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OTHER MEMORIALS AND LEGENDS OF BUDDHA。 SYMPATHY
OF THE MONKS WITH THE PILGRIMS。
Going on from this to the south； for eight yojanas； （the travellers）
came to the city of Sravasti＇1＇ in the kingdom of Kosala；＇2＇ in which the
inhabitants were few and far between； amounting in all （only） to a few
more than two hundred families； the city where king Prasenajit＇3＇ ruled；
and the place of the old vihara of Maha…prajapti；＇4＇ of the well and walls
of （the house of） the （Vaisya） head Sudatta；＇5＇ and where the
Angulimalya＇6＇ became an Arhat； and his body was （afterwards） burned
on his attaining to pari…nirvana。 At all these places topes were
subsequently erected； which are still existing in the city。 The Brahmans；
with their contrary doctrine； became full of hatred and envy in their hearts；
and wished to destroy them； but there came from the heavens such a storm
of crashing thunder and flashing lightning that they were not able in the
end to effect their purpose。
As you go out from the city by the south gate； and 1；200 paces from it；
the （Vaisya） head Sudatta built a vihara； facing the south； and when the
door was open； on each side of it there was a stone pillar； with the figure
of a wheel on the top of that on the left； and the figure of an ox on the top
of that on the right。 On the left and right of the building the ponds of water
clear and pure； the thickets of trees always luxuriant； and the numerous
flowers of various hues； constituted a lovely scene； the whole forming
what is called the Jetavana vihara。＇7＇
When Buddha went up to the Trayastrimsas heaven；＇8＇ and preached
the Law for the benefit of his mother； （after he had been absent for） ninety
days； Prasenajit； longing to see him； caused an image of him to be carved
in Gosirsha Chandana wood；＇9＇ and put in the place where he usually sat。
When Buddha on his return entered the vihara； Buddha said to it； 〃Return
to your seat。 After I have attained to pari…nirvana； you will serve as a
pattern to the four classes of my disciples；〃＇10＇ and on this the image
returned to its seat。 This was the very first of all the images （of Buddha）；
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and that which men subsequently copied。 Buddha then removed； and dwelt
in a small vihara on the south side （of the other）； a different place from
that containing the image； and twenty paces distant from it。
The Jetavana vihara was originally of seven storeys。 The kings and
people of the countries around vied with one another in their offerings；
hanging up about it silken streamers and canopies； scattering flowers；
burning incense； and lighting lamps； so as to make the night as bright as
the day。 This they did day after day without ceasing。 （It happened that） a
rat； carrying in its mouth the wick of a lamp； set one of the streamers or
canopies on fire； which caught the vihara； and the seven storeys were all
consumed。 The kings； with their officers and people； were all very sad and
distressed； supposing that the sandal…wood image had been burned； but lo！
after four or five days； when the door of a small vihara on the east was
opened； there was immediately seen the original image。 They were all
greatly rejoiced； and co…operated in restoring the vihara。 When they had
succeeded in completing two storeys； they removed the image back to its
former place。
When Fa…hien and Tao…ching first arrived at the Jetavana monastery；
and thought how the World…honoured one had formerly resided there for
twenty…five years； painful reflections arose in their minds。 Born in a
border…land； along with their like…minded friends； they had travelled
through so many kingdoms； some of those friends had returned （to their
own land）； and some had （died）； proving the impermanence and
uncertainty of life； and to…day they saw the place where Buddha had lived
now unoccupied by him。 They were melancholy through their pain of
heart； and the crowd of monks came out； and asked them from what
kingdom they were come。 〃We are come；〃 they replied； 〃from the land of
Han。〃 〃Strange；〃 said the monks with a sigh； 〃that men of a border country
should be able to come here in search of our Law！〃 Then they said to one
another； 〃During all the time that we； preceptors and monks；＇11＇ have
succeeded to one another； we have never seen men of Han； followers of
our system； arrive here。〃
Four le to the north…west of the vihara there is a grove called 〃The
Getting of Eyes。〃 Formerly there were five hundred blind men； who lived
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here in order that they might be near the vihara。＇12＇ Buddha preached his
Law to them； and they all got back their eyesight。 Full of joy； they stuck
their staves in the earth； and with their heads and faces on the ground； did
reverence。 The staves immediately began to grow； and they grew to be
great。 People made much of them； and no one dared to cut them down； so
that they came to form a grove。 It was in this way that it got its name； and
most of the Jetavana monks； after they had taken their midday meal； went
to the grove； and sat there in meditation。
Six or seven le north…east from the Jetavana； mother Vaisakha＇13＇ built
another vihara； to which she invited Buddha and his monks； and which is
still existing。
To each of the great residences for monks at the Jetavana vihara there
were two gates； one facing the east and the other facing the north。 The
park （containing the whole） was the space of ground which the （Vaisya）
head Sudatta purchased by covering it with gold coins。 The vihara was
exactly in the centre。 Here Buddha lived for a longer time than at any
other place； preaching his Law and converting men。 At the places where
he walked and sat they also （subsequently） reared topes； each having its
particular name； and here was the place where Sundari＇14＇ murdered a
person and then falsely charged Buddha （with the crime）。 Outside the east
gate of the Jetavana； at a distance of seventy paces to the north； on the
west of the road； Buddha held a discussion with the （advocates of the）
ninety…six schemes of erroneous doctrine； when the king and his great
officers； the householders； and people were all assembled in crowds to
hear it。 Then a woman belonging to one of the erroneous systems； by
name Chanchamana；＇15＇ prompted by the envious hatred in her heart； and
having put on （extra） clothes in front of her person； so as to give her the
appearance of being with child； falsely accused Buddha before all the
assembly of having acted unlawfully （towards her）。 On this； Sakra； Ruler
of Devas； changed himself and some devas into white mice； which bit
through the strings about her waist； and when this was done； the （extra）
clothes which she wore dropt down on the ground。 The earth at the same
time was rent； and she went （down） alive into hell。＇16＇ （This） also is the
place where Devadatta；＇17＇ trying with empoisoned claws to injure
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Buddha； went down alive into hell。 Men subsequently set up marks to
distinguish where both these events took place。
Further； at the place where the discussion took place； they reared a
vihara rather more than sixty cubits high； having in it an image of Buddha
in a sitting posture。 On the east of the road there was a devalaya＇18＇ of
（one of） the contrary systems； called 〃The Shadow Covered；〃 right
opposite the vihara on the place of discussion； with （only） the road
between them； and also rather more than sixty cubits high。 The reason why
it was called 〃The Shadow Covered〃 was this： When the sun was in the
west； the shadow of the vihara of the World… honoured one fell on the
devalaya of