See the Mahavansa,
pp. 247, foll.
[6] See chapter xii. Fa-hien had seen it at Purushapura, which Eitel
says was "the ancient capital of Gandhara."
[7] Western Tukhara ({.} {.}) is the same probably as the Tukhara
({.}) of chapter xii, a king of which is there described as trying to
carry off the bowl from Purushapura.
[8] North of the Bosteng lake at the foot of the Thien-shan range (E.
H., p. 56).
[9] See chap. xii, note 9. Instead of "Anna" the Chinese recensions
have Vina; but Vina or Vinataka, and Ana for Sudarsana are names of
one or other of the concentric circles of rocks surrounding mount
Meru, the fabled home of the deva guardians of the bowl.
[10] That is, those whose Karma in the past should be rewarded by such
conversion in the present.
CHAPTER XL
AFTER TWO YEARS TAKES SHIP FOR CHINA. DISASTROUS PASSAGE TO JAVA;
AND THENCE TO CHINA; ARRIVES AT SHAN-TUNG; AND GOES TO NANKING.
CONCLUSION OR L'ENVOI BY ANOTHER WRITER.
Fa-hien abode in this country two years; and, in addition (to his
acquisitions in Patna), succeeded in getting a copy of the Vinaya-
pitaka of the Mahisasakah (school);[1] the Dirghagama and
Samyuktagama[2] (Sutras); and also the Samyukta-sanchaya-pitaka;[3] -
all being works unknown in the land of Han. Having obtained these
Sanskrit works, he took passage in a large merchantman, on board of
which there were more than 200 men, and to which was attached by a
rope a smaller vessel, as a provision against damage or injury to the
large one from the perils of the navigation. With a favourable wind,
they proceeded eastwards for three days, and then they encountered a
great wind. The vessel sprang a leak and the water came in. The
merchants wished to go to the small vessel; but the men on board it,
fearing that too many would come, cut the connecting rope. The
merchants were greatly alarmed, feeling their risk of instant death.
Afraid that the vessel would fill, they took their bulky goods and
threw them into the water. Fa-hien also took his pitcher[4] and
washing-basin, with some other articles, and cast them into the sea;
but fearing that the merchants would cast overboard his books and
images, he could only think with all his heart of Kwan-she-yin,[5] and
commit his life to (the protection of) the church of the land of
Han,[6] (saying in effect), "I have travelled far in search of our
Law. Let me, by your dread and supernatural (power), return from my
wanderings, and reach my resting-place!"
In this way the tempest[7] continued day and night, till on the
thirteenth day the ship was carried to the side of an island, where,
on the ebbing of the tide, the place of the leak was discovered, and
it was stopped, on which the voyage was resumed.
