大唐西域記 6.41
大唐西域記 6.41
- Language
- Classical Chinese
6.41
故城東南有甎窣堵波,高減百尺。昔者如來入寂滅已,此國先王分得舍利,持歸本國,式遵崇建,靈異間起,神光時燭。
The kingdom of Lan-mo has been waste and desolate for many years. There is no account of its extent. The towns are decayed and the inhabitants few. To the south-east of the old capital (town) there is a brick stūpa, in height less than 100 feet. Formerly, after the Nirvāṇa of Tathāgata, a previous king of this country having got a share of the śarīras of his body, returned home with them, and to honour these relics he built (this stūpa). Miraculous signs are here displayed, and a divine light from time to time shines around. By the side of the stūpa is a clear lake (tank). A dragon at certain periods comes forth and walks here, and changing his form and snake-like exterior, marches round the stūpa, turning to the right to pay it honour. The wild elephants come in herds, gather flowers, and scatter them here. Impelled by a mysterious power, they have continued to offer this service from the first till now. In former days, when Aśoka-rāja, dividing the relics, built stūpas, having opened the stūpas built by the kings of the seven countries, he proceeded to travel to this country, and put his hand to the work (viz., of opening this stūpa); the dragon, apprehending the desecration of the place, changed himself into the form of a Brahman, and going in front, he bowed down before the elephant and said, "Maharaja! your feelings are well affected to the law of Buddha, and you have largely planted (good seed) in the field of religious merit.
Translations (1)
- Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World — Samuel Beal 1884, English