On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c20.105.1

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.