Indian Antiquary Vol 15

SR No.: 032507
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 446
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 400

354
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1886.
I will, however, make one or two remarks tribnte paid to this city by all the small about the Chinese vezisions of this book. I call countries round about. The clothing of the them versions, but they are only abridgments people is described as being of the five colours, of the original work, if that work is fairly glistening and bright, the women, of white represented by the Pali translation. The first complexion, and wearing jewels and costly was made by an unknown hand during the ornaments, -the soil, rich and productive, &c., Eastern Tsin dynasty, i.e. between A.D. 317 &c. This was the capital of the country of and 400; it is called Na-sien-pi-khu-king or Mi-lan. The king, therefore, proceeds thither, "the Sútra of the Bhikshu Nagasena." After and the disputation is narrated in two long some introductory matter relating to previous chapters of twenty and fourteen double pages births, we are told that there were two Bråh- respectively. maņs, who had practised together their rules of From a superficial examination, the descripausterity in the same mountain. One of these tion appears to be, in its general character, had expressed a wish that he might be born identical with that found in the Melinda-panho; as a king; the other desired that he might be but, as I do not possess the English translation re-born in & condition to arrive at nirvana. of this work, published, I understand, by Mr. Accordingly, the first became the son of a king
Trenckner, I have not been able to make any whose kingdom was by the sea-shore; and exact comparison. when the time came to name him, he was called | The only remark on the foregoing that need Mi-lan. The other was born in the country of be made, is that the kingdom of Menander Ki-pin (Cophene) and he was called To-la; but, may properly be described as a maritime one, because a royal elephant belonging to the family as the conquest of Pattalene is ascribed to him; was born on the same day as the child, he was and, as "he reigned over an extensive tract also called Na-sin, "for (the narrative adds) from the foot of the Paropamisus to the sea," the Indian word for elephant' is Na" (? Någa). we may accept the Chinese account that, whilst Having become a Bhikshu, he attained celebrity, his kingdom bordered on the sea, its chief city and after a while came to the country of was Sakala. This country the Chinese She-kie in India, and took up his residence in the writer identifies with Ta-ts'in, which is geneShi-ti-kia temple. We must restore She-kie to rally referred to the Roman Empire, but may, Ś akala, and Shi-ti-kia to Jêtika. So I think, be also equivalent to the countries that the plot of the discussion which follows, ruled by the Baktrian satraps. On all sides, is laid in the same place as in the Southern or at least, this Chinese book supports the identiPåli account. Meanwhile, the Prince Mi-lan fication of Melinda (Mi-lan) with the Menanhad succeeded to his father's maritime king- der of the Greeks. dom; and, being an adept in religions and There is another short work, in the Chinese philosophical questions, he requested his mini- collection of books, relating to this subject. sters to inquire for one worthy to enter It comprises the 101st tale, or story, in the the lists with him in disputation. The reply Tsah-pao-ts'ang-king (the Sarayuktaratnapitakawas that in the Northern region, in the sultra). The tale is called Na-sien-Nan-tocountry Ta-ts'in,' in the kingdom of She-kie, wang-king, i.e. "the Sitra of Nagasôna and Nanand in the palace of an old king of that daraja." The contents are similar to the former country, there was dwelling a Shaman well work noticed. The king's name is given as able to dispute with the royal scholar. Then Nanda, instead of Mi-lan. But I see no follows a description of the city of Sakala, difficulty in supposing Nanda to be a conthe noble character of the people, the richly traction of Menander, or of the Pâli ornamented gates, the sculptured palaces, Minanda. the apartments of the court ladies, the streets On the whole we may conclude that Någaand suburbs, the elephants, horses and chat sê na, the Bhiksku, was contemporary with riots, the artizans and scholars, and the Menander, and that his discussion with the
(The modern SaugalawAlaţibbA in the Pañjat; see SAkala, therefore, at this time was the seat of Greek page 246 above, note 9.-J.F.F.]
influence and civilization in North India. "Ta-t'sin in this place must denote the Greco-Baktrian Wilson ; Arion Antiq, page 980. Enpire.
Nanjio's Catulogue, No. 1329.