貞元新定釋教目錄 17.4.2

17.4.2

When the affair was concluded, the days passed. On the twenty-ninth day, the Hanlin Academician and Left Sanqi Changshi Gui Chongjing, the Jinbu Langzhong Wu Tongwei, the Shuibu Langzhong Xu Dai, the Jingzhao Liquan County Cheng Wang Pi, and others came together to pay respects. By the twentieth day of the ninth month, the Attendants-in-Waiting Xu Chengsi, Guo Shao, Yang Xuan, Yang Jiyan, and others—over twenty people in all—prepared offerings and observed the translation. In the middle of the tenth month, the translated text was completely finished. On the fifteenth day of the eleventh month, the fair copying was also completed. On the twenty-eighth day, a memorial was submitted presenting the work to the throne. The translation master of great virtue, the Abbot of Ximing Monastery, the purple-robe-bestowed śramaṇa Liangxiu, and others stated: 'We humbly reflect that the moisture contained in the great cloud depends solely on the vastness of the Buddha's power; the creation of things by the mysterious vault of heaven rests solely on the greatness of the Sovereign's merit. We humbly submit that Your Majesty's virtue embraces the three realms and your awe-inspiring majesty covers myriad domains. The people return to the realm of longevity, and the Way rescues the city of blessings. You have specially bestowed sagely benevolence to spread anew the image-teaching. The gate of Śākya observes a season of renewal; the monastic assembly receives the grace of rebirth. Liangxiu and the others are truly joyous and truly delighted. Yesterday we received the imperial decree of the nineteenth day of the fourth month of this year to translate the Ṣaṭpāramitā-sūtra, commanding that monks of virtuous conduct be carefully selected to translate it at Ximing Monastery and report upon its completion. Liangxiu, together with the Indian monk Master Prajñā, Daoye, Chaowu, and others—ten persons in all—reverently examined the Indic characters and rendered them into the language of the Tang. Deeply probing where principles were profound, thoroughly investigating where the text was abstruse, the chapters and sections were ordered, and the phonetic rhymes left nothing out. Its value is like suspended gold; its voice radiates carved jade. The monks bowed in respect, joy filling their entire bodies, having encountered the sagely dynasty and looked upon the Buddha sun once more. In total, the Indic text of nine thousand five hundred verses was translated, grouped into ten chapters and compiled into ten fascicles. How could it be merely that Matanga entered the Han to open the golden casket, or that Kumārajīva returned to Qin to translate the jade scrolls? Comparing the present with the past, this truly surpasses earlier achievements. We humbly reflect that the traces of the teaching are revered and the sound of the Dharma is esoteric. Your Majesty cherishes the Tathāgata's compassionate mindfulness and stands in the position of monarchical entrustment. Illustrating the sagely meaning is etched in the Heavenly mind. We specifically implore an extraordinary favor: that a preface be composed for this sūtra and that it be proclaimed for inclusion in the Kaiyuan Catalogue, so that humans and devas may convert [their merit], brushing against the radiance of the sun and moon, and that upon the dragon-elephants of the meditation grove, the torrential moisture of clouds and rain may uniquely descend. Formerly, Taizong composed a preface for the holy teaching, and Xuanzong commented upon the Prajñā-sūtra; both illuminated the celestial patterns and enhanced the imperial records. The newly translated Dacheng liqu liu boluomiduo jing is respectfully presented along with this memorial. Your Majesty inherits the glorious achievements of your imperial ancestors and nourishes the blazing brilliance of blessings and longevity. Above, you know the cause of attaining Buddhahood; below, you mind the petitions of mortals. How fortunate are the monastic disciples to look up to such extraordinary favor! Soiling the imperial screens and tassels, our apprehension is exceedingly profound. Unable to bear our utmost gratitude, we respectfully proceed to the Guangshun Gate to submit our memorial, present our request, and bring it to your hearing. The śramaṇa Liangxiu and others speak with sincere joy and sincere trepidation.'
The Emperor inspected the sūtra and the memorial, and commanded the Commissioner of Merit and Virtue Wang Xiqian to proclaim the imperial decree, telling the venerable masters and others: 'From summer into winter, your meritorious labor in translating the sūtra text has now ended, bringing great celebration and solace. You must have been exceedingly clever and diligent, taxing your minds. In this winter cold, I respectfully inquire: Are all the masters in good health and peace?' An imperial favor was also proclaimed to the venerable masters: 'Here is a small amount of silk and garments, bestowed upon each of the masters. Please wait at the Right Yintai Gate for instructions on when it is appropriate to receive them.'
