On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c19.10

v2.c19.10

Continuing his description, the pilgrim tells us that to the north of the “old palace” (that is capital) was a stone pillar some tens of feet in height on the site of Asoka’s “Hell”. “In the 100th year after Sakya Ju-lai’s nirvāṇa”, he says, “king Asoka great-grandson of king Bimbisāra transferred his capital from Rājagaha to Pāṭaliputra, and surrounded the latter old city with an outer wall.” Of this city the long lapse of time had left only the old foundations. Of monasteries, deva-temples, and topes there were hundreds of ruins, but only two or three of the old structures survived. On the north of the capital and near the Ganges was a small walled city containing above 1000 inhabitants: this was the Hell-prison of king Asoka. The pilgrim then gives us a short history of this Prison or Hell. It was instituted by king Asoka, soon after his accession, when he was cruel and tyrannical. It was surrounded by high walls with a lofty tower at each corner; it was made to resemble hell with all its tortures, such as great furnaces of fierce heat and cutting instruments with sharp points and edges; a fierce wicked man was sought out and made jailer. At first only local criminals were all, without regard to the nature of their offences, sent to this prison; afterwards casual passers by were wantonly dragged in and put to death; all who entered were killed, and so secrecy was preserved. But it came to pass that a recently ordained śramaṇa one day on his begging rounds came to the Prison gate, and was caught by the jailer, who proceeded to kill him. The śramaṇa, greatly terrified, prayed for a short respite in order to make his confession, and the request was granted. At this moment a prisoner was brought in and at once dismembered and cut to atoms in the presence of the śramaṇa: the latter was moved by the spectacle to deep pity, attained the contemplation of impermanency, and realised arhatship. When his time came the jailer put the śramaṇa in a caldron of boiling water, but the water became cold, and the śramaṇa was seen to sit in it on a lotus-seat. This marvel was reported to the king, who came to see it, and extolled the miraculous protection. The jailer now told the king that according to his own rule, (that no one who entered the Prison was to be allowed to leave it), His Majesty must die. The king admitted the force of the remark, but giving the jailer precedence he ordered the lictors to cast him into the great furnace. Then His Majesty left the Prison, caused it to be demolished, and made his penal code liberal.