Chapter XXXIX · CREMATION OF AN ARHAT. SERMON OF A DEVOTEE.
James Legge translation
[Chinese]
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · Possibly, ‘and asked the bhikshu,’ &c. I prefer the other way of construing, however.Note 2 · It seems strange that this should have been understood as a wrapping of the immense pyre with the cloth. There is nothing in the text to necNote 3 · See the description of a funeral car and its decorations in the Sacred Books of the East, vol. xxviii, the Lî Kî, Book XIX. Fâ-hien’s 此間, ‘iNote 4 · The pyre served the purpose of a burial-ground or grave, and hence our author writes of it as such.Note 5 · This king must have been Mahâ-nâna (A.D. 410–432). In the time of his predecessor, Upatissa (A.D. 368–410), the piṭakas were first translateNote 6 · See chapter xii. Fâ-hien had seen it at Purushapura, which Eitel says was ‘the ancient capital of Gandhâra.’Note 7 · Western Tukhâra (西肢) is the same probably as the Tukhâra (肢) of chapter xii, a king of which is there described as trying to carry off the bNote 8 · North of the Bosteng lake at the foot of the Thien-shan range (E. H., p. 56).Note 9 · 9 See chap. xii, note 10. Instead of ‘Anna’ the Chinese recensions have Vîna; but Vîna or Vînataka, and Ana for Sudarśana are names of one oNote 10 · That is, those whose Karma in the past should be rewarded by such conversion in the present.Note 11 · South of the city seven le there is a vihâra, called the Mahâ-vihâra, where 3000 monks reside. There had been among them a Śramaṇa, of such Note 12 · On the four sides (of the pile) they made steps by which to ascend it. With clean white haircloth, almost like silk, they wrapped (the body)Note 13 · At the time of the cremation, the king and the people, in multitudes from all quarters, collected together, and presented offerings of floweNote 14 · At that time the king,5 who was a sincere believer in the Law of Buddha and wished to build a new vihâra for the monks, first convoked a greNote 15 · In this country Fâ-hien heard an Indian devotee, who was reciting a Sûtra from the pulpit, say:—‘Buddha’s alms-bowl was at first in Vaiśâlî,