貞元新定釋教目錄 17.4.5

17.4.5

進謝聞。伏奉聖旨乘問感懼。非常中使却還
謹以附謝。臣奉進旨宣慰譯語僧廣濟。謹附
臣奏。微僧特蒙聖慈慰問不勝感戴。謹附
謝以聞。爾時諸德雲集共議翻經。既得其人
須得依處。西明地遠來往艱難。應遂便宜
取崇福寺。具狀申上使司奏聞。天恩不違中
使宣付。十二年六月四日中使張庭絢宣奉
勅。梵本經夾宜即翻譯訖進來。香三十五兩
半茶五十斤賜譯經院供養。夏熱敬問。諸大
德各得平安好。箋云。緬尋大聖設教西方。隨
化根宜流布東夏　昔如來出代鹿苑轉於法
輪圓寂雙林。結集畢鉢羅窟。自漢明馭寓法
化此方。經晉魏周隋迄于今日。日月流邁
向滿千年。未如我皇興建逾盛。後秦姚氏傳
譯於草堂。聖上尊崇翻經於崇福。代有今古
正統全殊。四國欽風萬方仰德。是日也爰剏
經題名曰大方廣佛花嚴經卷第一入不思議
解脫境界普賢行願品。至十四年二月二十
四日進上。罽賓國三藏賜紫沙門般若宣梵
文。東都天宮寺沙門廣濟譯語。西明寺賜
紫沙門圓照筆受。保壽寺沙門智柔智通迴
綴。成都府正覺寺沙門道弘章敬寺沙門鑒
靈潤文。大覺寺沙門道章撿勘證義。千福寺
沙門大通證禪義。大原府崇福寺沙門澄
觀千福寺沙門靈邃詳定。專知官右神策軍
散兵馬使衙前馬軍正將兼押衙特進行鄧
州司法參軍臣南珍貢。右神策軍護軍中尉
兼右街功德使元從興元元從雲麾將軍右監
門衛將軍知內侍省事上柱國交城縣開國男
食邑三百戶臣霍仙鳴。左神策軍護軍中尉
兼左街功德使元從興元元從驃騎大將軍
行左監門衛大將軍知內侍省事上柱國邠國
公食邑三千戶臣竇文場等表。臣仙鳴言。
伏見南天竺烏茶國王進花嚴經梵夾。恩旨
令臣等句當罽賓國三藏沙門般若與京城大
德僧靈邃等同翻譯者。今譯成四十卷。為一
部義。與舊花嚴經第九會入法界品同譯。彼
國語作此方言。玄關妙鍵廓然昭暢。道俗瞻
仰稱讚如在會中。臣仙鳴等誠虔誠敬頓首
頓首。臣聞。至教無言。非言無以通其旨。言
惟導行。即行成而立言。故得定慧兩通語默
俱化。伏惟皇帝陛下覆載恩廣道被無垠。睿
思發明成乎玄德。斯實萬殊一貫三教同歸。
仰彼蕃情慕化中國。深窮解脫之藏。掇貝葉
於禪林。仍親手書更表虔至。梯航遠集未
載記之。前聞非感通之冥契。豈能蹈滄波
不測之險。越巨鯨吞食之災。遠盡九會圓
明者歟。原其始則覺賢傳於晉。要其終則蕃
王奉於今。七曜以之增輝。萬有欽其勝理。難
可以智識之所能稱。至若作範垂訓體國安
人。雖載祀綿長德澤深遠。未有中興之盛。
華戎率服。制禮樂之本。啟靈聖之符。河清海
晏。不獨為秦翻譯。僧靈邃等。研精祕奧虔
奉聖謩。為隷訓今約梵徵古。窮索微旨取
證前修。豈惟格義九𨅊獨擅名哉謹盛之
寶函嚴飾崇重。香花圍繞天人捧迎。共詣右
銀臺門奉進。伏惟乾靈廣運。以子育為心爰
念蒸人究津梁於覺路。臣仙鳴等偶逢昌曆
得護真宗。監統無能。謬奉南宮之獻。恩深難
報。空增戰越之誠。其經伏望宣付中外。庶
福上資皇祚下祐群生。無任勤懇之至。謹奉
表陳進以聞。臣仙鳴等。誠惶誠恐頓首頓首
謹言。貞元十四年二月二十四日。右神策軍
護軍中尉兼右街功德使元從興元元從雲麾
將軍右監門衛將軍知內侍省事上柱國交
城縣開國男食邑三百戶臣霍仙鳴等進。左
神策軍護軍中尉兼左街功德使元從興元
元從驃騎大將軍行右監門衛大將軍知內
侍省事上柱國邠國公食邑三千戶臣竇文
場同進。箋云。是日也上覽表章新經隨進。欻
然雲收霧廓。聖日與朗日齊明。經卷適開。皇
風與道風俱扇。韶光淑氣媚景暄和。喜色浮
空蒼生叶慶。爰降中使高品馬侍詮。宣慰
釋門。奉勅語三藏大德等。比翻譯大方廣佛
花嚴經省勞也。今畢進奉深愜朕懷。春暖師
等各得平安好。般若三藏奉表陳賀。罽賓
國三藏寄住上都醴泉寺賜紫沙門般若言。

submitted a memorial of gratitude to report: "Having humbly received the imperial decree with its gracious inquiries, I am filled with profound gratitude and awe. As the palace commissioner is now returning, I respectfully append my thanks. Your subject, having received the imperial decree to extend consoling regards to the translating monk Guangji, respectfully appends this to your subject's memorial: 'This humble monk has specially received Your Sage's compassionate consolation and inquiries, and is beyond measure grateful and indebted. I respectfully append my gratitude to report this.'"