At that time, the translation master of great virtue of Ximing Monastery, the śramaṇa Liangxiu, and others requested to hold a great non-obstruction feast at Ximing Monastery on behalf of the state to celebrate the sūtra: 'Having received the imperial favor on the nineteenth day of the fourth month of this year to translate the Ṣaṭpāramitā-sūtra at Ximing Monastery, we humbly reflect that the compassionate cloud brings universal moisture and the Buddha sun is raised up once more. The feelings of wriggling creatures mingle in joy and apprehension. The path of the Śākya gate is wide, while the strength of the monastic assembly is meager. As the imperial gaze leans down, this vast favor is hard to repay. We request that on the first day of the twelfth month, a great non-obstruction feast be held on behalf of the state, solemnly adorning the bodhimaṇḍa, lighting ten thousand lamps, and chanting the Renwang huguo banruo and other sūtras, so that relying on superior causes, we may above enhance the sagely longevity. In vain we bare our sincerity like dust and dew, but truly we are indebted to Heaven and Earth. Unable to bear our utmost sincerity, we respectfully proceed to the Guangshun Gate to submit our petition and bring it to your hearing. If the heavenly favor permits, we request the descent of an ink imperial decree according with the petition submitted on the twenty-eighth day of the eleventh month of the fourth year of Zhenyuan by the translation master of great virtue, Abbot of Ximing Monastery, purple-robe-bestowed śramaṇa Liangxiu and others.'
An imperial decree was also issued bestowing upon Dharma Master Prajñā one hundred bolts of silk and a set of winter garments; to the remaining ten individuals, fifty bolts of silk and a set of garments each; and to the two supervisors, thirty bolts of silk and a set of garments each, to serve as donations. The Tripiṭaka Master submitted a memorial of gratitude. The śramaṇa Prajñā stated: 'I humbly reflect that I was born in Kashmīr and left my home village at fourteen. Traveling south to India, I heard what I had not previously understood. For over twenty years, I went on pilgrimage to the sacred traces of the twin groves and eight stūpas. Studying both Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna, I vowed to repay the four debts of gratitude. Admiring China from afar, I constantly thought of reaching the sovereign, but had no way to present my offering. Recently, through my maternal cousin, the Ten-General of the Right Shence Army and Prince of Xinping Commandery Luo Haoxin, who serves personally in the military guard, a report was made to the throne and reached the sagely hearing, which was truly a great fortune. Your Majesty reveres the teaching and faithfully accepts the Mahāyāna, commanding the monastic assembly and granting permission to translate. This humble monk's ultimate wish has hereby reached fulfillment. I vow to cultivate diligence reverently, so as to enhance the imperial line above. Respectfully proceeding to the Guangshun Gate, I submit this memorial of thanks to bring it to your hearing. The śramaṇa Prajñā speaks with sincere awe and sincere trepidation.'
The Emperor endorsed: 'The master early visited the clear source and early beheld the secret treasury. Traveling through the Western lands, you visited teachers of the Mahāyāna, obtaining the bequeathed teachings of the Mind-Ground, which are the marvelous practices of the Tathāgata. Aspiring to propagate them to broaden the mysterious gate, you carried the sūtra texts from afar to transmit them to the central realm. Traversing a journey of myriad leagues, you were finally able to reach the capital, carrying forward the style of Kumārajīva and renewing the traces of Matanga. Regarding your dedicated sincerity, We find it exceedingly admirable. Hence We commanded the followers of the Way to undertake the translation, so that this supreme Dharma may circulate eternally. Inspecting your memorial, you have troubled yourself with expressions of thanks.'
On the same day, the patron of the translation, the Tripiṭaka Master's maternal cousin, the Ten-General of the Right Shence Cavalry, Meritorious Minister of Fengtian and Dingnan, Grand Master of the Palace with Open Inspection Equal to the Three Dignities, Probationary Supervisor of the Household of the Crown Prince, Upper Pillar of State, and Prince of Xinping Commandery, the official Luo Haoxin, submitted a memorial expressing gratitude, which stated: 'Your subject Haoxin speaks: My maternal cousin, the śramaṇa monk Prajñā of the kingdom of Kashmīr, previously presented the Indic palm-leaf text of the Dacheng liqu liu boluomiduo jing. Prostrating, we received the decree of the nineteenth day of the fourth month of this year instructing Wang Xiqian to carefully select monks of virtuous conduct to translate this sūtra at Ximing Monastery; now the volumes are completed. Your subject Haoxin is truly joyous and truly delighted, knocking his head again and again. Your subject has heard that when the Zhou star concealed its radiance and the Han dream sped its light, it was first known that spiritual omens move people, yet they must be entrusted to an enlightened monarch to guide and transform. For this reason, Nāgārjuna was invited again to expound the true school once more. We humbly submit that Your Majesty the Emperor spreads moistening grace inside and out, your benevolence covering all living beings, your reputation and teaching reaching far, governing by non-action. Your humble subject's cousin left his home village at fourteen; his will admired the monastic stream, and his footsteps stayed close to the saṅgha. The Indic palm-leaf text of the great sūtra he recently presented...'