大寶積經述
The Ratnakuta Sutra
唐朝議郎行河南府告成縣主簿徐鍔撰
Composed by Xu E, Court Gentleman for Consultation and Registrar of Gaocheng County, Henan Prefecture, Tang Dynasty
夫日月出矣而輝耀十方，時雨降矣而澡漉萬物。況我身常樂，湛虛空之相，妙覺圓明，融心行之本，唯曒唯昧、不生不滅者哉。是以闢無學之地聿修迦蘭，啟息言之津亶作羅奈，智勝菩薩起方便之緣，淨居天人發成就之力，稱謂所絕者其第一義乎！自恒星夜掩、仙虹晝爍，青鉢傳其睟容，寶棺現其金臂。法山摧仞，拂魔箭於危屏，直水橫流，係慈航於彼岸。烏虖！妙藏不可以常祕，戒輪不可以終盭，雖雙林下砉示於泥洹，逮一千年遹被於聲教。龍持貝葉亟傳摩竭之城，象負蓮華遂滿真丹之境。三十七品慈悲於火宅，一十二經引喻於沙界矣。大寶積經者，後漢迦葉摩騰、竺法蘭及今朝玄奘法師、菩提流志等，咸自西天竺所致也。如來昔在鷲峯利建平等，金口注海，酌之而不竭，寶言如綸，振之而有緒。烱茲瑞憲，久翳鴻都，原壑屢非，市朝多變。歷代侚齊之主競興參譯，跋陀授記之言罕能丕就。洎我唐之有天下也，功橫鐵圍，化緜忉利，苑禦千界，提封萬剎。張四攝之扉，廣納諸有；騁六道之驥，冥濟群惑。太上皇以澤深智海掌耀禪珠，神皇帝以勛格梵空胸懸法印，肅敷玄誥，照灑鴻波，歷選緇徒，明𫾻列寀，博考同異，聿興刊緝，勇振頹綱，嚴持絕紐。爰有沙門大德思忠、東天竺國婆羅門大首領臣伊舍羅等譯梵文者，求善住緣，悟無生忍，博聞強識，精而譯之。復有天竺沙門波若屈多、沙門達摩證梵義者，開忍辱場，破煩惱眾，弼諧神侶，明而辨之。復有沙門大德履方、宗一、普敬、慧覺等筆授者，令聞孔膠，威儀不忒，手握仙札，受而字之。復有沙門大德深亮、勝莊、塵外、無著、慧迪等證義者，國之大師、佛之右臂，探諸了義演而證之。復有大德沙門承禮、雲觀、神暕、道本等次文者，庇影多林，息肩香窟，勤修精進，纂而次之。復有潤文官者，銀青光祿大夫邠王傅上柱國固安縣開國伯盧粲、銀青光祿大夫太子詹事崇文館學士兼修國史上柱國東海縣開國公徐堅、朝議大夫守中書舍人崇文館學士上柱國野王縣開國男蘇晉、朝議郎給事中內供奉崔璩等，位列鳳舞，聲流雞圃，分別二諦，潤而色之。復有銀青光祿大夫守侍中兼太子左庶子兼修國史上柱國鉅鹿縣開國公魏知古、兵部尚書上柱國郭元振、銀青光祿大夫檢校中書令上柱國范陽縣開國男張說、銀青光祿大夫行中書侍郎同中書門下三品監修國史上柱國興平縣開國侯陸象先等，朝踐瑣闥，夕遊珠域，護持四法，總而閱之。爾乃杖錫之士、端珪之俊，麻列定筵，林攢樂土，蔭祥雲而演譯，倐換炎涼，吸甘露而勤求，載淹衡晷，大乘章句義不唐捐，小品精微拯無遺溺，能事畢矣！佛何言哉！
The sun and moon have risen, and their radiance shines across the ten directions. Seasonal rains have fallen, and they cleanse and nourish all things. How much more is my body, forever joyful, deeply still in the mark of emptiness, wondrously awakened and perfectly clear, harmonizing the very root of the mind's practice—beyond bright and dim, beyond arising and ceasing!
Therefore, I opened a ground of no-more-learning and cultivated the Sangharama. I unlocked the ford of resting speech and established the Deer Park. The Bodhisattva Wisdom-Victor set in motion the conditions of skillful means, and the deities of the Pure Abode sent forth the power of accomplishment. What words cannot reach—is that not the supreme truth?