At that time, all the eminent monks gathered like clouds to deliberate together on translating the sūtra. Having found the right person, it was necessary to secure a suitable place. Because Ximing Monastery was far and coming and going was arduous, in accordance with what was convenient, Chongfu Monastery was chosen. A formal report was submitted to the Palace Commissioner's Bureau to memorialise the Throne. The heavenly favor did not decline, and the palace commissioner made the imperial proclamation. On the fourth day of the sixth month of the twelfth year, the palace commissioner Zhang Tingxuan proclaimed the receipt of the imperial decree: "The Indic pothi of the sūtra should be translated forthwith and presented upon completion. Thirty-five and a half taels of incense and fifty catties of tea are bestowed upon the Translation Bureau as offerings. In the summer heat, with respectful inquiries, are the venerable Great Worthies all safe and well?"
The note says: Contemplating from afar the Great Sage establishing his teachings in the Western Regions, they were circulated to the Eastern Xia according to the capacities suitable for conversion. Formerly, when the Tathāgata appeared in the world, he turned the wheel of the Dharma in the Deer Park and entered perfect quiescence between the twin trees. The compilation was made in the Pippala Cave. Since Emperor Ming of the Han governed the realm, the Dharma has transformed this region. Passing through the Jin, Wei, Zhou, and Sui down to the present day, the flowing of the sun and moon has approached a full thousand years; yet none compares to our Emperor's undertaking, which surpasses all in flourishing. The Yao clan of the Later Qin transmitted and translated in the Thatched Hall; the Sage Emperor reveres the teaching and translates the sūtra in Chongfu Monastery. The eras comprise the past and present, but their legitimate lineages are completely distinct. The four quarters revere his manners, and myriad realms look up to his virtue.
On this day, the sūtra title was initiated, named *Buddhāvataṃsaka-nāma-mahāvaipulya-sūtra*, fascicle 1, "Entering into the Inconceivable Sphere of Liberation: Chapter on Samantabhadra's Conduct and Vows". On the twenty-fourth day of the second month of the fourteenth year, it was presented to the Emperor. The Kashmīran Tripiṭaka Master, the purple-robe-bestowed śramaṇa Prajñā, recited the Indic text. The śramaṇa Guangji of Tiangong Monastery in the Eastern Capital translated the speech. The purple-robe-bestowed śramaṇa Yuanzhao of Ximing Monastery took it down with the brush. The śramaṇas Zhirou and Zhitong of Baoshou Monastery arranged the text. The śramaṇa Daohong of Zhengjue Monastery in Chengdu Prefecture and the śramaṇa Jianling of Zhangjing Monastery polished the prose. The śramaṇa Daozhang of Dajue Monastery inspected the text and verified the meaning. The śramaṇa Datong of Qianfu Monastery certified the dhyāna meaning. The śramaṇa Chengguan of Chongfu Monastery in Taiyuan Prefecture and the śramaṇa Lingsui of Qianfu Monastery definitively settled the translation. The specially designated supervisor was the equestrian cavalier of the Right Shence Army, Chief General of the Headquarters Cavalry, and concurrent Officer of the Guard, Specially Promoted and Judicial Investigator of Dengzhou, Your Subject Nan Zhengong. The memorial of the Protector-General Palace Commandant of the Right Shence Army, Commissioner of Buddhist Merits for the Right Street, Yuancong Veteran of Xingyuan, Yunhui General, General of the Right Gate Watchmen Guard, Director of Palace Service Affairs, Upper Pillar of State, Founding Baron of Jiaocheng County with a fief of three hundred households, Your Subject Huo Xianming, and the Protector-General Palace Commandant of the Left Shence Army, Commissioner of Buddhist Merits for the Left Street, Yuancong Veteran of Xingyuan, General of Agile Cavalry, Acting Grand General of the Left Gate Watchmen Guard, Director of Palace Service Affairs, Upper Pillar of State, Duke of Bin State with a fief of three thousand households, Your Subject Dou Wenchang, and others:
Your Subject Xianming states: I have humbly observed that the King of the kingdom of Oḍra in Southern India offered an Indic pothi of the *Avataṃsaka-sūtra*. An imperial decree commanded your subjects to supervise the Kashmīran Tripiṭaka Śramaṇa Prajñā together with the capital's Great Worthy, the monk Lingsui, and others to translate it jointly. It has now been translated into forty fascicles forming a single complete work. Its meaning is the same as the translation of the "Chapter on Entering the Dharmadhātu" of the ninth assembly in the old *Avataṃsaka-sūtra*. Rendering the language of that country into the speech of this land, the profound gateway and wondrous key are clearly illuminated and expressed. Monastics and laity gaze in reverence, praising it as though personally in the assembly. Your Subject Xianming and others, with utmost sincerity and reverent devotion, kowtow and bow our heads repeatedly.
