大唐西域記 4.7: MO-T'U-LO (MATHURA).

Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World 4.7

Language: English

MO-T'U-LO (MATHURA).

4.7.1

The kingdom of Mo-t'u-lo is about 5000 li in circuit. The capital is 20 li round. The soil is rich and fertile, and fit for producing grain. They give principal care to the cultivation of 'An-mo-lo (trees), in the next. which grow in clusters like forests. These trees, though called by one name, are of two kinds; the small species, the fruit of which, when young, is green, and becomes yellow as it ripens; and the great species, the fruit of which is green throughout its growth. This country produces a fine species of cotton fabric and also yellow gold. The climate is warm to a degree. The manners of the people are soft and complacent. They like to prepare secret stores of religious merit. They esteem virtue and honour learning. There are about twenty sangharamas with 2000 priests or so. They study equally the Great and the Little Vehicles. There are five Deva temples, in which sectaries of all kinds live. There are three stupas built by Asoka-raja. There are very many traces of the four past Buddhas here. There are also stupas to commemorate the remains of the holy followers of Sakya Tathagata, to wit, of Sariputra (She-li-tseu), of Mudgalaputra (Mo-te-kia-lo-tseu), of Purnamaitrayaniputra (Pu-la-na-mei-ta-li-yen-ni-fo-ta-lo), of Upali (Yeu-po-li), of Ananda ('O-nan-to), of Rahula (Lo-hu-lo), of Manjusri (Man-chu-sse-li), and stupas of other Bodhisattvas.

4.7.2

Every year during the three months in which long fasts are observed, and during the six fast-days of each month, the priests resort to these various stupas and pay mutual compliments; they make their religious offerings, and bring many rare and precious objects for presents. According to their school they visit the sacred object (figure) of their veneration. Those who study the Abhidharma honour Sariputra; those who practise meditation honour Mudgalaputra; those who recite the sutras honour Purnamaitrāyanīputra; those who study the Vinaya reverence Upāli. All the Bhikshuṇīs honour Ānanda, the Śrāmaṇeras honour Rāhula; those who study the Great Vehicle reverence the Bodhisattvas. On these days they honour the stūpas with offerings. They spread out (display) their jewelled banners; the rich (precious) coverings (parasols) are crowded together as network; the smoke of incense rises in clouds; and flowers are scattered in every direction like rain; the sun and the moon are concealed by the clouds which hang over the moist valleys. The king of the country and the great ministers apply themselves to these religious duties with zeal. To the east of the city about 5 or 6 li we come to a mountain sanghārāma. The hill-sides are pierced (excavated) to make cells (for the priests). We enter it through a valley, as by gates. This was constructed by the honourable Upagupta. There is in it a stūpa containing the nail-parings of the Tathāgata.

4.7.3

To the north of the sanghārāma, in a cavern (or between two high banks), is a stone house about 20 feet high and 30 feet wide. It is filled with small wooden tokens (slips) four inches long. Here the honourable Upagupta preached; when he converted a man and wife, so that they both arrived at (confronted) the fruit of Arhatship, he placed one slip (in this house). He made no record of those who attained this condition if they belonged to different families or separate castes (tribes). Twenty-four or five li to the south-east of the stone house there is a great dry marsh, by the side of which is a stūpa. In old days the Tathāgata walked to and fro in this place. At this time a monkey holding (a pot of) honey offered it to Buddha. Buddha hereupon ordered him to mingle it with water, and to distribute it everywhere among the great assembly. The monkey, filled with joy, fell into a deep hole and was killed. By the power of his religious merit he obtained birth as a man. To the north of the lake not very far, in the midst of a great wood, are the traces of the four former Buddhas walking to and fro. By the side are stūpas erected to commemorate the spots where Śāriputra, Mudgalaputra, and others, to the number of 1250 great Arhats, practised samādhi and left traces thereof. The Tathāgata, when in the world, often traversed this country preaching the law. On the places where he stopped there are monuments (or posts) with titles on them.

4.7.4

Going north-east 500 li or so, we come to the country of Sa-t'a-ni-shi-fa-lo (Sthāneśvara).

Linked texts (1)

大唐西域記 — Xuanzang & 辯機, Classical Chinese