Notes

(1) See Julien’s “Methode pour dechiffrer et transcrire les Nomes Sanscrits,” p. 206.  Eitel says, “The Taxila of the Greeks, the region near Hoosun Abdaul in lat. 35d 48s N., lon. 72d 44s E.”  But this identification, I am satisfied, is wrong.  Cunningham, indeed, takes credit ("Ancient Geography of India,” pp. 108, 109) for determining this to be the site of Arrian’s Taxila,—­in the upper Punjab, still existing in the ruins of Shahdheri, between the Indus and Hydaspes (the modern Jhelum).  So far he may be correct; but the Takshasila of Fa-hien was on the other, or western side of the Indus; and between the river and Gandhara.  It took him, indeed, seven days travelling eastwards to reach it; but we do not know what stoppages he may have made on the way.  We must be wary in reckoning distances from his specifications of days.

(2) Two Jataka stories.  See the account of the latter in Spence Hardy’s “Manual of Buddhism,” pp. 91, 92.  It took place when Buddha had been born as a Brahman in the village of Daliddi; and from the merit of the act, he was next born in a devaloka.

CHAPTER XII

Purushapura, or Peshawur.  Prophecy about king Kanishka and his tope.  Buddha’s alms-bowl.  Death of hwuy-ying.

Going southwards from Gandhara, (the travellers) in four days arrived at the kingdom of Purushapura.(1) Formerly, when Buddha was travelling in this country with his disciples, he said to Ananda,(2) “After my pari-nirvana,(3) there will be a king named Kanishka,(4) who shall on this spot build a tope.”  This Kanishka was afterwards born into the world; and (once), when he had gone forth to look about him, Sakra, Ruler of Devas, wishing to excite the idea in his mind, assumed the appearance of a little herd-boy, and was making a tope right in the way (of the king), who asked what sort of thing he was making.  The boy said, “I am making a tope for Buddha.”  The king said, “Very good;” and immediately, right over the boy’s tope, he (proceeded to) rear another, which was more than four hundred cubits high, and adorned with layers of all the precious substances.  Of all the topes and temples which (the travellers) saw in their journeyings, there was not one comparable to this in solemn beauty and majestic grandeur.  There is a current saying that this is the finest tope in Jambudvipa.(5) When the king’s tope was completed, the little tope (of the boy) came out from its side on the south, rather more than three cubits in height.