Your subject has heard: The supreme teaching has no words, yet without words there would be no way to convey its intent. Words only serve to guide practice; once practice is accomplished, words are established. Therefore, concentration and wisdom both penetrate, and speech and silence are both transforming. We humbly reflect that Your Imperial Majesty's sheltering and supporting grace is vast, and your Way covers the boundless. Your sagely thought illuminates and accomplishes mysterious virtue; this is truly the one unity uniting the myriad differences, the common culmination of the Three Teachings. Gazing upon the barbarian sentiments longing for transformation by the Middle Kingdom, they exhaustively penetrated the treasury of liberation and gathered palm leaves from the dhyāna forests. Still, he wrote it with his own hand to express his devotion even more. Traveling by ladders and boats from afar, they gathered here as never before recorded. Had it not been for a silent resonance of heartfelt sympathy, how could they have braved the unfathomable perils of the azure waves and crossed the catastrophe of being swallowed by giant sea monsters, to exhaustively bring the perfect brightness of the nine assemblies from afar?
Tracing its beginning, Buddhabhadra transmitted it under the Jin; bringing it to completion, the foreign king offers it today. The seven luminaries increase in radiance by it, and the myriad beings revere its supreme principle. It is difficult for conscious intellect to praise adequately. As for serving as an exemplar and bestowing instructions, embodying the state and giving peace to the people, though long years have stretched on and the virtuous beneficence has reached far, there has never been such flourishing of a dynastic revival: Chinese and barbarians all submit, establishing the foundations of rites and music and opening the portents of the spiritual sages. The Yellow River runs clear and the sea is tranquil; this was not translated merely for Qin. The monk Lingsui and others, thoroughly investigating the secret mysteries and devoutly receiving sagely plans, have glossed terms in clerical script for today and investigated ancient meanings based on the Sanskrit, probing the profound intent and drawing verification from earlier masters. How could matching concepts or the nine schools alone enjoy prestige?
We have reverently placed it in a precious casket, adorning it with solemn dignity and deep veneration. Surrounded by incense and flowers, held aloft and welcomed by devas and humans, we jointly went to the Right Yintai Gate to present it. We humbly reflect that the Heavenly Spirit operates broadly, cherishing people as its children, mindful that the common multitudes may fully attain the ford leading to the path of awakening. Your subjects Xianming and others, having fortuitously met with this prosperous age, have been able to protect the True Teaching. Incompetent in our supervising duties, we have unworthily presented the tribute of the Southern Palace; our gratitude is deep and difficult to repay, which vainly increases our trepidation. Concerning this sūtra, we humbly pray that it be proclaimed and delivered to both within the palace and outside, so that its merit may above assist the imperial reign and below protect all living beings. Unable to endure our utmost earnestness, we respectfully present this memorial to submit it for Your hearing. Your Subject Xianming and others, with true fear and dread, kowtow, kowtow, and respectfully state this. On the twenty-fourth day of the second month of the fourteenth year of Zhenyuan, presented by Your Subject Huo Xianming, Protector-General Palace Commandant of the Right Shence Army, Commissioner of Buddhist Merits for the Right Street, Yuancong Veteran of Xingyuan, Yunhui General, General of the Right Gate Watchmen Guard, Director of Palace Service Affairs, Upper Pillar of State, Founding Baron of Jiaocheng County with a fief of three hundred households, and others; and jointly presented by Your Subject Dou Wenchang, Protector-General Palace Commandant of the Left Shence Army, Commissioner of Buddhist Merits for the Left Street, Yuancong Veteran of Xingyuan, General of Agile Cavalry, Acting Grand General of the Right Gate Watchmen Guard, Director of Palace Service Affairs, Upper Pillar of State, Duke of Bin State with a fief of three thousand households.
The note says: On this day, the Emperor examined the memorial, and the new sūtra was presented accordingly. Suddenly the clouds gathered up and the mists dispersed; the Sagely Sun and the bright sun shone together in brilliance. As the sūtra scroll was opened, the imperial manners and the wind of the Dharma blew together in accord. The genial light and pure air produced an enchanting landscape, warm and harmonious; a joyful countenance floated through the air, and all living beings shared in the celebration. Thereupon, the palace commissioner of high rank, the Attendant-in-Waiting Ma Quan, was sent down to console the Buddhist community. He proclaimed the imperial command to the Tripiṭaka Master and Great Worthies: "Lately, in translating the *Buddhāvataṃsaka-mahāvaipulya-sūtra*, you have endured great toil. Now that it is completed and presented, it deeply comforts Our heart. In the warmth of spring, are you masters all safe and well?"
Tripiṭaka Master Prajñā submitted a memorial to offer congratulations. The Kashmīran Tripiṭaka Master temporarily residing at Liquan Monastery in the Upper Capital, the purple-robe-bestowed śramaṇa Prajñā, stated: