record of buddhistic kingdoms-第19节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the Buddha； p。 25。 Most probably it was that related in M。 B。； pp。 199…204。 See 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 pp。 120… 127。
＇11＇ They did this； I suppose； to show their humility； for Upali was only a Sudra by birth； and had been a barber； so from the first did Buddhism assert its superiority to the conditions of rank and caste。 Upali was distinguished by his knowledge of the rules of discipline； and praised on that account by Buddha。 He was one of the three leaders of the first 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； 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。〃
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 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。
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。
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 the inhabitants are few and far between； comprising only the families belonging to the （different） societies of monks。
Going from this to the south…east for twelve yojanas； they came to the place where the Lichchhavis＇10＇ wished to follow Buddha to （the place of） his pari…nirvana； and where； when he would not listen to them and they kept cleaving to him； unwilling to go away； he made to appear a large and deep ditch which they could not cross over； and gave them his alms…bowl； as a pledge of his regard； （thus） sending them back to their families。 There a stone pillar was erected with an account of this event engraved upon it。
NOTES
＇1＇ This was on the night when Sakyamuni finally left his palace and family to fulfil the course to which he felt that he was called。 Chandaka； in Pali Channa； was the prince's charioteer； and in sympathy with him。 So also was the white horse Kanthaka （Kanthakanam Asvaraja）； which neighed his delight till the devas heard him。 See M。 B。； pp。 158…161； and Davids' Manual； pp。 32； 33。 According to 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 p。 87； the noble horse never returned to the city； but died of grief at being left by his master； to be reborn immediately in the Trayastrimsas heaven as the deva Kanthaka！
＇2＇ Beal and Giles call this the 〃Ashes〃 tope。 I also would have preferred to call it so； but the Chinese character is ｛。｝； not ｛。｝。 Remusat has 〃la tour des charbons。〃 It was over the place of Buddha's cremation。
＇3＇ In Pali Kusinara。 It got its name from the Kusa grass （the /poa cynosuroides/）； and its ruins a