Since the constellations were veiled by night and the immortal rainbow blazed by day, the blue bowl has transmitted his gentle countenance, and the jeweled coffin has revealed his golden arm. The dharma-mountain's towering peak was leveled; the demon's arrows were brushed aside at the perilous screen. The straight water flows across, binding the ship of compassion to the far shore.
Alas! The wondrous treasury cannot remain forever hidden; the wheel of precepts cannot forever cease turning. Though beneath the twin sal trees he suddenly revealed his passing into nirvana, after a thousand years his voice and teaching spread abroad. Dragons bore the palm-leaf scriptures swiftly to the city of Magadha; elephants carried the lotus flowers until they filled the land of China. The thirty-seven factors of enlightenment show compassion in the burning house; the twelve divisions of scripture draw parables across the sandy realms.
The Mahāratnakūṭa Sutra was brought from India by Kashyapa Mātaṅga and Zhu Falan of the Later Han, and in our own dynasty by Dharma Master Xuanzang, Bodhiruci, and others. The Tathāgata once dwelt at Vulture Peak, establishing equality. His golden mouth poured forth an ocean that cannot be drained however much one draws from it. His jeweled words are like silk threads—pull them, and they never end.
This auspicious scripture had long lain hidden in the great capital. Plains and valleys had changed again and again; markets and courts had shifted many times. Rulers of successive dynasties who devoted themselves to the Way vied in supporting translation, yet the prophecy entrusted to Buddhabhadra was rarely brought to full completion.
When our Tang dynasty came to rule all under heaven, its merit stretched beyond the Iron Enclosure Mountains, its transformation extended to the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. It governed a thousand realms and held sway over ten thousand lands. It opened the door of the four means of attraction, broadly welcoming all beings; it raced the steeds of the six paths, silently rescuing the deluded multitude.
The Retired Emperor, with virtue deep as the ocean of wisdom, held in his palm the shining pearl of meditation. The Divine Emperor, with merit equal to Brahma's vastness, hung the dharma-seal upon his breast. Reverently they spread the profound decree, illuminating and pouring forth the great waves. They carefully selected monks in succession, clearly promoted the assembled officials, broadly examined similarities and differences, and thus began the work of editing and compiling. Bravely they raised up the fallen guidelines and strictly maintained the broken threads.
There were then the monastic worthy Sizhong, the great Brahmin chief Ishvara of the Eastern Indian kingdom, and others who translated the Sanskrit texts. Seeking the conditions of dwelling in goodness, they awakened to the patience of non-arising. Vast in learning and strong in memory, they translated with precision.
There were also the Indian monk Prajñāgupta, the monk Dharmarakṣa, and others who verified the Sanskrit meaning. They opened the field of patience, shattered the army of afflictions, assisted their spiritual companions, and clarified and distinguished the meaning.
There were also the monastic worthies Lüfang, Zongyi, Pujing, Huijue, and others who served as scribes. Their reputations were firmly established, their deportment never faltered. Holding the immortal tablets in hand, they received and set down the words.
There were also the monastic worthies Shenliang, Shengzhuang, Chenwai, Asanga, Huidi, and others who verified the meaning—great masters of the nation, right arms of the Buddha. They explored the definitive meanings and expounded and verified them.
There were also the great worthy monks Chengli, Yunguan, Shenjian, Daoben, and others who arranged the text in order—sheltering in the many groves, resting beneath fragrant caves, diligently cultivating diligence, compiling and ordering it.
There were also the officials who polished the text: Lu Can, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Tutor to the Prince of Bin, Pillar of the State, Founding Earl of Gu'an County; Xu Jian, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, Academician of the Chongwen Pavilion, and concurrently Compiler of the National History, Pillar of the State, Founding Duke of Donghai County; Su Jin, Grand Master of Court Discussion, Attendant of the Secretariat, Academician of the Chongwen Pavilion, Pillar of the State, Founding Baron of Yewang County; Cui Qu, Grand Master of Court Discussion, Supervising Secretary, and Inner Attendant, and others. Ranked like phoenixes in dance, their fame flowed through the chicken groves. They distinguished the two truths and polished and colored the text.
