The Rashīdī History 214.6

214.6

At Zunka, which is the most famous [place] in Tibet, and one which produces zedoary [mäh farfin] I saw another [interesting object], viz., an inscription of the Pádishah of Khitai. It was written in the Khitai character, but in one corner it was in Tibetan writing, while in another corner was a clear Persian translation in the Naskhi hand. It ran as follows: "His Highness the king sends greeting to all his people, saying: It is more than 3,000 years ago now, that Shaka Muni introduced idol-worship and spoke words which are not intelligible to all. . . ." This much I have retained; the rest related to some orders for the repairing of the temple. I have quoted this to show that Shaka Muni lived 3,000 years previous to the date of the inscription, which, however, not being [dated] in the Hajra, I could not understand. But judging from the extent to which the inscription was worn, not more than a hundred years could have elapsed since it was written. But God knows best I was in Zunka in the month of Rabi ul Awal, 940 [October 1533].