出三藏記集 5.14

5.14

夫日月麗天眾星助燿。雨從龍降彪池佐潤由是豐澤洪沾大明煥赫也。而猶有燋火於雲夜。抱瓫於漢陰者。時有所不足也。佛之著教。真人發起。大行於外國。有自來矣。延及此土。當漢之末世。晉之盛德也。然方言殊音。文質從異。譯胡為晉出非一人。或善胡而質晉。或善晉而未備胡。眾經皓然難以折中。竊不自量敢豫僧數。既荷佐化之名。何得素飡終日乎。輒以洒掃之餘暇。注眾經如左。非敢自必。必值聖心。庶望考文時有合義。願將來善知識不咎其默守。冀抱瓫燋火讜有微益。

Now, the sun and moon cling to the heavens while the myriad stars assist their radiance; rain descends from dragons while swollen pools assist in moistening. It is for this reason that abundance thoroughly drenches and the great light shines brilliantly. Yet there are still those who hold torches in cloudy nights, and those who carry jars to draw water in Hanyin, because the circumstances still have deficiencies. When the Buddha established his teachings, perfected persons set them in motion; their grand circulation in foreign countries certainly had its origins. Reaching this land, it coincided with the end of the Han and the flourishing virtue of the Jin. However, local languages have different sounds, and elegance and unadornment vary accordingly. Translating Hu into Jin was not the work of a single person: some were skilled in Hu but unadorned in Jin; others were skilled in Jin but not fully accomplished in Hu. The myriad scriptures are luminous and vast, making it hard to find the middle ground. Taking liberties beyond my station, I have ventured to count myself among the saṃgha. Since I bear the name of assisting in transformation, how could I eat the bread of idleness all day? Accordingly, in the leisure time left from sweeping and sprinkling, I have commented on various scriptures as listed below. I do not dare presume that I must match the sage's intent; I only hope that upon examining the text, it may occasionally accord with the principle. I pray that future good spiritual friends will not fault my unyielding adherence, and hope that like carrying a jar or holding a torch, it might perhaps be of some slight benefit.