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seat）。〃 Next day the spirits came； each one bringing with him a great rock；
（like） a wall； four or five paces square； （for a seat）。 When their sitting was
over； the king made them form a hill with the large stones piled on one
another； and also at the foot of the hill； with five large square stones； to
make an apartment； which might be more than thirty cubits long； twenty
cubits wide； and more than ten cubits high。
In this city there had resided a great Brahman；＇4＇ named Radha…
sami；＇5＇ a professor of the mahayana； of clear discernment and much
wisdom； who understood everything； living by himself in spotless purity。
The king of the country honoured and reverenced him； and served him as
his teacher。 If he went to inquire for and greet him； the king did not
presume to sit down alongside of him； and if； in his love and reverence； he
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took hold of his hand； as soon as he let it go； the Brahman made haste to
pour water on it and wash it。 He might be more than fifty years old； and all
the kingdom looked up to him。 By means of this one man； the Law of
Buddha was widely made known； and the followers of other doctrines did
not find it in their power to persecute the body of monks in any way。
By the side of the tope of Asoka； there has been made a mahayana
monastery； very grand and beautiful； there is also a hinayana one； the two
together containing six or seven hundred monks。 The rules of demeanour
and the scholastic arrangements＇6＇ in them are worthy of observation。
Shamans of the highest virtue from all quarters； and students； inquirers
wishing to find out truth and the grounds of it； all resort to these
monasteries。 There also resides in this monastery a Brahman teacher；
whose name also is Manjusri；＇7＇ whom the Shamans of greatest virtue in
the kingdom； and the mahayana Bhikshus honour and look up to。
The cities and towns of this country are the greatest of all in the
Middle Kingdom。 The inhabitants are rich and prosperous； and vie with
one another in the practice of benevolence and righteousness。 Every year
on the eighth day of the second month they celebrate a procession of
images。 They make a four…wheeled car； and on it erect a structure of four
storeys by means of bamboos tied together。 This is supported by a king…
post； with poles and lances slanting from it； and is rather more than twenty
cubits high； having the shape of a tope。 White and silk…like cloth of hair＇8＇
is wrapped all round it； which is then painted in various colours。 They
make figures of devas； with gold； silver； and lapis lazuli grandly blended
and having silken streamers and canopies hung out over them。 On the four
sides are niches； with a Buddha seated in each； and a Bodhisattva standing
in attendance on him。 There may be twenty cars； all grand and imposing；
but each one different from the others。 On the day mentioned； the monks
and laity within the borders all come together； they have singers and
skilful musicians； they pay their devotion with flowers and incense。 The
Brahmans come and invite the Buddhas to enter the city。 These do so in
order； and remain two nights in it。 All through the night they keep lamps
burning； have skilful music； and present offerings。 This is the practice in
all the other kingdoms as well。 The Heads of the Vaisya families in them
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establish in the cities houses for dispensing charity and medicines。 All the
poor and destitute in the country； orphans； widowers； and childless men；
maimed people and cripples； and all who are diseased； go to those houses；
and are provided with every kind of help； and doctors examine their
diseases。 They get the food and medicines which their cases require； and
are made to feel at ease； and when they are better； they go away of
themselves。
When king Asoka destroyed the seven topes； （intending） to make
eighty… four thousand；＇9＇ the first which he made was the great tope； more
than three le to the south of this city。 In front of this there is a footprint of
Buddha； where a vihara has been built。 The door of it faces the north； and
on the south of it there is a stone pillar； fourteen or fifteen cubits in
circumference； and more than thirty cubits high； on which there is an
inscription； saying； 〃Asoka gave the jambudvipa to the general body of all
the monks； and then redeemed it from them with money。 This he did three
times。〃＇10＇ North from the tope 300 or 400 paces； king Asoka built the
city of Ne…le。＇11＇ In it there is a stone pillar； which also is more than thirty
feet high； with a lion on the top of it。 On the pillar there is an inscription
recording the things which led to the building of Ne…le； with the number of
the year； the day； and the month。
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NOTES
＇1＇ The modern Patna； lat。 25d 28s N。； lon。 85d 15s E。 The Sanskrit
name means 〃The city of flowers。〃 It is the Indian Florence。
＇2＇ See chap。 x； note 3。 Asoka transferred his court from Rajagriha to
Pataliputtra； and there； in the eighteenth year of his reign； he convoked the
third Great Synod；according； at least； to southern Buddhism。 It must
have been held a few years before B。C。 250； Eitel says in 246。
＇3＇ 〃The Vulture…hill；〃 so called because Mara； according to Buddhist
tradition； once assumed the form of a vulture on it to interrupt the
meditation of Ananda； or； more probably； because it was a resort of
vultures。 It was near Rajagriha； the earlier capital of Asoka； so that Fa…hien
connects a legend of it with his account of Patna。 It abounded in caverns；
and was famous as a resort of ascetics。
＇4＇ A Brahman by cast； but a Buddhist in faith。
＇5＇ So； by the help of Julien's 〃Methode；〃 I transliterate the Chinese
characters ｛。｝ ｛。｝ ｛。｝ ｛。｝。 Beal gives Radhasvami； his Chinese text having
a ｛。｝ between ｛。｝ and ｛。｝。 I suppose the name was Radhasvami or
Radhasami。
＇6＇ ｛。｝ ｛。｝； the names of two kinds of schools； often occurring in the Li
Ki and Mencius。 Why should there