History of Kanauj to the Moslem Conquest c13.s1.25

c13.s1.25

Whichever of the two accounts may be true, it is certain that the victory of Yuan Chwang in this assembly of public disputation considerably enhanced his prestige and influence over Harṣa, who reverencing him more than ever, lavishly bestowed on him 10,000 pieces of gold, 30,000 pieces of silver, and 100 garments of superior cotton. All the princes of the eighteen kingdoms, moreover, presented him with rare jewels.² But the generosity of the royal patrons was baffled by the extreme abnegation of the pilgrim, who in a rare but truly religious spirit declined to accept any of these gifts. Harṣa then requested the Master of the Law to mount a great elephant and go round the city in company with the ministers of state, so that proclamation might be made among the crowds that “he had established the standard of right doctrine, without gainsaying.”³ Yuan Chwang with his usual modesty desired to waive this mark of distinction, but the king said, “it has ever been the custom, the matter cannot be passed over.”