大唐西域記 6.43

6.43

窣堵波側不遠，有一伽藍，僧眾尠矣，清肅皎然，而以沙彌總任眾務。遠方僧至，禮遇彌隆，必留三日，供養四事。聞諸先志曰：昔有苾芻，同志相召，自遠而至，禮窣堵波。見諸群象，相趨往來，或以牙芟草，或以鼻灑水，各持異華，共為供養。時眾見已，悲歎感懷。有一苾芻，便捨具戒，願留供養，與眾辭曰：「我惟多福，濫迹僧中，歲月亟淹，行業無紀。此窣堵波有佛舍利，聖德冥通，群象踐灑。遺身此地，甘與同群，得畢餘齡，誠為幸矣。」眾告之曰：「斯盛事也。吾等垢重，智不謀此。隨時自愛，無虧勝業。」亦既離群，重申誠願，歡然獨居，有終焉之志。於是葺茅為宇，引流成池，採掇時花，灑掃塋域。綿歷歲序，心事無殆。隣國諸王聞而雅尚，競捨財寶，共建伽藍，因而勸請，屈知僧務。自爾相踵，不泯元功，而以沙彌總知僧事。

Not far from the neighbourhood of this stupa is a sangharama, with a very few priests attached to it. Their conduct is respectful and scrupulously correct; and one Sramanera manages the whole business of the society. When any priests come from distant regions, they entertain them with the greatest courtesy and liberality; during three days they keep them in their society, and offer them the four necessary things.

The old tradition is this: Formerly there were some Bhikshus who agreed to come together from a distance, and to travel to worship this stupa. They saw when they had arrived a herd of elephants, coming and departing together. Some of them brought on their tusks shrubs (leaves and branches), others with their trunks sprinkled water, some of them brought different flowers, and all offered worship (as they stood) to the stupa. When the Bhikshus saw this, they were moved with joy and deeply affected. Then one of them giving up his full orders (ordination), vowed to remain here and offer his services continually (to the stupa), and expressing his thoughts to the others, he said, "I indeed, considering these remarkable signs of abounding merit, count as nothing my own excessive labours during many years amongst the priests. This stupa having some relics of Buddha, by the mysterious power of its sacred character draws together the herd of elephants, who water the earth around the bequeathed body (of the saint). It would be pleasant to finish the rest of my years in this place, and to obtain with the elephants the end (at which they aim)." They all replied, "This is an excellent design; as for ourselves, we are stained by our heavy (sins); our wisdom is not equal to the formation of such a design; but according to your opportunity look well to your own welfare, and cease not your efforts in this excellent purpose."

Having departed from the rest, he again repeated his earnest vow, and with joy devoted himself to a solitary life during the rest of his days. On this he constructed for himself a leafy pannasâlâ, led the rivulets so as to form a pool, and at their proper seasons gathered flowers, and watered and swept and garnished the stûpa. Thus during a succession of years he persevered without change of purpose or plan. The kings of the neighbouring countries, hearing the history, greatly honoured him; gave up their wealth and treasure, and together founded the saṅghârâma. Then they requested (the Śrâmaṇêra) to take charge of the affairs of the congregation; and from that time till now there has been no interruption in the original appointment, and a Śrâmaṇêra has ever held the chief office in the convent.