Therefore, many sūtras cite it as an analogy. The shapes of these trees somewhat resemble the palm tree. They exist throughout all Five Indias, but those of South India are superior. The Record of the Western Regions describes in full detail the several different kinds of leaves for Sanskrit folios: according to the local regions, some use red birch bark, some make them from paper, some use animal skins, and some use gold, silver, or copper sheets, simply because those lands lack paper).