Guṇavarman

Guṇavarman (C. Qiunabamo; J. Gunabatsuma; K. Kunabalma 求那跋摩) (367–431 CE). A monk from Kashmir who was an important early translator of Buddhist Vinaya and bodhisattva preceptive materials into Chinese.

The Digital Dictionary of Buddhism states:

He was originally a prince of Kubhā (Kashmir 罽賓), who refused the throne. He traveled through Ceylon, Java, and Canton before arriving in Nanjing in 431, where he reportedly worked translating until his death at the end of the same year (note that this means he was theoretically extremely productive in a very short time!). He taught that "truth is within, not without, and that the truth is of oneself, not of another" (道在心不在事 法由己非由人) He worked mainly in Yangzhou 揚州, but also is recorded as having been at the Waguangsi 瓦官寺. It is said that he started the order of nuns in China.

He is credited with the following translations:

• Sifen biqiuni jiemo fa 四分比丘尼羯磨法 T 1434;
• 優波離問佛經 T 1466;
• 沙彌威儀 *Upāliparipṛcchā(?) T 1472;
• Youposai wujie xiang jing 優婆塞五戒相經 T 1476;
• Pusa neijie jing 菩薩內戒經 T 1487;
• Youposai wujie weiyi jing 優婆塞五戒威儀經 T 1503;
• 菩薩善戒經 Bodhisattvabhūmi T 1582;
• 菩薩善戒經一卷優波離問菩薩受戒法 Bodhisattvacarya-nirdeśa T 1583; and
• 龍樹菩薩為禪陀迦王說法要偈 Suhṛllekha T 1672.

Sources

• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University 
• 求那跋摩, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (to sign in, see DDB sign-in)
• Guṇavarman, Tsadra Commons