貞元新定釋教目錄 15.4.7

15.4.7

詔命傳譯真乘。
聖慈曲臨推謝理絕。更今對校大乘密嚴舊
譯長行梵本結偈。今依梵夾譯出伽陀。繕寫
莊嚴謹同進奉。聖恩製序各列經初。披閱內
官未宣中外。時京城大德乘如等。翹想甘
露如渴思漿。錄表上言。乃陳表曰。永泰元
年八月八日大安國寺上座臨壇大德沙門乘
如等上表。沙門乘如等言。乘如聞。日月行
於六合。求照者昆虫。甘露垂於九霄。希潤
者草木。允所謂覆載不間亭育無私。則蚊蚋
可逸於長風。蛙𮕚可游於滄海者也。伏惟。
寶應元聖文武皇帝陛下。慶承塵劫信植河
沙。威懾魔界聲流佛剎。以寶位之重。崇寶偈
之微。以金輪之尊。騰金口之教。百王千帝曷
可同年而語哉。乘如等幸逢　昌運叨寓玄
門。常思諷誦以答。
皇澤。伏承頃有。
恩旨請不空三藏義學沙門等。再譯仁王般
若波羅蜜多經。教理兼著性相周圓。緘在。
龍宮未頒　鹿苑。僧等昧死敢以請聞。伏
願。
天慈示之法寶。兼欲依經請百法師置百高
座。同宣句味共殄祓氛。愚誠則然。裁惟。
聖旨。無任慊款翹渴之至。謹詣右銀臺門。奉
表陳請以聞。輕冒天威伏深戰越。謹言。
寶應元聖文武皇帝批曰。
仁王真經理精義遠。化流賢劫福利蒼生。師
等咸願敷陳助寧國土。所謂開講者依時有。
恩旨。取二十三日。於資聖西明兩寺共置百
座。請百法師講仁王經。及百大德轉密嚴經
等。香花飲食鼓樂絃歌並出有司小得闕
乏。時屬秋雨霖霪不休。所司奏聞請更延
日。永泰元年八月二十二日左監門衛將軍
知內侍省劉清潭宣奉進止。兩寺百座先
令二十三日迎經。為霖雨宜改至二十六日
迎經開講。其諸司供料著人計會准改日造。
改期甫至　天雨未晴。
恩旨又延。九月一日。是日也。兩街大德嚴潔
幡花幢蓋寶車。太常音樂梨園仗內及兩教
坊詣銀臺門百戲繁奏。時觀軍容使兼處置
神策軍兵馬事開府儀同三司兼左監門衛大
將軍知內侍省事內飛龍廐弓箭等使上柱國
馮翊郡開國公魚朝恩與六軍使陳。天龍眾
八部鬼神護送新經出於大內。其經適出彩
雲浮空。郁郁紛紛照彰現瑞。洎乎己午兩
寺開經。萬姓歡心祥雲方隱。緇素瞻仰獲慶
非常。三藏不空上表陳謝。永泰元年九月二
日大興善寺三藏沙門不空上表謝。
御製經序慶雲詞曰。沙門不空言。不空道乏
前修學虧曩哲。猥承綸詔翻譯真經。若履春
氷猶臨泉谷。伏惟。
陛下撥開慧日布蔭慈雲。
睿思風飛龍章玉潤。躬為序述照煥大千。流
法雨於九天。樹勝幢於百座。威儀容衛。
宛釋迦之下鷲峯。士庶駢闐。猶波斯之詣
王舍。慶雲呈瑞喜氣浮空。是表太階之平。自
叶無疆之祐。不勝荷戴之至。謹奉表陳賀以
聞。沙門不空誠歡誠喜謹言。
寶應元聖文武皇帝批曰。
和上遠自蓮宮親緘貝葉。敷演玄教利濟蒼
生。翻譯既成天人合會。朗三秋之霽景開
五色之祥雲。闡揚真乘符契妙理。須因指喻
早結師資。覩此感通彌深頂敬。

