________________ 418 Homage to Vaisali animal without attacking, disappeared into the jungle. Thus they tra. velled for ninety stages and reached the non-Buddhist Kingdom of Tirhut. [ 11. Arrival and Stay at Vaisali) From there at a distance of six stages lies the uninhabited border of Vaigali (Yaos-pa-can). There lies the mountain range Rishisirsha-parvata, also called the "Lofty Summit", or "Big Head". Except for dangerous dacoits, one is within reach of the town of Vaisali). At its narrowest part the country of Vaisali (can be covered) in eight stages, and at its widest part iwenty stages. There exists a miraculous stone image of the Arya Tara with her head and body turned towards the left, foot placed flat, and the right foot turned sideways, the right hand in the vara-mudra and the left hand holding the symbol of the Three Jewels in front of the heart. The image was known to be endowed with great blessing, and the mere beholding of the goddess' face relieved devotees from distress. When they had reached the city of Vaisali, they were told that the inhabitants were in a state of great commotion and panic-stricken because of rumours (about the arrival) of Turushkal troops. That night the Dharmasvamin saw in his dream the country of Vajrasana and conversed with Chag lo-tsa-ba the Elder.2 Now to quote from the A-nu-pra-sa-la rje-su-bskyans-pa'i rgyan, slokas (verses) composed by the Dharmasvamin himself in memory of his Guru's grace, "Though companions were numerous, And notwithstanding the peril from the Turush ka soldiery, And the danger from the wild buffalo, Through the Guru's miraculous powers, Unhindered I bebeld the Vajrasapa. This was due to the grave of Upadhyaya, The great Dharmasvamin." 1. Gar-log or Qarluq, name of a Central Asian Turkish tribe. This is the usual Tibetan translation of the Sanskrit Turushka. [p. 58, 0.5] 2. (Chag lo-tsa-ba the Elder or Dharmasvamin the Elder or Chag lo-tsa-ba dGra-bcom (A. D. 1153-1216) was the uncle and Guru or Upadhyaya of tbis Tibetan monk pilgrim. He bad studied at Vajrasana and Nalanda under the famous Sanskrit scholars of the time E.d]
