a record of buddhistic kingdoms(佛都记录)-第24节
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synod； and the principal compiler of the original Vinaya books。
＇12＇ I have not met with the particulars of this preaching。
＇13＇ Meaning； as explained in Chinese； 〃a tree without knots；〃 the
/ficus Indica/。 See Rhys Davids' note； Manual； p。 39； where he says that a
branch of one of these trees was taken from Buddha Gaya to
Anuradhapura in Ceylon in the middle of the third century B。C； and is still
growing there； the oldest historical tree in the world。
＇14＇ See chap。 xiii； note 11。 I have not met with the account of this
presentation。 See the long account of Prajapati in M。 B。； pp。 306…315。
＇15＇ See chap。 xx； note 10。 The Srotapannas are the first class of saints；
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who are not to be reborn in a lower sphere； but attain to nirvana after
having been reborn seven times consecutively as men or devas。 The
Chinese editions state there were 〃1000〃 of the Sakya seed。 The general
account is that they were 500； all maidens； who refused to take their place
in king Vaidurya's harem； and were in consequence taken to a pond； and
had their hands and feet cut off。 There Buddha came to them； had their
wounds dressed； and preached to them the Law。 They died in the faith； and
were reborn in the region of the four Great Kings。 Thence they came back
and visited Buddha at Jetavana in the night； and there they obtained the
reward of Srotapanna。 〃The Life of the Buddha；〃 p。 121。
＇16＇ See the account of this event in M。 B。； p。 150。 The account of it
reminds me of the ploughing by the sovereign； which has been an
institution in China from the earliest times。 But there we have no magic
and no extravagance。
＇17＇ 〃The place of Liberation；〃 see chap。 xiii； note 7。
＇18＇ See the accounts of this event in M。 B。； pp。 145； 146； 〃The Life of
the Buddha；〃 pp。 15； 16； and 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 p。 66。
＇19＇ There is difficulty in construing the text of this last statement。 Mr。
Beal had； no doubt inadvertently； omitted it in his first translation。 In his
revised version he gives for it； I cannot say happily； 〃As well as at the pool；
the water of which came down from above for washing （the child）。〃
＇20＇ See chap。 xvii； note 8。 See also Davids' Manual； p。 45。 The latter
says； that 〃to turn the wheel of the Law〃 means 〃to set rolling the royal
chariot wheel of a universal empire of truth and righteousness；〃 but he
admits that this is more grandiloquent than the phraseology was in the ears
of Buddhists。 I prefer the words quoted from Eitel in the note referred to。
〃They turned〃 is probably equivalent to 〃They began to turn。〃
＇21＇ Fa…hien does not say that he himself saw any of these white
elephants； nor does he speak of the lions as of any particular colour。 We
shall find by…and…by； in a note further on； that； to make them appear more
terrible； they are spoken of as 〃black。〃
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CHAPTER XXIII
RAMA； AND ITS TOPE。
East from Buddha's birthplace； and at a distance of five yojanas； there
is a kingdom called Rama。＇1＇ The king of this country； having obtained
one portion of the relics of Buddha's body；＇2＇ returned with it and built
over it a tope； named the Rama tope。 By the side of it there was a pool；
and in the pool a dragon； which constantly kept watch over （the tope）； and
presented offerings to it day and night。 When king Asoka came forth into
the world； he wished to destroy the eight topes （over the relics）； and to
build （instead of them） 84；000 topes。＇3＇ After he had thrown down the
seven （others）； he wished next to destroy this tope。 But then the dragon
showed itself； took the king into its palace；＇4＇ and when he had seen all
the things provided for offerings； it said to him； 〃If you are able with your
offerings to exceed these； you can destroy the tope； and take it all away。 I
will not contend with you。〃 The king； however； knew that such appliances
for offerings were not to be had anywhere in the world； and thereupon
returned （without carrying out his purpose）。
（Afterwards）； the ground all about became overgrown with vegetation；
and there was nobody to sprinkle and sweep （about the tope）； but a herd of
elephants came regularly； which brought water with their trunks to water
the ground； and various kinds of flowers and incense； which they
presented at the tope。 （Once） there came from one of the kingdoms a
devotee＇5＇ to worship at the tope。 When he encountered the elephants he
was greatly alarmed； and screened himself among the trees； but when he
saw them go through with the offerings in the most proper manner； the
thought filled him with great sadnessthat there should be no monastery
here； （the inmates of which） might serve the tope； but the elephants have
to do the watering and sweeping。 Forthwith he gave up the great
prohibitions （by which he was bound）；＇6＇ and resumed the status of a
Sramanera。＇7＇ With his own hands he cleared away the grass and trees； put
the place in good order； and made it pure and clean。 By the power of his
exhortations； he prevailed on the king of the country to form a residence
for monks； and when that was done； he became head of the monastery。 At
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the present day there are monks residing in it。 This event is of recent
occurrence； but in all the succession from that time till now； there has
always been a Sramanera head of the establishment。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Rama or Ramagrama； between Kapilavastu and Kusanagara。
＇2＇ See the account of the eightfold division of the relics of Buddha's
body in the Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xi； Buddhist Suttas； pp。 133…
136。
＇3＇ The bones of the human body are supposed to consist of 84；000
atoms； and hence the legend of Asoka's wish to build 84；000 topes； one
over each atom of Sakyamuni's skeleton。
＇4＇ Fa…hien； it appears to me； intended his readers to understand that
the naga…guardian had a palace of his own； inside or underneath the pool
or tank。
＇5＇ It stands out on the narrative as a whole that we have not here
〃some pilgrims；〃 but one devotee。
＇6＇ What the 〃great prohibitions〃 which the devotee now gave up were
we cannot tell。 Being what he was； a monk of more than ordinary ascetical
habits； he may have undertaken peculiar and difficult vows。
＇7＇ The Sramanera； or in Chinese Shamei。 See chap。 xvi； note 19。
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CHAPTER XXIV
WHERE BUDDHA FINALLY RENOUNCED THE WORLD； AND
WHERE HE DIED。
East from here four yojanas； there is the place where the heir… apparent
sent back Chandaka； with his white horse；＇1＇ and there also a tope was
erected。
Four yojanas to the east from this； （the travellers） came to the Charcoal
tope；＇2＇ where there is also a monastery。
Going on twelve yojanas； still to the east； they came to the city of
Kusanagara；＇3＇ on the north of which； between two trees；＇4＇ on the bank
of the Nairanjana＇5＇ river； is the place where the World…honoured one；
with his head to the north； attained to pari…nirvana （and died）。 There also
are the places where Subhadra；＇6＇ the last （of his converts）； attained to
Wisdom （and became an Arhat）； where in his coffin of gold they made
offerings to the World…honoured one for seven days；＇7＇ where the
Vajrapani laid aside his golden club；＇8＇ and where the eight kings＇9＇
divided the relics （of the burnt body）：at all these places were built topes
and monasteries； all of which are now existing。
In the city
