釋迦方志 2.21

2.21

In the cave at the southwest corner of the chamber is the palace of the asuras. Beside the stone chamber is the wooden plank-way where King Bimbisāra went to the Buddha's place, cutting through the stone to open a path about five li long to serve as steps. Further east for more than sixty li, one reaches the city of Kuśāgrapura (meaning here 'City of Kuśa Grass'); the Palace City of Superior Kuśa Grass is in the very centre of Magadha. It produces much fragrant kuśa grass, the finest in the country. From ancient times the various kings made their capital in its mountains, and the city gates and watchtowers are still there; it was named after the fragrance. Lofty mountains surround it on all four sides to serve as the outer wall; a narrow path opens to the west, and a mountain gate is cleaved to the north. Long from east to west, it is one hundred and fifty li in circumference. The flowers on the trees are lush and all golden in color. The inner city is over thirty li in circumference; inside the city, it is desolate, completely devoid of human inhabitants. Outside the north gate is a stupa where the Buddha extended his hand to manifest five lions to subdue the intoxicated elephant of Devadatta. Another stupa to the northeast is the place where Śāriputra heard the bhikṣu Aśvajit preach the Dharma and realized the Path.