Indian Antiquary Vol 32

SR No.: 032524
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 550
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 410

888
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1903.
[470] After this we have again the story of Kanishka and the mendicants. Cf. Sūtrālamkara, ch. 8 (see above, p. 884).
"At that time, the king of the Ngan-si (Pahlara) was very stupid and of a violent " datare. At the head of the four forces he attacked Ki-ni-tch'a," who defeated him and slow nine hundred thousand men. Then be asked his ministers if this sin could be wiped out or not, and, to instruct them, had a pot boiled and put his ring in it, &c. cf. Samyukta-ratna-pitaka, story 16 (see above, p. 887).
There was a bhikshu arhat who, seeing the evil deed done by the king (in slaughtering nine hundred thousand men), wished to make him repent. So by his sapernatural force he caused the king to see the torments of hell. The king was terrified and repented. [480] Then Ma-ming told him that if he obeyed his teaching he would escape bell. Ki-ni-tch's replied, "Well! I receive the teaching." Then Ma-wing expounded the law, and gradually caused the sin to be entirely workened.
There was also a physician called Tehe-le (Chara, for Charaka). Ki-ni-tch'a had often heard of him, and wanted to see him. It happened that Tche-lo came of his own accord to the palace. [481] The king promised to follow any advice he might give. Soon after this, the king's favorite wife had a difficult confinement, and Tohe-le delivered her of a dead male child. He advised the king not to touch this wife in future. His advice was not followed, and another child we delivered with the same pains as before. [482] Tobe-le therefore quitted the court and left the world.
There was a minister named Mo-tchono-lo (Mäfhara). He told Ki-ni-tch'a that, if he followed his advice without divulging it, all the earth would be subject to him, the eight "regions will take refugo in thy virtue." The king promised to do so ; the minister chose good generals, equipped the four forces, and the peoples of three regions were subdued. Then the king let out that he intended to conquer the northern region, [488] and his people, hearing this, took counsel among themselves : “The king is greedy, cruel and unreasonable; his campaigns "and frequent conquests have fatigued the mass of his servants. He cannot be contented : "he wants to reign over the four regions. The garrisons cover distant frontiers, and our "relations are far from us. As such is the case, we must all agree to get rid of him. After " that, we shall be able to be happy." As the king was ill, they put a blanket (couverture) over him; a man sat upon it, and the king expired at once.
Because he had heard Ma-ming (Ašvagbösha) expound the law, he was born as a thousandheaded fish in the great ocean; but, in consequence of his deeds, his heads were constantly cut off, and thus he was tortured horribly in successive existences for an unmeasurable time. There was, however, an arhat, who, among the monks, was the Wei-na (Rarmadana, bell-ringer). The king told him that, [484] while the bell was rung, bis sufferings were alleviated, and he asked the bhadanta in charity to prolong the ringing. This was done, and, at the end of seven days, the evil, which had lasted so long, ceased. On account of the king, the bell on top of this monastery was continually rang, and this practice is kept up now.
In a note [488] M. Lévi explains that the Karnatana was the ringer of the bells (hanļā) of convent. Cf. I-tsing, Les Religious éminents... trad. Chavannes, p. 89. As regards the hybrid transcription kei-na, W. I-tsing, A Record of Buddhist Practices ... trang. Takakusu, p. 148.
Supplementary Nute. Prom the "Journal Asiatique," July-Dec., 1897, pp. 627 f. M. Lévi here gives an additional story of Kanishka from the Pa-iner-tchou-lin (ch. 60: Japanese erl., boite 86, vol. 8, p. 14a), which cites as its source the Pi-po-cha-lun (Vibhäshabiatra composed by Katyayaniputra and translated into Chinese by Sanghabhūti in 888).