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A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
CHAPTER X
GANDHARA。 LEGENDS OF BUDDHA。
The travellers； going downwards from this towards the east； in five
days came to the country of Gandhara；＇1＇ the place where Dharma…
vivardhana；＇2＇ the son of Asoka；＇3＇ ruled。 When Buddha was a
Bodhisattva； he gave his eyes also for another man here；＇4＇ and at the spot
they have also reared a large tope； adorned with layers of gold and silver
plates。 The people of the country were mostly students of the hinayana。
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A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
NOTES
＇1＇ Eitel says 〃an ancient kingdom； corresponding to the region about
Dheri and Banjour。〃 But see note 5。
＇2＇ Dharma…vivardhana is the name in Sanskrit； represented by the Fa
Yi ｛。｝ ｛。｝ of the text。
＇3＇ Asoka is here mentioned for the first time；the Constantine of the
Buddhist society； and famous for the number of viharas and topes which
he erected。 He was the grandson of Chandragupta （i。q。 Sandracottus）； a
rude adventurer； who at one time was a refugee in the camp of Alexander
the Great； and within about twenty years afterwards drove the Greeks out
of India； having defeated Seleucus； the Greek ruler of the Indus provinces。
He had by that time made himself king of Magadha。 His grandson was
converted to Buddhism by the bold and patient demeanour of an Arhat
whom he had ordered to be buried alive； and became a most zealous
supporter of the new faith。 Dr。 Rhys Davids （Sacred Books of the East； vol。
xi； p。 xlvi） says that 〃Asoka's coronation can be fixed with absolute
certainty within a year or two either way of 267 B。C。〃
＇4＇ This also is a Jataka story； but Eitel thinks it may be a myth；
constructed from the story of the blinding of Dharma…vivardhana。
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A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
CHAPTER XI
TAKSHASILA。 LEGENDS。 THE FOUR GREAT TOPES。
Seven days' journey from this to the east brought the travellers to the
kingdom of Takshasila；＇1＇ which means 〃the severed head〃 in the
language of China。 Here； when Buddha was a Bodhisattva； he gave away
his head to a man；＇2＇ and from this circumstance the kingdom got its
name。
Going on further for two days to the east； they came to the place where
the Bodhisattva threw down his body to feed a starving tigress。＇2＇ In these
two places also large topes have been built； both adorned with layers of all
the precious substances。 The kings； ministers； and peoples of the
kingdoms around vie with one another in making offerings at them。 The
trains of those who come to scatter flowers and light lamps at them never
cease。 The nations of those quarters all those （and the other two mentioned
before） 〃the four great topes。〃
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A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
NOTES
＇1＇ See Julien's 〃Methode pour dechiffrer et transcrire les Nomes
Sanscrits；〃 p。 206。 Eitel says； 〃The Taxila of the Greeks； the region near
Hoosun Abdaul in lat。 35d 48s N。； lon。 72d 44s E。 But this identification； I
am satisfied； is wrong。 Cunningham； indeed； takes credit （〃Ancient
Geography of India；〃 pp。 108； 109） for determining this to be the site of
Arrian's Taxila；in the upper Punjab； still existing in the ruins of
Shahdheri； between the Indus and Hydaspes （the modern Jhelum）。 So far
he may be correct； but the Takshasila of Fa…hien was on the other； or
western side of the Indus； and between the river and Gandhara。 It took him；
indeed； seven days travelling eastwards to reach it； but we do not know
what stoppages he may have made on the way。 We must be wary in
reckoning distances from his specifications of days。
＇2＇ Two Jataka stories。 See the account of the latter in Spence Hardy's
〃Manual of Buddhism；〃 pp。 91； 92。 It took place when Buddha had been
born as a Brahman in the village of Daliddi； and from the merit of the act；
he was next born in a devaloka。
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A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
CHAPTER XII
PURUSHAPURA； OR PESHAWUR。 PROPHECY ABOUT KING
KANISHKA AND HIS TOPE。 BUDDHA'S ALMS…BOWL。 DEATH OF
HWUY…YING。
Going southwards from Gandhara； （the travellers） in four days arrived
at the kingdom of Purushapura。＇1＇ Formerly； when Buddha was travelling
in this country with his disciples； he said to Ananda；＇2＇ 〃After my pari…
nirvana；＇3＇ there will be a king named Kanishka；＇4＇ who shall on this spot
build a tope。〃 This Kanishka was afterwards born into the world； and
（once）； when he had gone forth to look about him； Sakra； Ruler of Devas；
wishing to excite the idea in his mind； assumed the appearance of a little
herd…boy； and was making a tope right in the way （of the king）； who asked
what sort of thing he was making。 The boy said； 〃I am making a tope for
Buddha。〃 The king said； 〃Very good；〃 and immediately； right over the
boy's tope； he （proceeded to） rear another； which was more than four
hundred cubits high； and adorned with layers of all the precious substances。
Of all the topes and temples which （the travellers） saw in their journeyings；
there was not one comparable to this in solemn beauty and majestic
grandeur。 There is a current saying that this is the finest tope in
Jambudvipa。＇5＇ When the king's tope was completed； the little tope （of the
boy） came out from its side on the south； rather more than three cubits in
height。
Buddha's alms…bowl is in this country。 Formerly； a king of Yueh…she＇6＇
raised a large force and invaded this country； wishing to carry the bowl
away。 Having subdued the kingdom； as he and his captains were sincere
believers in the Law of Buddha； and wished to carry off the bowl； they
proceeded to present their offerings on a great scale。 When they had done
so to the Three Precious Ones； he made a large elephant be grandly
caparisoned； and placed the bowl upon it。 But the elephant knelt down on
the ground； and was unable to go forward。 Again he caused a four…wheeled
waggon to be prepared in which the bowl was put to be conveyed away。
Eight elephants were then yoked to it； and dragged it with their united
strength； but neither were they able to go forward。 The king knew that the
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A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
time for an association between himself and the bowl had not yet
arrived；＇7＇ and was sad and deeply ashamed of himself。 Forthwith he built
a tope at the place and a monastery； and left a guard to watch （the bowl）；
making all sorts of contributions。
There may be there more than seven hundred monks。 When it is near
midday； they bring out the bowl； and； along with the common people；＇8＇
make their various offerings to it； after which they take their midday meal。
In the evening； at the time of incense； they bring the bowl out again。＇9＇ It
may contain rather more than two pecks； and is of various colours； black
predominating； with the seams that show its fourfold composition
distinctly marked。＇10＇ Its thickness is about the fifth of an inch； and it has
a bright and glossy lustre。 When poor people throw into it a few flowers； it
becomes immediately full； while some very rich people； wishing to make
offering of many flowers； might not stop till they had thrown in hundreds；
thousands； and myriads of bushels； and yet would not be able to fill it。＇11＇
Pao…yun and Sang…king here merely made their offerings to the alms…
bowl； and （then resolved to） go back。 Hwuy…king； Hwuy…tah； and Tao…
ching had gone on before the rest to Negara；＇12＇ to make their offerings at
（the places of） Buddha's shadow； tooth； and the flat…bone of his skull。
（There） Hwuy…king fell ill； and Tao…ch