[Footnote 1:  Sakra is a common name for the Brahmanic Indra, adopted by Buddhism into the circle of its own great adherents;—­it has been said, “because of his popularity.”  He is now the representative of the secular power, the valiant protector of the Buddhist body, but is looked upon as inferior to Sakyamuni, and every Buddhist saint.]

CHAPTER X

Gandhara—­Legends of Buddha

The travellers, going downwards from this towards the east, in five days came to the country of Gandhara, the place where Dharma-vivardhana, the son of Asoka, [1] ruled.  When Buddha was a Bodhisattva, he gave his eyes also for another man here; and at the spot they have also reared a large tope, adorned with layers of gold and silver plates.  The people of the country were mostly students of the hinayana.

[Footnote 1:  Asoka is here mentioned for the first time—­the Constantine of the Buddhist society, and famous for the number of viharas and topes which he erected.  He was the grandson of Chandragupta, a rude adventurer, who at one time was a refugee in the camp of Alexander the Great; and within about twenty years afterwards drove the Greeks out of India, having defeated Seleucus, the Greek ruler of the Indus provinces.  His grandson was converted to Buddhism by the bold and patient demeanor of an Arhat whom he had ordered to be buried alive, and became a most zealous supporter of the new faith.]

CHAPTER XI

Takshasila—­Legends—­The Four Great Topes

Seven days’ journey from this to the east brought the travellers to the kingdom of Takshasila, which means “the severed head” in the language of China.  Here, when Buddha was a Bodhisattva, he gave away his head to a man; and from this circumstance the kingdom got its name.

Going on further for two days to the east, they came to the place where the Bodhisattva threw down his body to feed a starving tigress.  In these two places also large topes have been built, both adorned with layers of all the precious substances.  The kings, ministers, and peoples of the kingdoms around vie with one another in making offerings at them.  The trains of those who come to scatter flowers and light lamps at them never cease.  The nations of those quarters call those and the other two mentioned before “the four great topes.”

CHAPTER XII

Buddha’s Alms-bowl—­Death of Hwuy-king

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, who shall on this spot build a tope.”