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the suburban wall of a city。 Here was the old city of king Bimbisara； from
east to west about five or six le； and from north to south seven or eight。 It
was here that Sariputtra and Maudgalyayana first saw Upasena；＇8＇ that the
Nirgrantha＇9＇ made a pit of fire and poisoned the rice； and then invited
Buddha （to eat with him）； that king Ajatasatru made a black elephant
intoxicated with liquor； wishing him to injure Buddha；＇10＇ and that at the
north…east corner of the city in a （large） curving （space） Jivaka built a
vihara in the garden of Ambapali；＇11＇ and invited Buddha with his 1250
disciples to it； that he might there make his offerings to support them。
（These places） are still there as of old； but inside the city all is emptiness
and desolation； no man dwells in it。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Called by Hsuan…chwang Indra…sila…guha； or 〃The cavern of Indra。〃
It has been identified with a hill near the village of Giryek； on the bank of
the Panchana river； about thirty…six miles from Gaya。 The hill terminates
in two peaks overhanging the river； and it is the more northern and higher
of these which Fa…hien had in mind。 It bears an oblong terrace covered
with the ruins of several buildings； especially of a vihara。
＇2＇ This does not mean the top or summit of the hill； but its
〃headland；〃 where it ended at the river。
＇3＇ See the account of this visit of Sakra in M。 B。； pp。 288…290。 It is
from Hardy that we are able to complete here the name of the musician；
which appears in Fa…hien as only Pancha； or 〃Five。〃 His harp or lute； we
are told； was 〃twelve miles long。〃
＇4＇ Hardy （M。 B。； pp。 288； 289） makes the subjects only thirteen；
which are still to be found in one of the Sutras （〃the Dik…Sanga； in the
Sakra…prasna Sutra〃）。 Whether it was Sakra who wrote his questions； or
Buddha who wrote the answers； depends on the punctuation。 It seems
better to make Sakra the writer。
＇5＇ Or Nalanda； identified with the present Baragong。 A grand
monastery was subsequently built at it； famous by the residence for five
years of Hsuan…chwang。
＇6＇ See chap。 xvi； note 11。 There is some doubt as to the statement that
Nala was his birthplace。
＇7＇ The city of 〃Royal Palaces；〃 〃the residence of the Magadha kings
from Bimbisara to Asoka； the first metropolis of Buddhism； at the foot of
the Gridhrakuta mountains。 Here the first synod assembled within a year
after Sakyamuni's death。 Its ruins are still extant at the village of Rajghir；
sixteen miles S。W。 of Behar； and form an object of pilgrimage to the Jains
（E。 H。； p。 100）。〃 It is called New Rajagriha to distinguish it from
Kusagarapura； a few miles from it； the old residence of the kings。 Eitel
says it was built by Bimbisara； while Fa…hien ascribes it to Ajatasatru。 I
suppose the son finished what the father had begun。
＇8＇ One of the five first followers of Sakyamuni。 He is also called
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Asvajit； in Pali Assaji； but Asvajit seems to be a military title= 〃Master or
trainer of horses。〃 The two more famous disciples met him； not to lead
him； but to be directed by him； to Buddha。 See Sacred Books of the East；
vol。 xiii； Vinaya Texts； pp。 144…147。
＇9＇ One of the six Tirthyas （Tirthakas=〃erroneous teachers；〃 M。 B。； pp。
290…292； but I have not found the particulars of the attempts on Buddha's
life referred to by Fa…hien）； or Brahmanical opponents of Buddha。 He was
an ascetic； one of the Jnati clan； and is therefore called Nirgranthajnati。 He
taught a system of fatalism； condemned the use of clothes； and thought he
could subdue all passions by fasting。 He had a body of followers； who
called themselves by his name （Eitel； pp。 84； 85）； and were the forerunners
of the Jains。
＇10＇ The king was moved to this by Devadatta。 Of course the elephant
disappointed them； and did homage to Sakyamuni。 See Sacred Books of
the East； vol。 xx； Vinaya Texts； p。 247。
＇11＇ See chap。 xxv； note 3。 Jivaka was Ambapali's son by king
Bimbisara； and devoted himself to the practice of medicine。 See the
account of him in the Sacred Books of the East； vol。 xvii； Vinaya Texts； pp。
171…194。
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CHAPTER XXIX
GRIDHRA…KUTA HILL； AND LEGENDS。 FA…HIEN PASSES A
NIGHT ON IT。 HIS REFLECTIONS。
Entering the valley； and keeping along the mountains on the south…
east； after ascending fifteen le； （the travellers） came to mount Gridhra…
kuta。＇1＇ Three le before you reach the top； there is a cavern in the rocks；
facing the south； in which Buddha sat in meditation。 Thirty paces to the
north…west there is another； where Ananda was sitting in meditation； when
the deva Mara Pisuna；＇2＇ having assumed the form of a large vulture； took
his place in front of the cavern； and frightened the disciple。 Then Buddha；
by his mysterious； supernatural power； made a cleft in the rock； introduced
his hand； and stroked Ananda's shoulder； so that his fear immediately
passed away。 The footprints of the bird and the cleft for （Buddha's） hand
are still there； and hence comes the name of 〃The Hill of the Vulture
Cavern。〃
In front of the cavern there are the places where the four Buddhas sat。
There are caverns also of the Arhats； one where each sat and meditated；
amounting to several hundred in all。 At the place where in front of his
rocky apartment Buddha was walking from east to west （in meditation）；
and Devadatta； from among the beetling cliffs on the north of the
mountain； threw a rock across； and hurt Buddha's toes；＇3＇ the rock is still
there。＇4＇
The hall where Buddha preached his Law has been destroyed； and
only the foundations of the brick walls remain。 On this hill the peak is
beautifully green； and rises grandly up； it is the highest of all the five hills。
In the New City Fa…hien bought incense…（sticks）； flowers； oil and lamps；
and hired two bhikshus； long resident （at the place）； to carry them （to the
peak）。 When he himself got to it； he made his offerings with the flowers
and incense； and lighted the lamps when the darkness began to come on。
He felt melancholy； but restrained his tears and said； 〃Here Buddha
delivered the Surangama （Sutra）。＇5＇ I； Fa…hien； was born when I could not
meet with Buddha； and now I only see the footprints which he has left；
and the place where he lived； and nothing more。〃 With this； in front of the
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rock cavern； he chanted the Surangama Sutra； remained there over the
night； and then returned towards the New City。＇6＇
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