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！
＇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。〃
101
… Page 102…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
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
102
… Page 103…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
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。
103
… Page 104…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
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。
104
… Page 105…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
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。
105
… Page 106…
A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS
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