Chapter XII · PURUSHAPURA, OR PESHÂWAR. PROPHECY ABOUT KING KANISHKA AND HIS TOPE. BUDDHA’S ALMS-BOWL. DEATH OF HWUY-YING.
James Legge translation
[Chinese]
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · The modern Peshâwar, lat. 34° 8′ N., lon. 71° 30′ E.Note 2 · A first cousin of Śâkyamuni, and born at the moment when he attained to Buddhaship. Under Buddha’s teaching, Ânanda became an Arhat, and is Note 3 · On his attaining to nirvâṇa, Śâkyamuni became the Buddha, and had no longer to mourn his being within the circle of transmigration, and coulNote 4 · Kanishka appeared, and began to reign, early in our first century, about A.D. 10. He was the last of three brothers, whose original seat wasNote 5 · Jambudvîpa is one of the four great continents of the universe, representing the inhabited world as fancied by the Buddhists, and so called Note 6 · This king was perhaps Kanishka himself, Fâ-hien mixing up, in an inartistic way, different legends about him. Eitel suggests that a relic ofNote 7 · Watters, clearly understanding the thought of the author in this sentence, renders—‘his destiny did not extend to a connexion with the bowl;Note 8 · The text is simply ‘those in white clothes.’ This may mean ‘the laity,’ or the ‘upâsakas;’ but it is better to take the characters in their Note 9 · I do not wonder that Rémusat should give for this—‘et s’en retournent après.’ But Fâ-hien’s use of 爾 in the sense of ‘in the same way’ is unNote 10 · Hardy’s M. B., p. 183, says:—‘The alms-bowl, given by Mahâbrahma, having vanished (about the time that Gotama became Buddha), each of the foNote 11 · Compare the narrative in Luke’s Gospel, xxi. 1–4.Note 12 · See chapter viii.Note 13 · This, no doubt, should be Hwuy-ying. King was at this time ill in Nagâra, and indeed afterwards he dies in crossing the Little Snowy MountaiNote 14 · ‘Came to his end;’ i.e., according to the text, ‘proved the impermanence and uncertainty,’ namely, of human life. See Williams’ Dictionary uNote 15 · Going southwards from Gandhâra, (the travellers) in four days arrived at the kingdom of Purushapura.1 Formerly, when Buddha was travelling iNote 16 · Buddha’s alms-bowl is in this country. Formerly, a king of Yüeh-she6 raised a large force and invaded this country, wishing to carry the bowNote 17 · There may be there more than seven hundred monks. When it is near midday, they bring out the bowl, and, along with the common people,8 make Note 18 · Pâo-yun and Săng-king here merely made their offerings to the alms-bowl, and (then resolved to) go back. Hwuy-king, Hwuy-tah, and Tâo-ching