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REMARKABLE DEATH OF ANANDA。
Four yojanas on from this place to the east brought the travellers to the
confluence of the five rivers。＇1＇ When Ananda was going from Magadha＇2＇
to Vaisali； wishing his pari…nirvana to take place （there）； the devas
informed king Ajatasatru＇3＇ of it； and the king immediately pursued him；
in his own grand carriage； with a body of soldiers； and had reached the
river。 （On the other hand）； the Lichchhavis of Vaisali had heard that
Amanda was coming （to their city）； and they on their part came to meet
him。 （In this way）； they all arrived together at the river； and Ananda
considered that； if he went forward； king Ajatasatru would be very angry；
while； if he went back； the Lichchhavis would resent his conduct。 He
thereupon in the very middle of the river burnt his body in a fiery ecstasy
of Samadhi；＇4＇ and his pari…nirvana was attained。 He divided his body
（also） into two； （leaving） the half of it on each bank； so that each of the
two kings got one half as a （sacred） relic； and took it back （to his own
capital）； and there raised a tope over it。
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NOTES
＇1＇ This spot does not appear to have been identified。 It could not be
far from Patna。
＇2＇ Magadha was for some time the headquarters of Buddhism； the
holy land； covered with viharas； a fact perpetuated； as has been observed
in a previous note； in the name of the present Behar； the southern portion
of which corresponds to the ancient kingdom of Magadha。
＇3＇ In Singhalese； Ajasat。 See the account of his conversion in M。 B。；
pp。 321…326。 He was the son of king Bimbisara； who was one of the first
royal converts to Buddhism。 Ajasat murdered his father； or at least
wrought his death； and was at first opposed to Sakyamuni； and a favourer
of Devadatta。 When converted； he became famous for his liberality in
almsgiving。
＇4＇ Eitel has a long article （pp。 114； 115） on the meaning of Samadhi；
which is one of the seven sections of wisdom （bodhyanga）。 Hardy defines
it as meaning 〃perfect tranquillity；〃 Turnour； as 〃meditative abstraction；〃
Burnouf； as 〃self…control；〃 and Edkins； as 〃ecstatic reverie。〃 〃Samadhi；〃
says Eitel； 〃signifies the highest pitch of abstract； ecstatic meditation； a
state of absolute indifference to all influences from within or without； a
state of torpor of both the material and spiritual forces of vitality； a sort of
terrestrial nirvana； consistently culminating in total destruction of life。〃 He
then quotes apparently the language of the text； 〃He consumed his body by
Agni （the fire of） Samadhi；〃 and says it is 〃a common expression for the
effects of such ecstatic； ultra…mystic self…annihilation。〃 All this is simply
〃a darkening of counsel by words without knowledge。〃 Some facts
concerning the death of Ananda are hidden beneath the darkness of the
phraseology； which it is impossible for us to ascertain。 By or in Samadhi
he burns his body in the very middle of the river； and then he divides the
relic of the burnt body into two parts （for so evidently Fa…hien intended his
narration to be taken）； and leaves one half on each bank。 The account of
Ananda's death in Nien…ch'ang's 〃History of Buddha and the Patriarchs〃 is
much more extravagant。 Crowds of men and devas are brought together to
witness it。 The body is divided into four parts。 One is conveyed to the
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Tushita heaven； a second； to the palace of a certain Naga king； a third is
given to Ajatasatru； and the fourth to the Lichchhavis。 What it all really
means I cannot tell。
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CHAPTER XXVII
PATALIPUTTRA OR PATNA； IN MAGADHA。 KING ASOKA'S
SPIRIT…BUILT PALACE AND HALLS。 THE BUDDHIST BRAHMAN；
RADHA…SAMI。 DISPENSARIES AND HOSPITALS。
Having crossed the river； and descended south for a yojana； （the
travellers） came to the town of Pataliputtra；＇1＇ in the kingdom of Magadha；
the city where king Asoka＇2＇ ruled。 The royal palace and halls in the midst
of the city； which exist now as of old； were all made by spirits which he
employed； and which piled up the stones； reared the walls and gates； and
executed the elegant carving and inlaid sculpture…work；in a way which
no human hands of this world could accomplish。
King Asoka had a younger brother who had attained to be an Arhat；
and resided on Gridhra…kuta＇3＇ hill； finding his delight in solitude and
quiet。 The king； who sincerely reverenced him； wished and begged him （to
come and live） in his family； where he could supply all his wants。 The
other； however； through his delight in the stillness of the mountain； was
unwilling to accept the invitation； on which the king said to him； 〃Only
accept my invitation； and I will make a hill for you inside the city。〃
Accordingly； he provided the materials of a feast； called to him the spirits；
and announced to them； 〃To…morrow you will all receive my invitation；
but as there are no mats for you to sit on； let each one bring （his own
seat）。〃 Next day the spirits came； each one bringing with him a great rock；
（like） a wall； four or five paces square； （for a seat）。 When their sitting was
over； the king made them form a hill with the large stones piled on one
another； and also at the foot of the hill； with five large square stones； to
make an apartment； which might be more than thirty cubits long； twenty
cubits wide； and more than ten cubits high。
In this city there had resided a great Brahman；＇4＇ named Radha…
sami；＇5＇ a professor of the mahayana； of clear discernment and much
wisdom； who understood everything； living by himself in spotless purity。
The king of the country honoured and reverenced him； and served him as
his teacher。 If he went to inquire for and greet him； the king did not
presume to sit down alongside of him； and if； in his love and reverence； he
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took hold of his hand； as soon as he let it go； the Brahman made haste to
pour water on it and wash it。 He might be more than fifty years old； and all
the kingdom looked up to him。 By means of this one man； the Law of
Buddha was widely made known； and the followers of other doctrines did
not find it in their power to persecute the body of monks in any way。
By the side of the tope of Asoka； there has been made a mahayana
monastery； very grand and beautiful； there is also a hinayana one； the two
together containing six or seven hundred monks。 The rules of demeanour
and the scholastic arrangements＇6＇ in them are worthy of observation。
Shamans of the highest virtue from all quarters； and students； inquirers
wishing to find out truth and the grounds of it； all resort to these
monasteries。 There also resides in this monastery