On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c22.s10: Kü-Che-Lo
On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c22.s10
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Kü-Che-Lo
v2.c22.s10.1
Our pilgrim next relates that from the Valabhi country he travelled above 1800 *li* north to the Ku-che-lo country. This, he states, was more than 5000 *li* in circuit, and its capital named Pi-lo-mo-lo was above 30 *li* in circuit. The country was like Surath in its products and the ways of the people. It had a flourishing population in good circumstances, mostly non-Buddhists, only a few believing in Buddhism. There was only one Buddhist, monastery with above 100 Brethren who were adherents of the Hinayānist Sarvāstivādin School. There were some tens of Deva-Temples, and the adherents of the various religions lived pell-mell. The king, who was a Kshatriya by birth, was a young man celebrated for his wisdom and valour, and he was a profound believer in Buddhism, and a patron of exceptional abilities.
v2.c22.s10.2
In the Life the pilgrim is represented as starting not from Valabhi, but from Surath, and he goes thence north-east 1800 *li* to Ku-che-lo; the text of the passage reads—
v2.c22.s10.3
“from this (that is Surat) going north-east 1800 *li*”. In several editions of the Life the word *this* has been left out, but it is in the D text. Then the Fang-chih agrees with the Records in making Ku-che-lo to be 1800 *li* to the north of Valabhi. Julien restores the Sanskrit name of the country as “Gurjjara”, but the pilgrim probably transcribed a name like Guchala or Guchara. The name here given to the capital probably stands for a word like Bhilmala, and according to Saint-Martin the name is preserved in the modern Balmair (or Barmer or Balmer). This city, Cunningham tells us, is “exactly 300 miles to the north of the ruins of Balabhi”.¹
v2.c22.s10.4
¹ A. G. I. p. 312.