Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

THE TRAVELS OF FA-HIEN 223
CHAPTER IX
Soo-ho-to—Legends of Buddha
In that country also Buddhism is flourishing. There is in it
the place where Sakra,* Ruler of Devas, in a former age, tried
the Bodhisattva, by producing a hawk in pursuit of a dove,
when the Bodhisattva cut off a piece of his own flesh, and with
it ransomed the dove. After Buddha had attained to perfect
wisdom, and in travelling about with his disciples arrived at
this spot, he informed them that this was the place where he
ransomed the dove with a piece of his own flesh. In this way
the people of the country became aware of the fact, and on the
spot reared a tope, adorned with layers of gold and silver
plates.
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,^ 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.
* Sakra is a common name for the He was the grandson of Chandragupta,
Brahmanic Indra, adopted by Bud- a rude adventurer, who at one time was
dhism into the circle of its own great a refugee in the camp of Alexander the
adherents;—it has been said, "because Great; and within about twenty years
of his popularity." He is now the rep- afterwards drove the Greeks out of
resentative of the secular power, the India, having defeated Seleucus, the
valiant protector of the Buddhist body, Greek ruler of the Indus provinces,
but is looked upon as inferior to Sakya- His grandson was converted to Budmuni,
and every Buddhist saint. dhism by the bold and patient demean-
* Asoka is here mentioned for the first or of an Arhat whom he had ordered
time—the Constantine of the Buddhist to be buried alive, and became a most
society, and famous for the number of zealous supporter of the new faith,
viharas and topes which he erected.