There were also Wei Zhigu, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Acting Director of the Chancellery, concurrent Left Advisor to the Crown Prince, and concurrently Compiler of the National History, Pillar of the State, Founding Duke of Julu County; Guo Yuanzhen, Minister of War, Pillar of the State; Zhang Yue, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Acting Director of the Secretariat, Pillar of the State, Founding Baron of Fanyang County; Lu Xiangxian, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Acting Vice Director of the Secretariat, Joint Manager of Affairs with the Chancellery, Supervisor of the Compilation of the National History, Pillar of the State, Founding Marquis of Xingping County, and others. By morning they trod the palace gates; by evening they wandered the pearl-realm. Protecting and upholding the four dharmas, they reviewed the whole.
Then the staff-bearing monks and the jade-bearing worthies gathered in rows at the meditation mats, thronging like a forest in the land of bliss. Shaded by auspicious clouds, they expounded and translated. Suddenly the seasons changed from heat to cold. Drinking the sweet dew, they diligently sought, and many days passed. The words and phrases of the Great Vehicle did not go to waste; the subtle essence of the smaller texts rescued all without omission. The work is complete! What more can the Buddha say?
今所新翻經，凡有四十九會、七十七品，合一十二帙，以類相從撰寫咸畢。以先天二年六月三十日進太上皇，八月二十一日進皇帝。禁闈曉闢，真教上聞，仙宁克怡，宸襟允穆。竦鈞陣於白日，親御靈臺；落雲雨於彤霄，荐加殊尉。賢愚稽首，以為利見仁王；真俗歸心，以為潛登覺道。次有清信佛弟子，前少府監丞李式顏等，皇朝金紫光祿大夫兵部尚書贈侍中隴西公逈秀子也。復有清信佛弟子，前右拾遺徐鐈等，皇朝銀青光祿大夫太子賓客昭文館學士高平公子也，咸屬彼穹降禍私門墜構，陟遙岵而崩心，瞻冥途而獻福。於是胠篋探笥，檀波羅蜜，廣疊簡牋，首崇書寫，不變槐火，遽盈苔袟，然後裝之鏤軸、綴以瓊籤。羅綵簟而霓舒，播珠函而錦縟，方使猛風吹嶽，長存妬路之文，劫火燒天，不壞多羅之典。
Now the newly translated scriptures consist of forty-nine assemblies and seventy-seven chapters, combined into twelve volumes. Arranged by category, they have all been completed. On the thirtieth day of the sixth month of the second year of Xiantian, they were presented to the Retired Emperor; on the twenty-first day of the eighth month, they were presented to the Emperor. As the palace gates opened at dawn, the true teaching was brought to imperial attention. The celestial abode was greatly pleased, and the imperial heart was fully content. Banners rose against the bright sun as the emperor himself visited the sacred terrace; grace descended like rain from the crimson sky, and special honors were bestowed again and again. The worthy and the foolish alike bowed their heads, seeing it as a blessed encounter with a benevolent king; monastics and laypeople alike gave their hearts to it, regarding it as a hidden ascent upon the path to enlightenment.
Next there was the pure-faith Buddhist disciple Li Shiyan, former Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops, son of the late Duke of Longxi, Hui Xiu, who held the titles of Golden Purple Grand Master of the Imperial Court, Minister of War, and posthumously Honorary Director of the Chancellery. There was also the pure-faith Buddhist disciple Xu Qiao, former Right Reminder, son of the Duke of Gaoping, who held the titles of Silver and Green Grand Master of the Imperial Court, Guest of the Crown Prince, and Scholar of the Zhaowen Institute. Both had suffered calamity befalling their families, their households brought low. Gazing toward distant hills, their hearts broke; looking toward the dark road beyond, they offered blessings. And so they opened their chests and searched their boxes, giving generously in the perfection of generosity. They piled up sheets of paper and silk, and above all devoted themselves to copying. Without waiting for the seasons to change, the volumes were quickly filled. Then they bound them with carved rollers and tied them with jade labels. Spread out on colored mats like unfurling rainbows, stored in pearl cases with rich brocade—so that even if a fierce wind should blow down mountains, the writings of the noble path would long endure; and even if the fire at the end of the age should burn the heavens, the scriptures of the pattra leaves would never be destroyed.