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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…ching remained to look after him；
while Hwuy…tah came alone to Purushapura； and saw the others； and （then）
he with Pao…yun and Sang…king took their way back to the land of Ts'in。
Hwuy…king＇13＇ came to his end＇14＇ in the monastery of Buddha's alms…
bowl； and on this Fa…hien went forward alone towards the place of the flat…
bone of Buddha's skull。
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NOTES
＇1＇ The modern Peshawur； lat。 34d 8s N。； lon。 71d 30s E。
＇2＇ A first cousin of Sakyamuni； and born at the moment when he
attained to Buddhaship。 Under Buddha's teaching； Ananda became an
Arhat； and is famous for his strong and accurate memory； and he played
an important part at the first council for the formation of the Buddhist
canon。 The friendship between Sakyamuni and Ananda was very close and
tender； and it is impossible to read much of what the dying Buddha said to
him and of him； as related in the Maha…pari…nirvana Sutra； without being
moved almost to tears。 Ananda is to reappear on earth as Buddha in
another Kalpa。 See E。 H。； p。 9； and the Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xi。
＇3＇ On his attaining to nirvana； Sakyamuni became the Buddha； and
had no longer to mourn his being within the circle of transmigration； and
could rejoice in an absolute freedom from passion； and a perfect purity。
Still he continued to live on for forty…five years； till he attained to pari…
nirvana； and had done with all the life of sense and society； and had no
more exercise of thought。 He died； but whether he absolutely and entirely
/ceased/ to be； in any sense of the word /being/； it would be difficult to say。
Probably he himself would not and could not have spoken definitely on
the point。 So far as our use of language is concerned； apart from any
assured faith in and hope of immortality； his pari…nirvana was his death。
＇4＇ Kanishka appeared； and began to reign； early in our first century；
about A。D。 10。 He was the last of three brothers； whose original seat was
in Yueh…she； immediately mentioned； or Tukhara。 Converted by the
sudden appearance of a saint； he became a zealous Buddhist； and
patronised the system as liberally as Asoka had done。 The finest topes in
the north…west of India are ascribed to him； he was certainly a great man
and a magnificent sovereign。
＇5＇ Jambudvipa is one of the four great continents of the universe；
representing the inhabited world as fancied by the Buddhists； and so called
because it resembles in shape the leaves of the jambu tree。 It is south of
mount Meru； and divided among four fabulous kings （E。 H。； p。 36）。 It is
often used； as here perhaps； merely as the Buddhist name for India。
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＇6＇ This king was perhaps Kanishka himself； Fa…hien mixing up； in an
inartistic way； different legends about him。 Eitel suggests that a relic of the
old name of the country may still exist in that of the Jats or Juts of the
present day。 A more common name for it is Tukhara； and he observes that
the people were the Indo…Scythians of the Greeks； and the Tartars of
Chinese writers； who； driven on by the Huns （180 B。C。）； conquered
Transoxiana； destroyed the Bactrian kingdom （126 B。C。）； and finally
conquered the Punjab；