弘贊法華傳 1.6

1.6

案西域書傳。中天竺摩揭陀國恒河南有故城。周七十餘里。荒蕪歲久。基趾尚存。昔人壽無量歲時。號拘蘇摩補修羅城。唐言香花宮城。逮人壽數千歲時。更名波吒釐子城。是巴連弗邑也。去此城西南四百餘里。渡尼連禪河。至伽耶城。城西南二十餘里。至菩提樹。金剛座等。菩提樹東。渡大河入大林野。行百餘里。至鷄足山。鷄足山東北百餘里。至大山。入山東行六十餘里。至上茅宮城。此城即摩揭陀國之正中也。故先君王之所都。多出香茅。故以名之。崇山四圍。以為外郭。西通狹徑。北闢山門。周一百五十餘里。樹木春榮。皆作金色。初頻婆娑羅王。都此。城中編戶之民。頻遭火害。眾庶嗟怨。不安其居。因令國中。若有不謹。遷之寒林。寒林者。棄尸之所。俗謂不祥之地。須臾王宮先自失火。王謂臣曰。成其遷矣。遂令太子監國。躬出茅城西北四五里。因而舍之。時吠舍釐王。聞頻婆娑羅王野處寒林。整集戎旅。欲襲整不虞。邊候以聞。乃建城邑。以王先舍於此故。稱王舍城。官屬士庶。咸徒家焉。或云。是阿闍世王所立。至無憂王。遷都波吒釐城。以王舍城。施婆羅門。今此城中。無復凡庶。唯婆羅門減千家耳。

According to the records of the Western Regions: South of the Gaṅgā River in the country of Magadha in Central India, there is an ancient city more than seventy li in circumference. It has been deserted for many years, yet its foundations still remain. In ancient times, when the human lifespan was immeasurable, it was called Kusumapura, which in Tang speech means the City of the Fragrant Flower Palace. When the human lifespan dwindled to several thousand years, its name was changed to Pāṭaliputra, which is also Balianfu. More than four hundred li southwest from this city, crossing the Nairañjanā River, one reaches the city of Gayā. More than twenty li southwest of the city, one reaches the bodhi tree, the vajrāsana, and other sites. East of the bodhi tree, crossing a great river and entering a vast forest and wilderness, walking over a hundred li, one reaches Kukkuṭapāda Mountain. Over a hundred li northeast of Kukkuṭapāda Mountain, one arrives at a great mountain; entering the mountain and walking eastward for more than sixty li, one reaches Kuśāgrapura. This city is situated right in the center of the country of Magadha. It was the former capital of earlier rulers and produced much fragrant kuśa grass; hence, it was named after it. Lofty mountains surround it on four sides, serving as outer walls. A narrow path connects to it in the west, and a mountain gate opens in the north, being over one hundred and fifty li in circumference. Its trees flourish in spring, all turning golden. Originally, King Bimbisāra made this his capital. The registered commoners in the city frequently suffered from conflagrations; the multitude lamented and grieved, finding no peace in their dwellings. The king therefore decreed throughout the country: 'Whoever is negligent shall be banished to the Cold Forest.' The Cold Forest was the place where corpses were abandoned, regarded by custom as an inauspicious land. Soon after, a fire broke out spontaneously in the royal palace itself. The king said to his ministers: 'Let the decree of banishment be fulfilled!' Thereupon he ordered the crown prince to oversee the realm, and he personally went four or five li northwest of Kuśāgrapura to lodge. At that time, the King of Vaiśālī heard that King Bimbisāra was living out in the wilds of the Cold Forest, so he mustered his troops intending to launch an unexpected attack. The border sentinels reported this. Thus, a city was built there, and because the king had first lodged there, it was called Rājagṛha ('City of the King's Abode'). The officials and commoners all moved their families there. Some say that it was established by King Ajātaśatru. By the time of King Aśoka, the capital was moved to Pāṭaliputra, and Rājagṛha was bestowed upon the Brahmins. Nowadays in this city, there are no longer common folk, but only fewer than a thousand Brahmin households.