盂蘭盆經讚述 1.5

1.5

經曰在舍衛國耆樹給孤獨薗者　述曰。此第三明起教處所也。舍衛國者此云名物國。以彼國中積有餘物多有異珍。既名振遐邦聲流遠國。即為名也。祇樹者即祇陀也。此云戰勝。即太子名也。給孤獨者。此云須達即是國臣之號。若依今日三藏法師新經及論　云室羅伐誓多林給孤獨園。良以舊來三藏不善方音。遂置訛謬若身梵本。應言室羅伐悉底國。略去悉底也。唐云名聞國。上古之時有兄弟二人居時習仙而獲仙證。而此仙人名聞第一。為國之寶。後時於此安國立堵。即以二仙之名為國城之稱。或曰多聞國。此國多有聰明學問。能造論記。九十六種外道師弟此中最多。又十六大國。而此國中見有四德。普勝餘方。一財物德。二欲塵德。三法德。謂施戒修四解脫德。謂出世果故曰多聞。誓多者舊云祇陀。語訛也。此云戰勝。太子生時隣國怨至。振而得勝故云戰勝。林者國樹之總名也。園本誓多所有須達布金買之地。得安金園屬須達。樹妨布價。林歸誓多。給孤獨者即須達也。唐言善興。即國之大臣也。富財豐德。恒以財物給孤濟窮。時人所重。故云給孤獨也。真諦三藏云。須達多為過去鳩留村馱佛時。已於此地起精舍供養。爾時地廣四十里。佛及人壽四萬歲須達爾時名毘沙長者。以金板布地。寶衣覆之。而為供養。俱那含牟尼佛時。佛及人壽三萬歲。須達爾時名大家主長者。以銀布地而為供養。爾時此地廣三十里。迦葉波佛。佛及人壽二萬歲。須達爾時名大幡相長者。以七寶布地。地廣二十里。今第七釋迦牟尼佛。佛及人壽百歲。地廣十里。以金餅布地。周滿其中。皆厚五寸。買園奉佛。後彌勒佛出世時。佛及人壽八萬歲。地廣四十里。以七寶布地。須達爾時名讓佉。出家修道獲羅漢果。

The sūtra says: "In Śrāvastī, at Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍadārāma." Commentary: This third [phrase] clarifies the place where the teaching arose. Śrāvastī: here translated as the Country of Renowned Goods, because in that country surplus goods were accumulated and there were many rare treasures; since its reputation shook distant regions and its fame spread to remote countries, it was called "renowned." "Jeta trees" refers to Jeta; here translated as "Victor in Battle," which is the prince's name. "Anāthapiṇḍada": here translated as Sudatta, which is the title of a minister of the country. If relying on today's Tripiṭaka master's new sūtras and treatises, it is called Śrāvastī, Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍadārāma. Truly because the Tripiṭaka masters of old were not skilled in regional sounds, errors were consequently introduced. If based on the Sanskrit original, one should say *Śrāvastī-deśa*, omitting the *-stī*. In the Tang language, it is called the Country of Great Renown. In ancient times, there were two brothers who lived there practicing as immortals and attained the realization of immortals. These immortals were foremost in fame and were the treasures of the country. Later, when a country and walls were established here, the names of the two immortals were taken as the designation of the country and city. Or it is called the Country of Much Learning, [because] this country had many intelligent scholars who could compose treatises and records; the masters and disciples of the ninety-six kinds of non-Buddhist traditions were most numerous here. Furthermore, among the sixteen great nations, this country was seen to possess four virtues, universally surpassing other lands: first, the virtue of wealth and goods; second, the virtue of sensory desires; third, the virtue of Dharma, meaning giving, morality, and cultivation; fourth, the virtue of liberation, meaning supramundane fruits. Hence it is called Much Learning. "Jeta": formerly called *Qituo*, which was an error of pronunciation; here translated as "Victor in Battle." When the prince was born, enemies from neighboring countries arrived; he rallied and won victory, hence he was called "Victor in Battle." "Grove" is the general name for the trees of the country. The park was originally owned by Jeta; Sudatta spread gold to purchase the land. Obtaining the land to place gold, the park belonged to Sudatta; because the trees prevented the spreading of the purchase price, the grove went to Jeta. "Anāthapiṇḍada" is Sudatta; in the Tang language, "Good Prosperity." He was a great minister of the country, wealthy in goods and abundant in virtue, who constantly used wealth to provide for orphans and relieve the poor; esteemed by the people of the time, he was therefore called Anāthapiṇḍada. Tripiṭaka master Paramārtha said: In the time of the past Krakucchanda Buddha, Sudatta had already built a vihāra on this land to make offerings. At that time, the land was forty leagues wide, and the life span of the Buddha and humans was forty thousand years. Sudatta at that time was named the Elder Vaiśravaṇa; he paved the ground with gold plates and covered them with precious robes to make offerings. In the time of Kanakamuni Buddha, the life span of the Buddha and humans was thirty thousand years; Sudatta at that time was named the Elder Great Master of the House, and paved the ground with silver to make offerings. At that time, this land was thirty leagues wide. In the time of Kāśyapa Buddha, the life span of the Buddha and humans was twenty thousand years; Sudatta at that time was named the Elder Great Banner Mark, and paved the ground with the seven treasures; the land was twenty leagues wide. Now, under the seventh, Śākyamuni Buddha, the life span of the Buddha and humans is one hundred years, and the land is ten leagues wide; he paved the ground with gold cakes, completely filling the area, all five inches thick, to buy the park and offer it to the Buddha. Later, when Maitreya Buddha appears in the world, the life span of the Buddha and humans will be eighty thousand years, the land will be forty leagues wide, and it will be paved with the seven treasures; Sudatta at that time will be named Śaṅkha, and will leave household life, cultivate the path, and attain the fruit of an arhat.