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and monasteries； all of which are now existing。
In the city the inhabitants are few and far between； comprising only
the families belonging to the （different） societies of monks。
Going from this to the south…east for twelve yojanas； they came to the
place where the Lichchhavis＇10＇ wished to follow Buddha to （the place of）
his pari…nirvana； and where； when he would not listen to them and they
kept cleaving to him； unwilling to go away； he made to appear a large and
deep ditch which they could not cross over； and gave them his alms…bowl；
as a pledge of his regard； （thus） sending them back to their families。 There
a stone pillar was erected with an account of this event engraved upon it。
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NOTES
＇1＇ This was on the night when Sakyamuni finally left his palace and
family to fulfil the course to which he felt that he was called。 Chandaka； in
Pali Channa； was the prince's charioteer； and in sympathy with him。 So
also was the white horse Kanthaka （Kanthakanam Asvaraja）； which
neighed his delight till the devas heard him。 See M。 B。； pp。 158…161； and
Davids' Manual； pp。 32； 33。 According to 〃Buddhist Birth Stories；〃 p。 87；
the noble horse never returned to the city； but died of grief at being left by
his master； to be reborn immediately in the Trayastrimsas heaven as the
deva Kanthaka！
＇2＇ Beal and Giles call this the 〃Ashes〃 tope。 I also would have
preferred to call it so； but the Chinese character is ｛。｝； not ｛。｝。 Remusat
has 〃la tour des charbons。〃 It was over the place of Buddha's cremation。
＇3＇ In Pali Kusinara。 It got its name from the Kusa grass （the /poa
cynosuroides/）； and its ruins are still extant； near Kusiah； 180 N。W。 from
Patna； 〃about；〃 says Davids； 〃120 miles N。N。E。 of Benares； and 80 miles
due east of Kapilavastu。〃
＇4＇ The Sala tree； the /Shorea robusta/； which yields the famous teak
wood。
＇5＇ Confounded； according to Eitel； even by Hsuan…chwang； with the
Hiranyavati； which flows past the city on the south。
＇6＇ A Brahman of Benares； said to have been 120 years old； who came
to learn from Buddha the very night he died。 Ananda would have repulsed
him； but Buddha ordered him to be introduced； and then putting aside the
ingenious but unimportant question which he propounded； preached to
him the Law。 The Brahman was converted and attained at once to
Arhatship。 Eitel says that he attained to nirvana a few moments before
Sakyamuni； but see the full account of him and his conversion in
〃Buddhist Suttas；〃 p。 103…110。
＇7＇ Thus treating the dead Buddha as if he had been a Chakravartti
king。 Hardy's M。 B。； p。 347； says：〃For the place of cremation； the princes
（of Kusinara） offered their own coronation…hall； which was decorated with
the utmost magnificence； and the body was deposited in a golden
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sarcophagus。〃 See the account of a cremation which Fa…hien witnessed in
Ceylon； chap。 xxxix。
＇8＇ The name Vajrapani is explained as 〃he who holds in his hand the
diamond club （or pestle=sceptre）；〃 which is one of the many names of
Indra or Sakra。 He therefore； that great protector of Buddhism； would
seem to be intended here； but the difficulty with me is that neither in
Hardy nor Rockhill； nor any other writer； have I met with any
manifestation of himself made by Indra on this occasion。 The princes of
Kusanagara were called mallas； 〃strong or mighty heroes；〃 so also were
those of Pava and Vaisali； and a question arises whether the language may
not refer to some story which Fa…hien had heard； something which they
did on this great occasion。 Vajrapani is also explained as meaning 〃the
diamond mighty hero；〃 but the epithet of 〃diamond〃 is not so applicable to
them as to Indra。 The clause may hereafter obtain more elucidation。
＇9＇ Of Kusanagara； Pava； Vaisali； and other kingdoms。 Kings； princes；
brahmans；each wanted the whole relic； but they agreed to an eightfold
division at the suggestion of the brahman Drona。
＇10＇ These 〃strong heroes〃 were the chiefs of Vaisali； a kingdom and
city； with an oligarchical constitution。 They embraced Buddhism early；
and were noted for their peculiar attachment to Buddha。 The second synod
was held at Vaisali； as related in the next chapter。 The ruins of the city still
exist at Bassahar； north of Patna； the same； I suppose； as Besarh； twenty
miles north of Hajipur。 See Beal's Revised Version； p。 lii。
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CHAPTER XXV
VAISALI。 THE TOPE CALLED 〃WEAPONS LAID DOWN。〃 THE
COUNCIL OF VAISALI。
East from this city ten yojanas； （the travellers） came to the kingdom of
Vaisali。 North of the city so named is a large forest； having in it the
double…galleried vihara＇1＇ where Buddha dwelt； and the tope over half the
body of Ananda。＇2＇ Inside the city the woman Ambapali＇3＇ built a vihara
in honour of Buddha； which is now standing as it was at first。 Three le
south of the city； on the west of the road； （is the） garden （which） the same
Ambapali presented to Buddha； in which he might reside。 When Buddha
was about to attain to his pari…nirvana； as he was quitting the city by the
west gate； he turned round； and； beholding the city on his right； said to
them； 〃Here I have taken my last walk。〃＇4＇ Men subsequently built a tope
at this spot。
Three le north…west of the city there is a tope called； 〃Bows and
weapons laid down。〃 The reason why it got that name was this：The
inferior wife of a king； whose country lay along the river Ganges； brought
forth from her womb a ball of flesh。 The superior wife； jealous of the other；
said； 〃You have brought forth a thing of evil omen；〃 and immediately it
was put into a box of wood and thrown into the river。 Farther down the
stream another king was walking and looking about； when he saw the
wooden box （floating） in the water。 （He had it brought to him）； opened it；
and found a thousand little boys； upright and complete； and each one
different from the others。 He took them and had them brought up。 They
grew tall and large； and very daring； and strong； crushing all opposition in
every expedition which they undertook。 By and by they attacked the
kingdom of their real father； who became in consequence greatly
distressed and sad。 His inferior wife asked what it was that made him so；
and he replied； 〃That king has a thousand sons； daring and strong beyond
compare； and he wishes with them to attack my kingdom； this is what
makes me sad。〃 The wife said； 〃You need not be sad and sorrowful。 Only
make a high gallery on the wall of the city on the east； and when the
thieves come； I shall be able to make them retire。〃 The king did as she said；
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and when the enemies came； she said to them from the tower； 〃You are my
sons； why are you acting so unnaturally and rebelliously？〃 They replied；
〃If you do not believe me；〃 she said； 〃look； all of you； towards me； and
open your mouths。〃 She then pressed her breasts with her two hands； and
each sent forth 500 jets of milk； which fell into the mouths of the thousand
sons。 The thieves （thus） knew that she was their mother； and laid down
their bows and weapons。＇5＇ The two kings； the fathers； thereupon fell into
reflection； and both got to be Pratyeka Buddhas。＇6＇ The tope of the two
Pratyeka Buddhas is still existing。
In a subsequent age； when the World…honoured one had attained to
perfect Wisdom （and become Buddha）； he said to is disciples； 〃This is the
place where I in a former age laid down my bow and weapons。〃＇7＇ It was
thus that subsequently men got to know （the fact）； and raised the tope on