古今譯經圖紀 2.14

2.14

The śramaṇa Śrīmitra, translated here as Jiyou ("Auspicious Friend"), was a man from the Western Regions and the crown prince of a kingdom. Having yielded the realm to his younger brother, he subsequently became a śramaṇa. His natural endowment was lofty and luminous, and his demeanor was refined and outstanding; in deportment and appearance, he was extraordinary and stood far above ordinary worldly beings. In the reign of Emperor Yuan of the Jin, he came to visit Jiankang and stayed at Jianchu Monastery. Chancellor Wang Dao saw him and marvelled at him. Wang Dao once called upon Śrīmitra, and Jiyou loosened his belt and reclined at ease. But when Director of the Imperial Secretariat Bian Wangzhi arrived, Jiyou adjusted his expression and sat up straight. When someone asked the reason for this, Śrīmitra said: "Lord Wang meets people with expansive spirit and natural ease; Director Bian measures things with rule and restraint. It is simply because of this." He was broadly conversant in both internal and external learning, and in conversation was fluent and quick-witted. Among the directors, vice directors, princes, and dukes of the Jin dynasty, all without exception deeply esteemed him, and everyone admired him with sighs of praise. He was skilled in dhāraṇī arts and proficient in Sanskrit chanting. His contemporaries called him Master of the High Seat. He translated the Guanding jing and other texts, making three works in eleven fascicles altogether. Namely: the Guanding jing (nine fascicles); the Da kongque wang shenzhou jing (one fascicle); [and] the Kongque wang za shenzhou jing (one fascicle).