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conquered the Punjab； Cashmere； and great part of India； their greatest
king being Kanishak （E。 H。； p。 152）。
＇7＇ Watters； clearly understanding the thought of the author in this
sentence； renders〃his destiny did not extend to a connexion with the
bowl；〃 but the term 〃destiny〃 suggests a controlling or directing power
without。 The king thought that his virtue in the past was not yet sufficient
to give him possession of the bowl。
＇8＇ The text is simply 〃those in white clothes。〃 This may mean 〃the
laity；〃 or the 〃upasakas；〃 but it is better to take the characters in their
common Chinese acceptation； as meaning 〃commoners；〃 〃men who have
no rank。〃 See in Williams' Dictionary under ｛。｝。
＇9＇ I do not wonder that Remusat should give for this〃et s'en
retournent apres。〃 But Fa…hien's use of ｛。｝ in the sense of 〃in the same
way〃 is uniform throughout the narrative。
＇10＇ Hardy's M。 B。； p。 183； says：〃The alms…bowl； given by
Mahabrahma； having vanished （about the time that Gotama became
Buddha）； each of the four guardian deities brought him an alms…bowl of
emerald； but he did not accept them。 They then brought four bowls made
of stone； of the colour of the mung fruit； and when each entreated that his
own bowl might be accepted； Buddha caused them to appear as if formed
into a single bowl； appearing at the upper rim as if placed one within the
other。〃 See the account more correctly given in the 〃Buddhist Birth
Stories；〃 p。 110。
＇11＇ Compare the narrative in Luke's Gospel； xxi。 1…4。
＇12＇ See chapter viii。
＇13＇ This； no doubt； should be Hwuy…ying。 King was at this time ill in
Nagara； and indeed afterwards he dies in crossing the Little Snowy
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Mountains； but all the texts make him die twice。 The confounding of the
two names has been pointed out by Chinese critics。
＇14＇ 〃Came to his end；〃 i。e。； according to the text； 〃proved the
impermanence and uncertainty；〃 namely； of human life。 See Williams'
Dictionary under ｛。｝。 The phraseology is wholly Buddhistic。
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CHAPTER XIII
NAGARA。 FESTIVAL OF BUDDHA'S SKULL…BONE。 OTHER
RELICS； AND HIS SHADOW。
Going west for sixteen yojanas；＇1＇ he came to the city He…lo＇2＇ in the
borders of the country of Nagara； where there is the flat…bone of Buddha's
skull； deposited in a vihara＇3＇ adorned all over with gold… leaf and the
seven sacred substances。 The king of the country； revering and honouring
the bone； and anxious lest it should be stolen away； has selected eight
individuals； representing the great families in the kingdom； and
committing to each a seal； with which he should seal （its shrine） and guard
（the relic）。 At early dawn these eight men come； and after each has
inspected his seal； they open the door。 This done； they wash their hands
with scented water and bring out the bone； which they place outside the
vihara； on a lofty platform； where it is supported on a round pedestal of the
seven precious substances； and covered with a bell of /lapis lazuli/； both
adorned with rows of pearls。 Its colour is of a yellowish white； and it
forms an imperfect circle twelve inches round；＇4＇ curving upwards to the
centre。 Every day； after it has been brought forth； the keepers of the vihara
ascend a high gallery； where they beat great drums； blow conchs； and
clash their copper cymbals。 When the king hears them； he goes to the
vihara； and makes his offerings of flowers and incense。 When he has done
this； he （and his attendants） in order； one after another； （raise the bone）；
place it （for a moment） on the top of their heads；＇5＇ and then depart； going
out by the door on the west as they entered by that on the east。 The king
every morning makes his offerings and performs his worship； and
afterwards gives audience on the business of his government。 The chiefs
of the Vaisyas＇6＇ also make their offerings before they attend to their
family affairs。 Every day it is so； and there is no remissness in the
observance of the custom。 When all the offerings are over； they replace the
bone in the vihara； where there is a vimoksha tope；＇7＇ of the seven
precious substances； and rather more than five cubits high； sometimes
open； sometimes shut； to contain it。 In front of the door of the vihara； there
are parties who every morning sell flowers and incense；＇8＇ and those who
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wish to make offerings buy some of all kinds。 The kings of various
countries are also constantly sending messengers with offerings。 The
vihara stands in a square of thirty paces； and though heaven should shake
and earth be rent； this place would not move。
Going on； north from this； for a yojana； （Fa…hien） arrived at the capital
of Nagara； the place where the Bodhisattva once purchased with money
five stalks of flowers； as an offering to the Dipankara Buddha。＇9＇ In the
midst of the city there is also the tope of Buddha's tooth； where offerings
are made in the same way as to the flat…bone of his skull。
A yojana to the north…east of the city brought him to the mouth of a
valley； where there is Buddha's pewter staff；＇10＇ and a vihara also has
been built at which offerings aremade。 The staff is made of Gosirsha
Chandana； and is quite sixteen or seventeen cubits long。 It is contained in
a wooden tube； and though a hundred or a thousand men ere to （try to） lift
it； they could not move it。
Entering the mouth of the valley； and going west； he found Buddha's
Sanghali；＇11＇ where also there is reared a vihara； and offerings are made。
It is a custom of the country when there is a great drought； for the people
to collect in crowds； bring out the robe； pay worship to it； and make
offerings； on which there is immediately a great rain from the sky。
South of the city； half a