________________ Hiuen Tsiang's Travels in Vaisali 339 The men are quick and hasty in disposition. Most of the people are heretics; a few believe in the law of Buddha. There are about ten sangharamas; the disciples (priests) are less than 1000. They study assiduously both the Great and Little Vehicles. There are several tens of Deva temples, with a great number of unbelievers. The capital of the country is called Chen-shu-na. It is mostly in ruins. In the old royal precinct (citadel or inner city) there are yet some 3000 houses; it may be called either a village or a town. To the north-east of the great river is a sangharama. The priests are few, but they are studious and of a pure and dignified character. From this going west along the side of the river, we find a stupa about 30 feet high. To the south of it is a stretch of deep water. The great merciful Lord of the World converted here some fishermen. In days long past, when Buddha was living, there were 500 fishermen who joined in partnership to fish for and catch the finny tribes, whereupon they entangled in the river stream a great fish with eighteen heads; each head had two eyes. The fishermen desired to kill it, but Tathagata being then in the country of Vaisali, with his divine sight saw what was going on, and raising within him a compassionate heart, he used this opportunity as a means for converting and directing (men). Accordingly, in order to open their minds, he said to the great congregation, "In the Vriji country there is a great fish; I wish to guide it into the right way), in order to enlighten the fishermen; you therefore should embrace this opportunity". On this the great congregation surrounding him, by their spiritual power passed through the air and came to the river-side. He sat down as usual, and forthwiih addressed the fishermen; "Kill not that fish. By my spiritual power I will open the way for the expedients, and cause this great fish to know its former kind of life; and in order to do this I will cause it to speak in human language and truly to exhibit human affections (feelings)." Then Tathagata, knowing it beforehand, asked (the fish), "In your former existence, what crime did you commit that in the circle of migration you have been born in this evil way and with this hideous body?" The fish said, "Formerly, by the merit I had gained, I was born in a noble family as the Brabman Kapitba (Kie-pi-tha) Relying on this family origin, I insulted other persons; relying on my extensive knowledge, I despised all books and rules, and with a supercilious heart I reviled the Buddhas with opprobrious words, and ridiculed the priests by comparing them to every kind of brute beast, as the ass, or the mule, or the horse, and
