古今譯經圖紀 1.4

1.4

沙門迦葉摩騰。中印度人。婆羅門種。幼而敏悟兼有風姿。博學多聞特明經律思力精博探𭭻鉤深敷文析理。每有新義出於神表。嘗遊西印度有一小國。請騰講金光明經。俄而隣國興師而來。既將踐境輒有事礙兵不能進。彼國兵眾疑有異術密遣使覘。但見君臣安然共聽其所講大乘經明地神王護國之法。於是彼國既覩斯神驗請和求法。時蔡愔等殷請於騰。騰遂與愔等俱來。見帝於洛陽。以永平十年歲次丁卯。於白馬寺譯。四十二章經（一卷）。此經本是外國經抄。騰以大化初傳人未深信。蘊其妙解不即多翻。且撮經要以導時俗。騰後終於洛陽。

The śramaṇa Kāśyapa Mātanga was a native of Central India and of brāhmaṇa caste. From youth he was sharp and quick to understand, and had an imposing presence. Widely learned and having heard much, he was especially clear about the sūtras and vinaya; his powers of reflection were precise and extensive, exploring mysteries and fathoming depths, presenting the texts and analyzing principles. Whenever he had a new insight, it exceeded ordinary bounds. He once travelled in Western India to a small kingdom, which invited Mātanga to lecture on the Suvarṇaprabhāsa Sūtra. Soon after, a neighbouring state raised troops and came to attack. Yet as they were about to cross the border, there was always an obstacle and the troops could not advance. The army of that kingdom suspected there were unusual arts at work and secretly sent messengers to spy. They only saw the ruler and ministers sitting peacefully together listening to the Mahāyāna sūtra he was expounding, which explained the methods by which the Earth Spirit King protects the state. Thereupon, having witnessed this divine verification, that kingdom sued for peace and sought the Dharma. At that time, Cai Yin and the others earnestly made their request to Mātanga. Mātanga then came together with Yin and the others. He had an audience with the Emperor in Luoyang. In the tenth year of the Yongping reign era, the year being dingmao, he translated at the Baima Monastery: the Sūtra of Forty-two Chapters (in one fascicle). This sūtra was originally an extract from foreign scriptures. Because the great transformation had only begun to spread and people had not yet developed deep faith, Mātanga held back his subtle explanations and did not immediately translate extensively; he merely summarized the sūtra's essentials to guide the customs of the time. Mātanga later passed away in Luoyang.