大唐西域記 8.11

8.11

佛迹精舍側不遠，有大石柱，高三十餘尺，書記殘缺，其大略曰：「無憂王信根貞固，三以贍部洲施佛、法、僧，三以諸珍寶重自酬贖。」其辭云，大略斯在。

Lately Saśāṅka-rāja, when he was overthrowing and destroying the law of Buddha, forthwith came to the place where that stone is, for the purpose of destroying the sacred marks. Having broken it into pieces, it came whole again, and the ornamental figures as before; then he flung it into the river Ganges, but it came back to its old place. By the side of the stone is a stūpa, which marks the place where the four past Buddhas walked and sat down, the traces of which still remain. By the side of the vihāra which contains the traces of Buddha, and not far from it, is a great stone pillar about thirty feet high, with a mutilated inscription on it. This, however, is the principal part of it, viz., "Aśoka-rāja with a firm principle of faith has thrice bestowed Jambudvīpa as a religious offering on Buddha, the Dharma, and the assembly, and thrice he has redeemed it with his jewels and treasure; and this is the record thereof." Such is the purport of the record.