續古今譯經圖紀 1.25

1.25

The śramaṇa Śubhakarasiṃha, properly translated into Tang sounds as 'Pure Lion', and rendered by its meaning as Shanwuwei ('Good Fearless'). A native of Magadha in Central India, he resided at Nālandā Monastery in Rājagṛha. Of kṣatriya caste and noble birth, he renounced household life; his spirit was serene and clear, and his achievements in the Way were vast and illustrious. He thoroughly mastered dhyāna and wisdom, and was wonderfully adept in dhāraṇīs. He wholeheartedly penetrated the teachings of the Tripiṭaka. Across the kingdoms of the Five Indias, his fragrant reputation had long spread. With great compassion to benefit living beings, and possessing affinities to move gradually eastward, he traveled to the borders of North India, where his renown resounded in Mahācīna. Our Emperor, gathering worthy and good men, dispatched envoys to welcome him. In the fourth year of Kaiyuan, a bingchen year (716), carrying a large number of Sanskrit texts, he arrived in Chang'an. At first, he was accommodated in the South Cloister of Xingfu Monastery; later, an imperial decree ordered him to reside at Ximing Monastery. In the fifth year, a dingsi year (717), at the Bodhi Cloister, he translated the Xukongzang pusa nengman zhu yuan zuisheng xin tuoluoni qiuwenchi fa (1 fascicle). The śramaṇa Siddhā served as interpreter, and the śramaṇa Wuzhuo edited the text and served as scribe. By imperial decree, the Sanskrit texts that Shanwuwei brought were all ordered to be submitted to the inner palace; for this reason, he was not able to translate scriptures extensively. In former times, the śramaṇa Wuxing journeyed west to India; after completing his studies, he set out to return east, but upon reaching North India, he unfortunately passed away. By imperial decree, the Sanskrit texts he had gathered were welcomed back, and recently they had been kept at Huayan Monastery in the Western Capital. There Shanwuwei and the śramaṇa Yixing selected several Sanskrit scriptures, all subtle gateways of dhāraṇī that had never been translated before. In the twelfth year (724), he accompanied the imperial cortege to Luoyang and was accommodated at Dafuxian Monastery. Thereupon, for the sake of the śramaṇa Yixing, he translated the Mahāvairocanābhisaṃbodhi-vikurvitādhiṣṭhāna-sūtra in one work (7 fascicles). In its full Sanskrit text, this scripture comprises one hundred thousand verses; the present translation merely extracts its essentials. He also translated the Subāhuparipṛcchā in one work (3 fascicles) and the Susiddhikara-sūtra in one work (3 fascicles). The śramaṇa Baoyue served as interpreter, and the śramaṇa Yixing took down the text, received the purport, and both abridged and edited the expressions and principles. Blending literary style and substance equally, it wonderfully harmonized with the deep purport. Before and after, he produced four works in fourteen fascicles in all. By nature, Shanwuwei loved quiet simplicity, calming his thoughts to cheer his spirit; from time to time, he opened dhyāna contemplation to instruct and encourage beginners. Generating compassion, he guided and received others without neglect. Whenever someone asked about doubts, he analyzed them without hindrance.