[When the previous text broke off, the emperor] commanded that the True Vehicle be translated.
The imperial benevolence had descended specially upon [me], leaving no room for decline or excuse. Moreover, now comparing the previously translated prose of the Mahāyāna Ghanavyūha-sūtra against the Indic text of verse-conclusions, I have now translated the gāthās according to the palm-leaf manuscripts. Copying and adorning them, I respectfully present them together [to the throne]. In Your Majesty's grace, imperial prefaces were composed and placed at the beginning of each sūtra. While palace officials were perusing them, they had not yet been proclaimed to those inside and outside the court. At that time, Eminent Monk Chengru and others of the capital, yearning for the sweet dew as the thirsty yearn for broth, submitted a memorial, presenting their petition as follows: On the eighth day of the eighth month of the first year of Yongtai, Senior Monk, Platform-Presiding Eminent Monk, and Śramaṇa Chengru and others of Da’anguo Monastery submitted a memorial. Śramaṇa Chengru and others state: Chengru has heard that when the sun and moon move through the six directions, those seeking their illumination are insects; when sweet dew falls from the nine heavens, those hoping for its moisture are plants and trees. Truly, it is said that heaven and earth cover and support without interruption, nurturing and fostering without partiality, so that mosquitoes and gnats can sport in the long wind, and frogs and turtles can swim in the boundless sea. Humbly we consider: Your Majesty, the Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu Emperor, whose blessings have been received through dust-mote kalpas and whose faith has been planted across Gangetic sands, your majesty strikes fear into the demonic realms and your fame flows through Buddha-lands. With the gravity of the precious throne, you exalt the subtlety of the precious verses; with the honor of the golden wheel, you broadcast the teaching of the golden mouth. How could the hundreds of kings and thousands of emperors be spoken of in the same breath? Chengru and the others, having fortunately encountered this prosperous era, are unworthy denizens of the Dark Gate. We constantly contemplate reciting [the scriptures] in order to repay the imperial beneficence. We respectfully have learned that recently an imperial decree commanded the Tripiṭaka [Master] Amoghavajra, doctrinal monks, and others to re-translate the Benevolent Kings Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra, where doctrine and principle are both evident, and ultimate nature and phenomenal characteristics are fully integrated. Kept sealed in the dragon palace, it has not yet been promulgated to the deer park. We monks, braving death, venture to present this request. We humbly pray that the Heavenly Compassion will reveal this Dharma-jewel, and that, in accordance with the sūtra, one hundred Dharma masters may be invited and one hundred high seats established, to proclaim together its phrases and meaning, and jointly eradicate baleful vapors. Such is our foolish sincerity; decision rests with the Sagely Will. Unable to bear our extreme yearning and thirsty anticipation, we respectfully proceed to the Right Yintai Gate, presenting this memorial to petition and report. Lightly braving the Heavenly Majesty, we are bowed with deep trembling. Respectfully spoken.
The Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu Emperor endorsed it as follows:
"The true scripture of the Benevolent Kings has refined principles and profound significance; its transformation flows through the Worthy Kalpa, bringing blessings to the populace. That you masters all wish to expound it to assist in bringing peace to the state—the so-called opening of lectures—shall be granted in due course."
An imperial decree was issued: On the twenty-third day, at the two monasteries of Zisheng and Ximing, a total of one hundred seats shall be established; one hundred Dharma masters shall be invited to lecture on the Benevolent Kings Sūtra, and one hundred eminent monks shall chant the Ghanavyūha-sūtra and others. Incense, flowers, food, drink, drums, music, strings, and songs shall all be provided by the relevant authorities, with no lack permitted. At that time, continuous autumn rains poured down without stopping. The relevant authorities reported to the throne, requesting a postponement of the date. On the twenty-second day of the eighth month of the first year of Yongtai, General of the Left Gate-Guarding Guard and Administrator of the Palace Domestic Service Liu Qingtan proclaimed the imperial order: "Regarding the one hundred seats at the two monasteries, where it was previously ordered to welcome the scriptures on the twenty-third day, due to the torrential rains it is appropriate to change the date to the twenty-sixth day to welcome the scriptures and open the lectures. The provisions from the various offices should be coordinated with designated personnel and prepared in accordance with the rescheduled date." When the rescheduled date arrived, the heavens were still raining without clearing. An imperial decree further postponed it to the first day of the ninth month. On this day, eminent monks from both the eastern and western streets arranged pure banners, flowers, standards, canopies, and jeweled carriages. Music from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Pear Garden Imperial Troupe, and the Two Instruction Quarters went to the Yintai Gate, where myriad performances resounded profusely. At that time, Commissioner of Military Inspection, Concurrently in Charge of the Shence Army Troops and Horses, Specially Promoted Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Equal Ceremonial Privileges, Concurrently Senior General of the Left Gate-Guarding Guard, Administrator of the Palace Domestic Service, Imperial Commissioner of Flying Dragon Stables, Bows and Arrows, etc., Upper Pillar of the State, and Founding Duke of Fengyi Commandery Yu Chao’en, along with the Commissioners of the Six Armies, formed ranks. Heavenly dragons and the eight classes of ghosts and spirits escorted the new scriptures as they emerged from the Imperial Palace. Just as the scriptures emerged, variegated clouds floated in the sky, luxuriant and clustered, shining brilliantly to display an auspicious sign. When the scriptures were opened at both monasteries during the hours of si and wu (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), the myriad commoners rejoiced in their hearts, and only then did the auspicious clouds vanish. Clergy and laity looked up in admiration, receiving extraordinary felicity. Tripiṭaka [Master] Amoghavajra submitted a memorial of gratitude. On the second day of the ninth month of the first year of Yongtai, Tripiṭaka Śramaṇa Amoghavajra of Daxingshan Monastery submitted a memorial thanking [the Emperor] for the imperially composed sūtra preface and celebrating the auspicious clouds, saying: Śramaṇa Amoghavajra states: Amoghavajra's practice lacks that of the former exemplars, and his learning falls short of past sages. Having unworthily received the imperial decree to translate the true scripture, it was as if treading on spring ice, or standing beside a deep ravine. Humbly I consider: Your Majesty has unveiled the sun of wisdom and spread the shade of the cloud of compassion; your sagely thought soars like the wind, and your imperial compositions possess jade-like elegance. Personally composing the preface and narration, you illuminate the trichiliocosm, showering Dharma-rain across the nine heavens and erecting supreme banners at the one hundred seats. The majestic demeanor and imperial escort were just as when Śākya descended Vulture Peak; the crowds of gentry and commoners were like Prasenajit going to Rājagṛha. Auspicious clouds presented good omens, and joyous vapors floated in the sky; this manifests the harmony of the Three Terraces and accords with boundless blessings. Unable to bear the utmost gratitude, I respectfully present this memorial to offer congratulations and report. Śramaṇa Amoghavajra, in true joy and delight, respectfully speaks.
The Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu Emperor endorsed it as follows:
"The Master came from afar from the lotus palace, personally bearing the palm leaves. Expounding the dark teaching, you benefit and deliver the populace. The translation being completed, gods and humans assemble together. Brightening the clear autumn scenery, five-colored auspicious clouds unfolded. Propounding the True Vehicle accords with the wondrous principle; one must rely on pointing fingers to comprehend the metaphor, having early established the bond between teacher and student. Witnessing this sympathetic resonance, my crown-reverence deepens even more."