record of buddhistic kingdoms-第31章
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was favourable； and； after fourteen days； sailing day and night； they came to the country of Singhala。＇4＇ The people said that it was distant （from Tamalipti） about 700 yojanas。
The kingdom is on a large island； extending from east to west fifty yojanas； and from north to south thirty。 Left and right from it there are as many as 100 small islands； distant from one another ten； twenty； or even 200 le； but all subject to the large island。 Most of them produce pearls and precious stones of various kinds； there is one which produces the pure and brilliant pearl；＇5＇an island which would form a square of about ten le。 The king employs men to watch and protect it； and requires three out of every ten such pearls； which the collectors find。
NOTES
＇1＇ Probably the modern Champanagur； three miles west of Baglipoor； lat。 25d 14s N。； lon。 56d 55s E。
＇2＇ Then the principal emporium for the trade with Ceylon and China； the modern Tam…look； lat。 22d 17s N。； lon。 88d 2s E。； near the mouth of the Hoogly。
＇3＇ Perhaps Ching ｛。｝ is used here for any portions of the Tripitaka which he had obtained。
＇4＇ 〃The Kingdom of the Lion；〃 Ceylon。 Singhala was the name of a merchant adventurer from India； to whom the founding of the kingdom was ascribed。 His father was named Singha； 〃the Lion；〃 which became the name of the country；Singhala； or Singha…Kingdom； 〃the Country of the Lion。〃
＇5＇ Called the mani pearl or bead。 Mani is explained as meaning 〃free from stain；〃 〃bright and growing purer。〃 It is a symbol of Buddha and of his Law。 The most valuable rosaries are made of manis。
CHAPTER XXXVIII
AT CEYLON。 RISE OF THE KINGDOM。 FEATS OF BUDDHA。 TOPES AND MONASTERIES。 STATUE OF BUDDHA IN JADE。 BO TREE。 FESTIVAL OF BUDDHA'S TOOTH。
The country originally had no human inhabitants；＇1＇ but was occupied only by spirits and nagas； with which merchants of various countries carried on a trade。 When the trafficking was taking place； the spirits did not show themselves。 They simply set forth their precious commodities； with labels of the price attached to them； while the merchants made their purchases according to the price； and took the things away。
Through the coming and going of the merchants （in this way）； when they went away； the people of （their） various countries heard how pleasant the land was； and flocked to it in numbers till it became a great nation。 The （climate） is temperate and attractive； without any difference of summer and winter。 The vegetation is always luxuriant。 Cultivation proceeds whenever men think fit： there are no fixed seasons for it。
When Buddha came to this country；＇2＇ wishing to transform the wicked nagas； by his supernatural power he planted one foot at the north of the royal city； and the other on the top of a mountain；＇3＇ the two being fifteen yojanas apart。 Over the footprint at the north of the city the king built a large tope； 400 cubits high； grandly adorned with gold and silver； and finished with a combination of all the precious substances。 By the side of the top he further built a monastery； called the Abhayagiri；＇4＇ where there are （now） five thousand monks。 There is in it a hall of Buddha； adorned with carved and inlaid works of gold and silver； and rich in the seven precious substances； in which there is an image （of Buddha） in green jade； more than twenty cubits in height； glittering all over with those substances； and having an appearance of solemn dignity which words cannot express。 In the palm of the right hand there is a priceless pearl。 Several years had now elapsed since Fa…hien left the land of Han； the men with whom he had been in intercourse had all been of regions strange to him； his eyes had not rested on an old and familiar hill or river； plant or tree； his fellow…travellers； moreover； had been separated from him； some by death； and others flowing off in different directions； no face or shadow was now with him but his own； and a constant sadness was in his heart。 Suddenly （one day）； when by the side of this image of jade； he saw a merchant presenting as his offering a fan of white silk；＇5＇ and the tears of sorrow involuntarily filled his eyes and fell down。
A former king of the country had sent to Central India and got a slip of the patra tree；＇6＇ which he planted by the side of the hall of Buddha； where a tree grew up to the height of about 200 cubits。 As it bent on one side towards the south…east； the king； fearing it would fall； propped it with a post eight or nine spans round。 The tree began to grow at the very heart of the prop； where it met （the trunk）； （a shoot） pierced through the post； and went down to the ground； where it entered and formed roots； that rose （to the surface） and were about four spans round。 Although the post was split in the middle； the outer portions kept hold （of the shoot）； and people did not remove them。 Beneath the tree there has been built a vihara； in which there is an image （of Buddha） seated； which the monks and commonalty reverence and look up to without ever becoming wearied。 In the city there has been reared also the vihara of Buddha's tooth； on which； as well as on the other； the seven precious substances have been employed。
The king practises the Brahmanical purifications； and the sincerity of the faith and reverence of the population inside the city are also great。 Since the establishment of government in the kingdom there has been no famine or scarcity； no revolution or disorder。 In the treasuries of the monkish communities there are many precious stones； and the priceless manis。 One of the kings （once） entered one of those treasuries； and when he looked all round and saw the priceless pearls； his covetous greed was excited； and he wished to take them to himself by force。 In three days； however； he came to himself； and immediately went and bowed his head to the ground in the midst of the monks； to show his repentance of the evil thought。 As a sequel to this； he informed the monks （of what had been in his mind）； and desired them to make a regulation that from that day forth the king should not be allowed to enter the treasury and see （what it contained）； and that no bhikshu should enter it till after he had been in orders for a period of full forty years。＇7＇
In the city there are many Vaisya elders and Sabaean＇8＇ merchants； whose houses are stately and beautiful。 The lanes and passages are kept in good order。 At the heads of the four principal streets there have been built preaching halls； where； on the eighth； fourteenth； and fifteenth days of the month； they spread carpets； and set forth a pulpit； while the monks and commonalty from all quarters come together to hear the Law。 The people say that in the kingdom there may be altogether sixty thousand monks； who get their food from their common stores。 The king； besides； prepares elsewhere in the city a common supply of food for five or six thousand more。 When any want； they take their great bowls； and go （to the place of distribution）； and take as much as the vessels will hold； all returning with them full。
The tooth of Buddha is always brought forth in the middle of the third month。 Ten days beforehand the king grandly caparisons a large elephant； on which he mounts a man who can speak distinctly； and is dressed in royal robes； to beat a large drum； and make the following proclamation：〃The Bodhisattva； during three Asankhyeya…kalpas；＇9＇ manifested his activity； and did not spare his own life。 He gave up kingdom； city； wife； and son； he plucked out his eyes and gave them to another；＇10＇ he cut off a piece of his own flesh to ransom the life of a dove；＇10＇ he cut off his head and gave it as an alms；＇11＇ he gave his body to feed a starving tigress；＇11＇ he grudged not his marrow and his brains。 In many such ways as these did he undergo pain for the sake of all living。 And so it was； that； having become Buddha； he continued in the world for forty…five years； preaching his Law； teaching and transforming； so that those who had no rest found rest； and the unconverted were converted。 When his connexion with the living was completed；＇12＇ he attained to pari…nirvana （and died）。 Since that event； for 1497 years； the light of the world has gone out；＇13＇ and all living beings have had long…contin
