大唐西域記 6.53-54

6.53

城西北三四里，渡阿恃多伐底河（唐言無勝，此世共稱耳。舊云阿利羅跋提河，訛也。典言謂之尸賴拏伐底河，譯曰有金河）。西岸不遠，至娑羅林。其樹類槲，而皮青白，葉甚光潤。四樹特高，如來寂滅之所也。其大甎精舍中作如來涅槃之像，北首而臥。傍有窣堵波，無憂王所建，基雖傾陷，尚高二百餘尺。前建石柱，以記如來寂滅之事，雖有文記，不書日月。聞諸先記曰：佛以生年八十，吠舍佉月後半十五日入般涅槃，當此三月十五日也。說一切有部則佛以迦剌底迦月後半八日入般涅槃，此當九月八日也。自佛涅槃，諸部異議，或云千二百餘年，或云千三百餘年，或云千五百餘年，或云已過九百，未滿千年。

The capital of this country is in ruins, and its towns and villages waste and desolate. The brick foundation walls of the old capital are about 10 li in circuit. There are few inhabitants, and the avenues of the town are deserted and waste. At the north-east angle of the city gate is a stupa which was built by Asoka-raja. This is the old house of Chunda (Chun-t'o); in the middle of it is a well which was dug at the time when he was about to make his offering (to Buddha). Although it has overflown for years and months, the water is still pure and sweet. To the north-west of the city 3 or 4 li, crossing the Ajitavati ('O-shi-to-fa-ti) river, on the western bank, not far, we come to a grove of sala trees. The sala tree is like the Huh tree, with a greenish white bark and leaves very glistening and smooth. In this wood are four trees of an unusual height, which indicate the place where Tathagata died. There is (here) a great brick vihara, in which is a figure of the Nirvana of Tathagata. He is lying with his head to the north as if asleep. By the side of this vihara is a stupa built by Asoka-raja; although in a ruinous state, yet it is some 200 feet in height. Before it is a stone pillar to record the Nirvâṇa of Tathâgata; although there is an inscription on it, yet there is no date as to year or month.

According to the general tradition, Tathâgata was eighty years old when, on the 15th day of the second half of the month Vaisâkha, he entered Nirvâṇa. This corresponds to the 15th day of the 3d month with us. But the Sarvâstivâdins say that he died on the 8th day of the second half of the month Kârtika, which is the same as the 8th day of the 9th month with us. The different schools calculate variously from the death of Buddha. Some say it is 1200 years and more since then. Others say, 1300 and more. Others say, 1500 and more. Others say that 900 years have passed, but not 1000 since the Nirvâṇa. By the side of the vihâra, and not far from it, is a stûpa. This denotes the place where Bodhisattva, when practising a religious life, was born as the king of a flock of pheasants (chi — S. kapiñjala), and caused a fire to be put out. Formerly there was in this place a great and shady forest, where beasts and birds congregated and built their nests or dwelt in caves. Suddenly a fierce wind burst from every quarter, and a violent conflagration spread on every side. At this time there was a pheasant who, moved by pity and tenderness, hastened to plunge itself in a stream of pure water, and then flying up in the air, shook the drops from its feathers (on the flames). Whereupon Śakra, king of Devas, coming down, said (to the bird), "Why are you so foolish as to tire yourself, thus fluttering your wings? A great fire is raging, it is burning down the forest trees and the desert grass;

6.54

精舍側不遠，有窣堵波，是如來修菩薩行時，為群雉王救火之處。昔於此地有大茂林，毛群羽族巢居穴處。驚風四起，猛焰飈急。時有一雉，有懷傷愍，鼓濯清流，飛空奮灑。時天帝釋俯而告曰：「汝何守愚，虛勞羽翮？大火方起，焚燎林野，豈汝微軀所能撲滅？」雉曰：「說者為誰？」曰：「我天帝釋耳。」雉曰：「今天帝有大福力，無欲不遂，救災拯難，若指諸掌，反詰無功，其咎安在？猛火方熾，無得多言！」尋復奮飛，往趣流水。天帝遂以掬水泛灑其林，火滅煙消，生類全命，故今謂之救火窣堵波也。

what can such a tiny creature as you do to put it out?" The bird said, "And who are you?" He replied, "I am Śakra, king of Devas." The bird answered, "Now Sakra, king of Devas, has great power of religious merit, and every wish he has he can gratify; to deliver from this calamity and avert the evil would be as easy as opening and shutting his hand. There can be no propriety in permitting this calamity to last. But the fire is burning fiercely on every side, there is no time for words." And so saying he flew away again, and ascending up, sprinkled the water from his wings. Then the king of the Devas took the water in the hollow of his hand and poured it out on the forest and extinguished the fire; the smoke was cleared away and the living creatures saved. Therefore this stūpa is still called "the extinguishing-fire stūpa."