Indian Antiquary Vol 07

SR No.: 032499
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 386
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 245

August, 1878.]
MISCELLANEA.
199
and cultivated goodness with unremitting fervour: (the great Thangs) is that of the ruling dynasty. the entire day is not sufficient for him.
Now, before the sovereign had inherited the At the beginning (Hiwan Thsang) having re- throne, he was called the King of Thsin'; now ceived an invitation from the king Kew-mo-lo that he enjoys the supreme power, he is called (Ku mera), he replied, "I go from the kingdom Thien-tseu (the son of heaven--the emperor). of Mo-kie-t'o (Magadh a) to the kingdom of Kia
"At the termination of the preceding dynasty mo-liupo (K & marapa).'
the people were without a master; civil war preAt that time the king Kiai-ji (siladitya) was
vailed and men were slain. The King of Thein, visiting his states. As he was in the kingdom of
who had received from heaven a great soul, maniKie-chu-u-ki-lo" (Kajaghira), he gave this order fested his good will and mercy. Thanks to the to the king Kew-mo-lo (Kumâra): "Come with power of his arms, the wicked were destroyed, the foreign monk from the convent of Nolan-t'o the eight regions began to breathe, and the ten (N &lan da) and see me at once."
thousand kingdoms came to offer him tribute. The above (monk) in company with Kew-mo-lo(Ku
Bountifully he sustains all creatures; he revermara), proceeded to the king. After refreshing him- ences the three precious things; he lightens the self from his fatigue, the king Kiai-ji (Siladitya) said taxes and mitigates punishments; the realm has to him: "From what kingdom do you come; what superabundant resources, and the people enjoy do you seek for P"_"I come," answered the travel undisturbed peace. It would be difficult to enuler, "from the kingdom of the great Thang, and merate completely his great views and his grand ask your permission to inquire after the law of Bud- | reforms." dha."_"In what country is the kingdom of the
"Wonderful !" exclaimed Kiai-ji (siladitya): great Thang ?" asked the king; "how far is it from "the peoples of that country (China) owe their this P"_"It is situated," replied he, "to the happiness to their saintly king." north-east from this country, and is distant many At this time king Kiai-ji, being about to retens of thousands of lis. It is the country which turn to the city of hunchbacked maidens (Kanyathe Indians call Mo-ho-china (Mah & china)."- kabja), summoned au Assembly of the Law. "I have heard it said," rejoined the king, " that Preceded by a multitude of several hundreds of in the country of Mo-ho-chi-na (Mahachina) there thousands, he stopped on the south bank of the is an emperor called the king of Thein. In his Ganges. The king Kew-mo-la(Kumara), preceded youth he distinguished himself by marvellous by & multitude of some tens of thousands, occusagacity; having become great, he displayed a pied the northern bank. Then the troops, remarkable ability in the art of war. During the | separated by the river which flowed between preceding reign the empire was the prey of anar- them, advanced at the same time by water and chy; it was divided and fell to pieces; every one by land. The two kings opened the procession. flew to arms, and people were immersed in mig. The four corps of the army formed an imposing fortune. But the emperor, styled the King of escort. Some on boats, others on elephants, Thsin, who at a fortunate moment had devised advanced to the sound of drums, marine conches, great plans, manifested all his kindliness and tenderflutes and guitars. At the end of ninety days mercy. He saved the people from shipwreck, and they arrived at Kanya kubja, in the middle of stilled the interior of the seas (the empire). His a great forest of trees in blossom, on the west laws and benefactions were spread abroad. The bank of the Ganges. At this juncture twenty peoples of other countries and strange lands kings of different districts, who had previously received his reforms with delight, and avowed received the orders of Silâditya, each brought the themselves his subjects. The multitude which most distinguished Sha-men (Sramanas) and Po-lohe generously supported eang musical pieces in men (Brahmany) of their kingdoms; magistrates honour of the victories of the King of Thein. For a and warriors had come to join the great assembly. long while past I have heard his praises cele- The king (Śiladitya) had already constructed brated. Has tbe commendation of his splendid an immense Kia-lan (Sangharima). On the east virtues a real foundation P Is that indeed what is of the Sanghåráma he had raised a tower richly called the kingdom of the great Thange ?"
ornamented and nearly a hundred feet high. In "Yes," was the reply, "Chi-na is the name of the middle was a golden statue of Buddha, of the the dominion of our first kings, and Ta-thang same size as the king. To the south of the tower
19 Another form of the Chinese is Kie-shing-kie-lo abont Rajmahal, which district went by the name of Kank. (Kajif sra); the geographical list in the Mahabludrata jol (Gladwin's Ayeen Akbery, vol. II. p. 178; Hamilton's mentions the Kajingas among the peopl) of Eastern India Gazetteer, B.v. 'Rajamahal'), from a town 18 miles south (Wilson's Vishnu Purana, 4to ed. p. 190, note 168, and in of Råjmahal (Cunningham, Anc. Geog. p. 479), conf. also the Singhalese chronicles mention is made of Kajanghele. Jour. R. As. Soc. (N. S.) vol. VI. p. 237; M. Julien, Mém. Niyangame (Upham's Sac. and Hist. Books, vol. II. p. 141). sur les Cont. Occid. tom. II. p. 387. The place mentioned above must have been somewhere . 13 The dynasty of the Sui.