[4] This village (the Chinese editions read "forest") has hardly been
clearly identified.
CHAPTER XIX
SHA-CHE. LEGEND OF BUDDHA'S DANTA-KASHTHA.
Going on from this to the south-east for three yojanas, they came to
the great kingdom of Sha-che.[1] As you go out of the city of Sha-che
by the southern gate, on the east of the road (is the place) where
Buddha, after he had chewed his willow branch,[2] stuck it in the
ground, when it forthwith grew up seven cubits, (at which height it
remained) neither increasing nor diminishing. The Brahmans with their
contrary doctrines[3] became angry and jealous. Sometimes they cut the
tree down, sometimes they plucked it up, and cast it to a distance,
but it grew again on the same spot as at first. Here also is the place
where the four Buddhas walked and sat, and at which a tope was built
that is still existing.
NOTES
[1] Sha-che should probably be Sha-khe, making Cunningham's
identification of the name with the present Saket still more likely.
The change of {.} into {.} is slight; and, indeed, the Khang-hsi
dictionary thinks the two characters should be but one and the same.
[2] This was, no doubt, what was called the danta-kashtha, or "dental
wood," mostly a bit of the /ficus Indicus/ or banyan tree, which the
monk chews every morning to cleanse his teeth, and for the purpose of
health generally. The Chinese, not having the banyan, have used, or at
least Fa-hien used, Yang ({.}, the general name for the willow)
instead of it.
[3] Are two classes of opponents, or only one, intended here, so that
we should read "all the unbelievers and Brahmans," or "heretics and
Brahmans?" I think the Brahmans were also "the unbelievers" and
"heretics," having {.} {.}, views and ways outside of, and opposed to,
Buddha's.
CHAPTER XX
KOSALA AND SRAVASTI. THE JETAVANA VIHARA AND OTHER MEMORIALS AND
LEGENDS OF BUDDHA. SYMPATHY OF THE MONKS WITH THE PILGRIMS.
Going on from this to the south, for eight yojanas, (the travellers)
came to the city of Sravasti[1] in the kingdom of Kosala,[2] in which
the inhabitants were few and far between, amounting in all (only) to a
few more than two hundred families; the city where king Prasenajit[3]
ruled, and the place of the old vihara of Maha-prajapti;[4] of the
well and walls of (the house of) the (Vaisya) head Sudatta;[5] and
where the Angulimalya[6] became an Arhat, and his body was
(afterwards) burned on his attaining to pari-nirvana. At all these
places topes were subsequently erected, which are still existing in
the city. The Brahmans, with their contrary doctrine, became full of
hatred and envy in their hearts, and wished to destroy them, but there
came from the heavens such a storm of crashing thunder and flashing
lightning that they were not able in the end to effect their purpose.
![A Record Of Buddhistic Kingdoms - Being An Account By The Chinese Monk Fa-hien Of His Travels In India And Ceylon (a.d. 399-414) By James Legge
- E. H., p. 51.
[3] Ganga, explained by Blessed water, and Come from heaven to
earth.
[4] This village (the - Page 47](../images/travel.jpg)
