The travellers, going on from this three li to the south, came to a mountain named Gurupada, 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.  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.  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 luxuriantly; and there are many lions, tigers, and wolves, so that people should not travel incautiously.

CHAPTER XXXIV

On the Way Returning to Patna

Fa-Hien returned from here towards Pataliputtra, 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 in the kingdom of Kasi.  Rather more than ten li to the northeast of the city, he found the vihara in the park of “The rishi’s Deer-wild.” [1] In this park there formerly resided a Pratyeka Buddha, with whom the deer were regularly in the habit of stopping for the night.  When the World-honored 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 the Path of Wisdom, will now in seven days become Buddha.”  The Pratyeka Buddha heard their words, and immediately attained to nirvana; and hence this place was named “The Park of the rishi’s Deer-wild.”  After the World-honored one had attained to perfect Wisdom, men built the vihara in it.

Buddha wished to convert Kaundinya and his four companions; but they, being aware of his intention, said to one another, “This Sramana Gotama [2] for six years continued in the practice of painful austerities, eating daily only a single hemp-seed, and one grain of rice, without attaining to the Path of Wisdom; how much less will he do so now that he has entered again among men, and is giving the reins to the indulgence of his body, his speech, and his thoughts!  What has he to do with the Path of Wisdom?  To-day, when he comes to us, let us be on our guard not to speak with him.”  At the places where the five men all rose up, and respectfully saluted Buddha,