a record of buddhistic kingdoms(佛都记录)-第26章
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becoming a king of the iron wheel；＇2＇ to rule over Jambudvipa。 （Once）
when he was making a judicial tour of inspection through Jambudvipa； he
saw； between the iron circuit of the two hills； a naraka＇3＇ for the
punishment of wicked men。 Having thereupon asked his ministers what
sort of a thing it was； they replied； 〃It belongs to Yama；＇4＇ king of demons；
for punishing wicked people。〃 The king thought within himself： 〃（Even）
the king of demons is able to make a naraka in which to deal with wicked
men； why should not I； who am the lord of men； make a naraka in which
to deal with wicked men？〃 He forthwith asked his ministers who could
make for him a naraka and preside over the punishment of wicked people
in it。 They replied that it was only a man of extreme wickedness who
could make it； and the king thereupon sent officers to seek everywhere for
（such） a bad man； and they saw by the side of a pond a man tall and strong；
with a black countenance； yellow hair； and green eyes； hooking up the fish
with his feet； while he called to him birds and beasts； and； when they came；
then shot and killed them； so that not one escaped。 Having got this man；
they took him to the king； who secretly charged him； 〃You must make a
square enclosure with high walls。 Plant in it all kinds of flowers and fruits；
make good ponds in it for bathing； make it grand and imposing in every
way； so that men shall look to it with thirsting desire； make its gates strong
and sure； and when any one enters； instantly seize him and punish him as a
sinner； not allowing him to get out。 Even if I should enter； punish me as a
sinner in the same way； and do not let me go。 I now appoint you master of
that naraka。〃
Soon after this a bhikshu； pursuing his regular course of begging his
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food； entered the gate （of the place）。 When the lictors of the naraka saw
him； they were about to subject him to their tortures； but he； frightened；
begged them to allow him a moment in which to eat his midday meal。
Immediately after； there came in another man； whom they thrust into a
mortar and pounded till a red froth overflowed。 As the bhikshu looked on；
there came to him the thought of the impermanence； the painful suffering
and insanity of this body； and how it is but as a bubble and as foam； and
instantly he attained to Arhatship。 Immediately after； the lictors seized him；
and threw him into a caldron of boiling water。 There was a look of joyful
satisfaction； however； in the bhikshu's countenance。 The fire was
extinguished； and the water became cold。 In the middle （of the caldron）
there rose up a lotus flower； with the bhikshu seated on it。 The lictors at
once went and reported to the king that there was a marvellous occurrence
in the naraka； and wished him to go and see it； but the king said； 〃I
formerly made such an agreement that now I dare not go （to the place）。〃
The lictors said； 〃This is not a small matter。 Your majesty ought to go
quickly。 Let your former agreement be altered。〃 The king thereupon
followed them； and entered （the naraka）； when the bhikshu preached the
Law to him； and he believed； and was made free。＇5＇ Forthwith he
demolished the naraka； and repented of all the evil which he had formerly
done。 From this time he believed in and honoured the Three Precious Ones；
and constantly went to a patra tree； repenting under it； with self…reproach；
of his errors； and accepting the eight rules of abstinence。＇6＇
The queen asked where the king was constantly going to； and the
ministers replied that he was constantly to be seen under （such and such） a
patra tree。 She watched for a time when the king was not there； and then
sent men to cut the tree down。 When the king came； and saw what had
been done； he swooned away with sorrow； and fell to the ground。 His
ministers sprinkled water on his face； and after a considerable time he
revived。 He then built all round （the stump） with bricks； and poured a
hundred pitchers of cows' milk on the roots； and as he lay with his four
limbs spread out on the ground； he took this oath； 〃If the tree do not live； I
will never rise from this。〃 When he had uttered this oath； the tree
immediately began to grow from the roots； and it has continued to grow
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till now； when it is nearly 100 cubits in height。
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NOTES
＇1＇ Here is an instance of ｛。｝ used； as was pointed out in chap。 ix； note
