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

THE TRAVELS OF FA-HIEN 253
one on the rock. The prints of his tracing are still there ; and
here also there is a monastery.
A yojana southwest from this place brought them to the village
of Nala, where Sariputtra was born, and to which also he
returned, and attained here his pari-nirvana. Over the spot
where his body was burned there was built a tope, which is still
in existence.
Another yojana to the west brought them to New Rajagriha—the
new city which was built by king Ajatasatru. There
were two monasteries in it. Three hundred paces outside the
west gate, king Ajatasatru, having obtained one portion of the
relics of Buddha, built over them a tope, high, large, grand,
and beautiful. Leaving the city by the south gate, and pro-
ceeding south four li, one enters a valley, and comes to a circular
space formed by five hills, which stand all round it, and
have the appearance of the suburban wall of a city. Here was
the old city of king Bimbisara ; from east to west about five or
six li, and from north to south seven or eight. It was here
that ^ariputtra and Maudgalyayana first saw Upasena ; * that
the Nirgrantha made a pit of fire and poisoned the rice, and
then invited Buddha to eat with him ; that king Ajatasatru
made a black elephant intoxicated with liquor, wishing him to
injure Buddha ; and that at the northeast corner of the city in
a large curving space Jivaka built a vihara in the garden of
Ambapali, and invited Buddha with his one thousand two hundred
and fifty disciples to it, that he might there make his
ofterings to support them. These places are still there as of
old, but inside the city all is emptiness and desolation; no
man dwells in it.
CHAPTER XXIX
Fa-Hien Passes a Night on Gridhra-kuta Hill
Entering the valley, and keeping along the mountains on
the southeast, after ascending fifteen li, the travellers came to
mount Gridhra-kuta. Three li before you reach the top, there
is a cavern in the rocks, facing the south, in which Buddha sat
in meditation. Thirty paces to the northwest there is another,
where Ananda was sitting in meditation, when the deva Mara
• One of the five first followers of Sakyamuni.