a record of buddhistic kingdoms(佛都记录)-第31节
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sufficiency of what they require； so that there is no lack or stint。＇13＇ The
disciplinary rules are strictly observed by them。 The laws regulating their
demeanour in sitting； rising； and entering when the others are assembled；
are those which have been practised by all the saints since Buddha was in
the world down to the present day。 The places of the four great topes have
been fixed； and handed down without break； since Buddha attained to
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nirvana。 Those four great topes are those at the places where Buddha was
born； where he attained to Wisdom； where he （began to） move the wheel
of his Law； and where he attained to pari…nirvana。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Gaya； a city of Magadha； was north…west of the present Gayah （lat。
24d 47s N。； lon。 85d 1s E）。 It was here that Sakyamuni lived for seven
years； after quitting his family； until he attained to Buddhaship。 The place
is still frequented by pilgrims。 E。 H。； p。 41。
＇2＇ This is told so as to make us think that he was in danger of being
drowned； but this does not appear in the only other account of the incident
I have met with；in 〃The Life of the Buddha；〃 p。 31。 And he was not yet
Buddha； though he is here called so； unless indeed the narrative is
confused； and the incidents do not follow in the order of time。
＇3＇ An incident similar to this is told； with many additions； in Hardy's
M。 B。； pp。 166…168； 〃The Life of the Buddha；〃 p。 30； and the 〃Buddhist
Birth Stories；〃 pp。 91； 92； but the name of the ministering girl or girls is
different。 I take Gramika from a note in Beal's revised version； it seems to
me a happy solution of the difficulty caused by the ｛。｝ ｛。｝ of Fa…hien。
＇4＇ Called 〃the tree of leaves；〃 and 〃the tree of reflection；〃 a palm tree；
the /borassus flabellifera/； described as a tree which never loses its leaves。
It is often confounded with the pippala。 E。 H。； p。 92。
＇5＇ The kusa grass； mentioned in a previous note。
＇6＇ See the account of this contest with Mara in M。 B。； pp。 171…179；
and 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 pp。 96…101。
＇7＇ See chap。 xiii； note 7。
＇8＇ Called also Maha； or the Great Muchilinda。 Eitel says： 〃A naga
king； the tutelary deity of a lake near which Sakyamuni once sat for seven
days absorbed in meditation； whilst the king guarded him。〃 The account （p。
35） in 〃The Life of the Buddha〃 is：〃Buddha went to where lived the naga
king Muchilinda； and he； wishing to preserve him from the sun and rain；
wrapped his body seven times round him； and spread out his hood over his
head； and there he remained seven days in thought。〃 So also the Nidana
Katha； in 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 p。 109。
＇9＇ This was Brahma himself； though 〃king〃 is omitted。 What he
requested of the Buddha was that he would begin the preaching of his Law。
Nidana Katha； p。 111。
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＇10＇ See chap。 xii； note 10。
＇11＇ The other accounts mention only two； but in M。 B。； p。 182； and
the Nidana Katha； p。 110； these two have 500 well…laden waggons with
them。
＇12＇ These must not be confounded with Mahakasyapa of chap。 xvi；
note 17。 They were three brothers； Uruvilva； Gaya； and Nadi…Kasyapa； up
to this time holders of 〃erroneous〃 views； having 500； 300； and 200
disciples respectively。 They became distinguished followers of Sakyamuni；
and areeach of themto become Buddha by…and…by。 See the Nidana
Katha； pp。 114； 115。
＇13＇ This seems to be the meaning； but I do not wonder that some
understand the sentence of the benevolence of the monkish population to
the travellers。
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CHAPTER XXXII
LEGEND OF KING ASOKA IN A FORMER BIRTH； AND HIS
NARAKA。
When king Asoka； in a former birth；＇1＇ was a little boy and played on
the road； he met Kasyapa Buddha walking。 （The stranger） begged food；
and the boy pleasantly took a handful of earth and gave it to him。 The
Buddha took the earth； and returned it to the ground on which he was
walking； but because of this （the boy） received the recompense of
becoming a king of the iron wheel；＇2＇ to rule over Jambudvipa。 （Once）
when he was making a judicial tour of inspection through Jambudvipa； he
saw； between the iron circuit of the two hills； a naraka＇3＇ for the
punishment of wicked men。 Having thereupon asked his ministers what
sort of a thing it was； they replied； 〃It belongs to Yama；＇4＇ king of demons；
for punishing wicked people。〃 The king thought within himself： 〃（Even）
the king of demons is able to make a naraka in which to deal with wicked
men； why should not I； who am the lord of men； make a naraka in which
to deal with wicked men？〃 He forthwith asked his ministers who could
make for him a naraka and preside over the punishment of wicked people
in it。 They replied that it was only a man of extreme wickedness who
could make it； and the king thereupon sent officers to seek everywhere for
（such） a bad man； and they saw by the side of a pond a man tall and strong；
with a black countenance； yellow hair； and green eyes； hooking up the fish
with his feet； while he called to him birds and beasts； and； when they came；
then shot and killed them； so that not one escaped。 Having got this man；
they took him to the king； who secretly charged him； 〃You must make a
square enclosure with high walls。 Plant in it all kinds of flowers and fruits；
make good ponds in it for bathing； make it grand and imposing in every
way； so that men shall look to it with thirsting desire； make its gates strong
and sure； and when any one enters； instantly seize him and punish him as a
sinner； not allowing him to get out。 Even if I should enter； punish me as a
sinner in the same way； and do not let me go。 I now appoint you master of
that naraka。〃
Soon after this a bhikshu； pursuing his regular course of begging his
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food； entered the gate （of the place）。 When the lictors of the naraka saw
him； they were about to subject him to their tortures； but he； frightened；
begged them to allow him a moment in which to eat his midday meal。
Immediately after； there came in another man； whom they thrust into a
mortar and pounded till a red froth overflowed。 As the bhikshu looked on；
there came to him the thought of the impermanence； the painful suffering
and insanity of this body； and how it is but as a bubble and as foam； and
instantly he attained to Arhatship。 Immediately after； the lictors seized him；
and threw him into a caldron of boiling water。 There was a look of joyful
satisfaction； however； in the bhikshu's countenance。 The fire was
extinguished； and the water became cold。 In the middle （of the caldron）
there rose up a lotus flower； with the bhikshu seated on it。 The lictors at
once went and reported to the king that there was a marvellous occurrence
in the naraka； and wished him to go and see it； but the king said； 〃I
formerly made such an agreement that now I dare not go （to the place）。〃
The lictors said； 〃This is not a small matter。 Your majesty ought to go
quickly。 Let your former agreement be altered。〃 The king thereupon
followed them； and entered （the naraka）； when the bhikshu preached the
Law to him； and he believed； and was made free。＇5＇ Forthwith he
demolished the naraka； and repented of all the evil which he had formerly
done。 From this time he believed in and honoured the Three Precious Ones；
and constantly went to a patra tree； repenting under it； with self…reproach；
of his errors； and accepting the eight rules of abstinence。＇6＇
The queen asked where the king was constantly going to； an