3； for a former age； and not merely a former time。 Perhaps 〃a former birth〃
is the best translation。 The Corean reading of Kasyapa Buddha is certainly
preferable to the Chinese 〃Sakya Buddha。〃
＇2＇ See chap。 xvii； note 8。
＇3＇ I prefer to retain the Sanskrit term here； instead of translating the
Chinese text by 〃Earth's prison ｛。｝ ｛。｝；〃 or 〃a prison in the earth；〃 the
name for which has been adopted generally by Christian missionaries in
China for gehenna and hell。
＇4＇ Eitel （p。 173） says：〃Yama was originally the Aryan god of the
dead； living in a heaven above the world； the regent of the south； but
Brahmanism transferred his abode to hell。 Both views have been retained
by Buddhism。〃 The Yama of the text is the 〃regent of the narakas； residing
south of Jambudvipa； outside the Chakravalas （the double circuit of
mountains above）； in a palace built of brass and iron。 He has a sister who
controls all the female culprits； as he exclusively deals with the male sex。
Three times； however； in every twenty…four hours； a demon pours boiling
copper into Yama's mouth； and squeezes it down his throat； causing him
unspeakable pain。〃 Such； however； is the wonderful 〃transrotation of
births；〃 that when Yama's sins have been expiated； he is to be reborn as
Buddha； under the name of 〃The Universal King。〃
＇5＇ Or； 〃was loosed；〃 from the bonds； I suppose； of his various
illusions。
＇6＇ I have not met with this particular numerical category。
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CHAPTER XXXIII
MOUNT GURUPADA； WHERE KASYAPA BUDDHA'S ENTIRE
SKELETON IS。
（The travellers）； going on from this three le to the south； came to a
mountain named Gurupada；＇1＇ inside which Mahakasyapa even now is。
He made a cleft； and went down into it； though the place where he entered
would not （now） admit a man。 Having gone down very far； there was a
hole on one side； and there the complete body of Kasyapa （still） abides。
Outside the hole （at which he entered） is the earth with which he had
washed his hands。＇2＇ If the people living thereabouts have a sore on their
heads； they plaster on it some of the earth from this； and feel immediately
easier。＇3＇ On this mountain； now as of old； there are Arhats abiding。
Devotees of our Law from the various countries in that quarter go year by
year to the mountain； and present offerings to Kasyapa； and to those
whose hearts are strong in faith there come Arhats at night； and talk with
them； discussing and explaining their doubts； and disappearing suddenly
afterwards。
On this hill hazels grow luxuriously； and there are many lions； tigers；
and wolves； so that people should not travel incautiously。
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NOTES
＇1＇ 〃Fowl's…foot hill；〃 〃with three peaks； resembling the foot of a
chicken。 It lies seven miles south…east of Gaya； and was the residence of
Mahakasyapa； who is said to be still living inside this mountain。〃 So Eitel
says； p。 58； but this chapter does not say that Kasyapa is in the mountain
alive； but that his body entire is in a recess or hole in it。 Hardy （M。 B。； p。
97） says that after Kasyapa Buddha's body was burnt； the bones still
remained in their usual position； presenting the appearance of a perfect
skeleton。 It is of him that the chapter speaks； and not of the famous
disciple of Sakyamuni； who also is called Mahakasyapa。 This will appear
also on a comparison of Eitel's articles on 〃Mahakasyapa〃 and 〃Kasyapa
Buddha。〃
＇2＇ Was it a custom to wash the hands with 〃earth；〃 as is often done
with sand？
＇3＇ This I conceive to be the meaning here。
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CHAPTER XXXIV
ON THE WAY BACK TO PATNA。 VARANASI； OR BENARES。
SAKYAMUNI'S FIRST DOINGS AFTER BECOMING BUDDHA。
Fa…hien＇1＇ returned （from here） towards Pataliputtra；＇2＇ keeping along
the course of the Ganges and descending in the direction of the west。 After
going ten yojanas he found a vihara； named 〃The Wilderness；〃a place
where Buddha had dwelt； and where there are monks now。
Pursuing the same course； and going still to the west； he arrived； after
twelve yojanas； at the city of Varanasi＇3＇ in the kingdom of Kasi。 Rather
more than ten le to the north…east of the city； he found the vihara in the
park of 〃The rishi's Deer…wild。〃＇4＇ In this park there formerly resided a
Pratyeka Buddha；＇5＇ with whom the deer were regularly in the habit of
stopping for the night。 When the World… honoured one was about to attain
to perfect Wisdom； the devas sang in the sky； 〃The son of king
Suddhodana； having quitted his family and studied
