a record of buddhistic kingdoms(佛都记录)-第18节
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Through Buddha having for three months partaken of the food of
heaven； his body emitted a heavenly fragrance； unlike that of an ordinary
man。 He went immediately and bathed； and afterwards； at the spot where
he did so； a bathing…house was built； which is still existing。 At the place
where the bhikshuni Utpala was the first to do reverence to Buddha； a tope
has now been built。
At the places where Buddha； when he was in the world； cut his hair
and nails； topes are erected； and where the three Buddhas＇16＇ that
preceded Sakyamuni Buddha and he himself sat； where they walked；＇17＇
and where images of their persons were made。 At all these places topes
were made； and are still existing。 At the place where Sakra； Ruler of the
Devas； and the king of the Brahma…loka followed Buddha down （from the
Trayastrimsas heaven） they have also raised a tope。
At this place the monks and nuns may be a thousand； who all receive
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their food from the common store； and pursue their studies； some of the
mahayana and some of the hinayana。 Where they live； there is a white…
eared dragon； which acts the part of danapati to the community of these
monks； causing abundant harvests in the country； and the enriching rains
to come in season； without the occurrence of any calamities； so that the
monks enjoy their repose and ease。 In gratitude for its kindness； they have
made for it a dragon…house； with a carpet for it to sit on； and appointed for
it a diet of blessing； which they present for its nourishment。 Every day
they set apart three of their number to go to its house； and eat there。
Whenever the summer retreat is ended； the dragon straightway changes its
form； and appears as a small snake；＇18＇ with white spots at the side of its
ears。 As soon as the monks recognise it； they fill a copper vessel with
cream； into which they put the creature； and then carry it round from the
one who has the highest seat （at their tables） to him who has the lowest；
when it appears as if saluting them。 When it has been taken round；
immediately it disappeared； and every year it thus comes forth once。 The
country is very productive； and the people are prosperous； and happy
beyond comparison。 When people of other countries come to it； they are
exceedingly attentive to them all； and supply them with what they need。
Fifty yojanas north…west from the monastery there is another； called
〃The Great Heap。〃＇19＇ Great Heap was the name of a wicked demon； who
was converted by Buddha； and men subsequently at this place reared a
vihara。 When it was being made over to an Arhat by pouring water on his
hands；＇20＇ some drops fell on the ground。 They are still on the spot； and
however they may be brushed away and removed； they continue to be
visible； and cannot be made to disappear。
At this place there is also a tope to Buddha； where a good spirit
constantly keeps （all about it） swept and watered； without any labour of
man being required。 A king of corrupt views once said； 〃Since you are able
to do this； I will lead a multitude of troops and reside there till the dirt and
filth has increased and accumulated； and （see） whether you can cleanse it
away or not。〃 The spirit thereupon raised a great wind； which blew （the
filth away）； and made the place pure。
At this place there are a hundred small topes； at which a man may keep
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counting a whole day without being able to know （their exact number）。 If
he be firmly bent on knowing it； he will place a man by the side of each
tope。 When this is done； proceeding to count the number of men； whether
they be many or few； he will not get to know （the number）。＇21＇
There is a monastery； containing perhaps 600 or 700 monks； in which
there is a place where a Pratyeka Buddha used to take his food。 The
nirvana ground （where he was burned＇22＇ after death） is as large as a
carriage wheel； and while grass grows all around； on this spot there is
none。 The ground also where he dried his clothes produces no grass； but
the impression of them； where they lay on it； continues to the present day。
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NOTES
＇1＇ The name is still remaining in Samkassam； a village forty…five
miles northwest of Canouge； lat。 27d 3s N。； lon。 79d 50s E。
＇2＇ The heaven of Indra or Sakya； meaning 〃the heaven of thirty…three
classes；〃 a name which has been explained both historically and
mythologically。 〃The description of it；〃 says Eitel； p。 148； 〃tallies in all
respects with the Svarga of Brahmanic mythology。 It is situated between
the four peaks of the Meru； and consists of thirty…two cities of devas； eight
one each of the four corners of the mountain。 Indra's capital of Bellevue is
in the centre。 There he is enthroned； with a thousand heads and a thousand
eyes； and four arms grasping the vajra； with his wife and 119；000
concubines。 There he receives the monthly reports of the four Maharajas；
concerning the progress of good and evil in the world；〃 &c。 &c。
＇3＇ Buddha's mother； Maya and Mahamaya； the /mater immaculata/ of
the Buddhists； died seven days after his birth。 Eitel says； 〃Reborn in
Tushita； she was visited there by her son and converted。〃 The Tushita
heaven was a more likely place to find her than the Trayastrimsas； but was
the former a part of the latter？ Hardy gives a long account of Buddha's
visit to the Trayastrimsas （M。 B。； pp。 298…302）； which he calls Tawutisa；
and speaks of his mother （Matru） in it； who had now become a deva by the
changing of her sex。
＇4＇ Compare the account of the Arhat's conveyance of the artist to the
Tushita heaven in chap。 v。 The first expression here is more
comprehensive。
＇5＇ Anuruddha was a first cousin of Sakyamuni； being the son of his
uncle Amritodana。 He is often mentioned in the account we have of
Buddha's last moments。 His special gift was the divyachakshus or
〃heavenly eye；〃 the first of the six abhijnas or 〃supernatural talents；〃 the
faculty of comprehending in one instantaneous view； or by intuition； all
beings in all worlds。 〃He could see；〃 says Hardy； M。 B。； p。 232； 〃all things
in 100；000 sakvalas as plainly as a mustard seed held in the hand。〃
＇6＇ Eitel gives the name Utpala with the same Chinese phonetisation as
in the text； but not as the name of any bhikshuni。 The Sanskrit word；
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however； is explained by 〃blue lotus flowers；〃 and Hsuan…chwang calls
her the nun 〃Lotus…flower colour （｛。｝ ｛。｝ ｛。｝）；〃the same as Hardy's
Upulwan and Uppalawarna。
＇7＇ Perhaps we should read here 〃to see Buddha；〃 and then ascribe the
transformation to the nun herself。 It depends on the punctuation which
view we adopt； and in the structure of the passage； there is nothing to
indicate that the stop should be made before or after 〃Buddha。〃 And the
one view is as reasonable； or rather as unreasonable； as the other。
＇8＇ 〃A holy king who turns the wheel；〃 that is； the military conqueror
and monarch of the whole or part of a universe。 〃The symbol；〃 says Eitel
（p。 142） 〃of such a king is the chakra or wheel； for when he ascends the
throne； a chakra falls from heaven； indicating by its material （gold； silver；
copper； or iron） the extent and character of his reign。 The office； however；
of the highest Chakravartti； who hurls his wheel among his enemies； is
inferior to the peaceful mission of a Buddha； who meekly turns the wheel
of the Law； and conquers every universe by his teaching。〃
＇9＇ This was Brahma； the first person of the Brahmanical Trimurti；
adopted by Buddhism； but placed in an infe
