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Allahabad。 See E。 H。； p。 55。
＇13＇ Ghochira was the name of a Vaisya elder； or head； who presented
a garden and vihara to Buddha。 Hardy （M。 B。； p。 356） quotes a statement
from a Singhalese authority that Sakyamuni resided here during the ninth
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year of his Buddhaship。
＇14＇ Dr。 Davids thinks this may refer to the striking and beautiful story
of the conversion of the Yakkha Alavaka； as related in the Uragavagga；
Alavakasutta； pp。 29…31 （Sacred Books of the East； vol。 x； part ii）。
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CHAPTER XXXV
DAKSHINA； AND THE PIGEON MONASTERY。
South from this 200 yojanas； there is a country named Dakshina；＇1＇
where there is a monastery （dedicated to） the bygone Kasyapa Buddha；
and which has been hewn out from a large hill of rock。 It consists in all of
five storeys；the lowest； having the form of an elephant； with 500
apartments in the rock； the second； having the form of a lion； with 400
apartments； the third； having the form of a horse； with 300 apartments； the
fourth； having the form of an ox； with 200 apartments； and the fifth；
having the form of a pigeon； with 100 apartments。 At the very top there is
a spring； the water of which； always in front of the apartments in the rock；
goes round among the rooms； now circling； now curving； till in this way it
arrives at the lowest storey； having followed the shape of the structure； and
flows out there at the door。 Everywhere in the apartments of the monks；
the rock has been pierced so as to form windows for the admission of light；
so that they are all bright； without any being left in darkness。 At the four
corners of the （tiers of） apartments； the rock has been hewn so as to form
steps for ascending to the top （of each）。 The men of the present day； being
of small size； and going up step by step； manage to get to the top； but in a
former age； they did so at one step。＇2＇ Because of this； the monastery is
called Paravata； that being the Indian name for a pigeon。 There are always
Arhats residing in it。
The country about is （a tract of） uncultivated hillocks；＇3＇ without
inhabitants。 At a very long distance from the hill there are villages； where
the people all have bad and erroneous views； and do not know the
Sramanas of the Law of Buddha； Brahmanas； or （devotees of） any of the
other and different schools。 The people of that country are constantly
seeing men on the wing； who come and enter this monastery。 On one
occasion； when devotees of various countries came to perform their
worship at it； the people of those villages said to them； 〃Why do you not
fly？ The devotees whom we have seen hereabouts all fly；〃 and the
strangers answered； on the spur of the moment； 〃Our wings are not yet
fully formed。〃
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The kingdom of Dakshina is out of the way； and perilous to traverse。
There are difficulties in connexion with the roads； but those who know
how to manage such difficulties and wish to proceed should bring with
them money and various articles； and give them to the king。 He will then
send men to escort them。 These will （at different stages） pass them over to
others； who will show them the shortest routes。 Fa…hien； however； was
after all unable to go there； but having received the （above） accounts from
men of the country； he has narrated them。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Said to be the ancient name of the Deccan。 As to the various
marvels in the chapter； it must be borne in mind that our author； as he tells
us at the end； only gives them from hearsay。 See 〃Buddhist Records of the
Western World；〃 vol。 ii； pp。 214； 215； where the description； however； is
very different。
＇2＇ Compare the account of Buddha's great stride of fifteen yojanas in
Ceylon； as related in chapter xxxviii。
＇3＇ See the same phrase in the Books of the Later Han dynasty； the
twenty…fourth Book of Biographies； p。 9b。
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CHAPTER XXXVI
IN PATNA。 FA…HIEN'S LABOURS IN TRANSCRIPTION OF
MANUSCRIPTS； AND INDIAN STUDIES FOR THREE YEARS。
From Varanasi （the travellers） went back east to Pataliputtra。 Fa…hien's
original object had been to search for （copies of） the Vinaya。 In the various
kingdoms of North India； however； he had found one master transmitting
orally （the rules） to another； but no written copies which he could
transcribe。 He had therefore travelled far and come on to Central India。
Here； in the mahayana monastery；＇1＇ he found a copy of the Vinaya；
containing the Mahasanghika＇2＇ rules；those which were observed in the
first Great Council； while Buddha was still in the world。 The original copy
was handed down in the Jetavana vihara。 As to the other eighteen
schools；＇3＇ each one has the views and decisions of its own masters。 Those
agree （with this） in the general meaning； but they have small and trivial
differences； as when one opens and another shuts。＇4＇ This copy （of the
rules）； however； is the most complete； with the fullest explanations。＇5＇
He further got a transcript of the rules in six or seven thousand
gathas；＇6＇ being the sarvastivadah＇7＇ rules；those which are observed by
the communities of monks in the land of Ts'in； which also have all been
handed down orally from master to master without being committed to
writing。 In the community here； moreover； we got the Samyuktabhi…
dharma…hridaya…（sastra）；＇8＇ containing about six or seven thousand gathas；
he also got a Sutra of 2500 gathas； one chapter of the Parinir…vana…
vaipulya Sutra；＇9＇ of about 5000 gathas； and the Mahasan… ghikah
Abhidharma。
In consequence （of this succes