On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c20.105

Language: English

v2.c20.105.1

The narrative proceeds. From the Rāhula tope a journey of above 30 *li* brings one to the Nālandā Monastery. The tradition was that in a Mango wood to the south of this monastery was a tank the dragon of which was called Nālandā and that his name was given to the monastery. But the facts of the case were that Ju-lai as a P‘usa had once been a king with his capital here, that as king he had been honoured by the epithet Nālandā or "Insatiable in giving" on account of his kindness and liberality, and that this epithet was given as its name to the monastery. The grounds of the establishment were originally a Mango Park bought by 500 merchants for ten *koṭi* of gold coins and presented by them to the Buddha. Here soon after the decease of the Buddha, Śakrāditya, a former king of this country, esteeming the one Vehicle and reverencing the Three Precious Ones, built a monastery. This king's son and successor Buddhagupta, continuing his father's good work, to the south of this monastery built another one; to the east of this king Tathāgatagupta built a third monastery; and to the north-east of this king Bālāditya added a fourth. At the formal opening of this last monastery Brethren from all quarters were present by invitation of the king, and among these strangers were two who said they were Chinese.

v2.c20.105.2

When the king went to visit these latter they had disappeared in a mysterious manner, and His Majesty was so affected by the incident that he abdicated and joined the Buddhist fraternity [in the monastery he had built]. The rule of seniority placed him below all the Brethren, and he did not like this change in his social position. He put his case before the ordained Brethren who thereupon made a rule that members of the establishment who were not fully ordained should rank according to age, a rule which is found in this monastery and in no other. To the west of this monastery Bālāditya's son and successor Vajra built another; and to the north of this a king of Mid India afterwards erected a large monastery. Then round all there was built a lofty enclosing wall with one gate. In this establishment, the work of a succession of sovereigns, the sculpture was perfect and really beautiful. "In the monastery built by Śakrāditya", the pilgrim continues, "there is now an image of Buddha and every day 40 Brethren are sent to take their food there to requite the bounty of the founder". In the establishment were some thousands of Brethren, all men of great ability and learning, several hundreds being highly esteemed and famous; the Brethren were very strict in observing the precepts and regulations of their Order; they were looked up to as models by all India; learning and discussing they found the day too short;

v2.c20.105.3

day and night they admonished each other, juniors and seniors mutually helping to perfection. If among them were any who did not talk of the mysteries of the Tripitaka such persons, being ashamed, lived aloof. Hence foreign students came to the establishment to put an end to their doubts and then became celebrated, and those who stole the name [of Nālandā Brother] were all treated with respect wherever they went. Of those from abroad who wished to enter the schools of discussion the majority, beaten by the difficulties of the problems, withdrew; and those who were deeply versed in old and modern learning were admitted, only two or three out of ten succeeding. The pilgrim then gives the names of some celebrated men of Nālandā who had kept up the lustre of the establishment and continued its guiding work. There were Dharmapāla and Chandrapāla who gave a fragrance to Buddha's teachings, Guṇamati and Sthiramati of excellent reputation among contemporaries, Prabhamitra of clear argument, and Jinamitra of elevated conversation, Jñānachandra of model character and perspicacious intellect, and Śīlabhadra whose perfect excellence was buried in obscurity. All these were men of merit and learning, and authors of several treatises widely known and highly valued by contemporaries.