The Country of Wuzhangna烏仗那國

The country of Wuzhangna is more than five thousand li around. Mountains and valleys join one another, and streams and marshes reach out to the plains. Grain is sown, but the good of the land is not rich. Grapes are many and sugar cane is few. The land yields gold and iron, and it suits saffron. Woods and trees grow thick, and flowers and fruits are abundant. Cold and heat are mild, and wind and rain follow their order. The nature of the people is timid, and their customs are full of deceit. They love learning but do not press it to the end, and they take spells for their craft. Most wear white cotton, and other clothes are few. Their speech differs, yet it is much the same as in India. Their letters and their rites also share a good deal with those of India. They hold the Law of the Buddha in high honor, and they revere and believe the Greater Vehicle. Along the river Supofasudu there were of old one thousand four hundred monasteries, and many of them are now waste. Of old there were eighteen thousand monks, and now they grow fewer. All of them study the Greater Vehicle and take still meditation for their work. They delight in reciting the text, but they have not searched out its deep meaning. Their keeping of the precepts is pure and clean, and they are especially practiced in spells. In the handing down of the rules of discipline there are five schools. The first is the Dharmaguptaka school, the second the Mahisasaka school, the third the Kasyapiya school, the fourth the Sarvastivada school, the fifth the Mahasamghika school. There are more than ten temples of the gods, and followers of other ways live mixed among them. There are four or five strong cities, and the king for the most part rules from the city of Mengjieli. The city is sixteen or seventeen li around, and the people who live there are many and prosperous.

Four or five li east of the city of Mengjieli there is a great stupa with very many divine wonders. It is the place where the Buddha, long ago, when he was the ascetic of patience, had his limbs and body cut off by King Jieli.

Going two hundred fifty or sixty li northeast from the city of Mengjieli and entering the great mountains, one comes to the spring of the dragon Apoluoluo, which is the source of the river Supofasudu. The stream flows away to the southwest. In spring and summer it still holds ice, and morning and evening snow flies. The snow scatters in five colors, and its light shines on every side. This dragon, in the time of the Buddha Jiashepo, was born among men and was named Qingqi. He was deeply practiced in the art of spells, and he held back the evil dragons and did not let them send violent rain, so that the people of the country relied on him and stored up their surplus grain. The people who lived there were moved by his kindness and held his virtue in their hearts, and each household paid a peck of grain as a tax and sent it to him. When the years had piled up, some failed to pay. Qingqi held anger in his heart and made this wish: "Let me become a poisonous dragon and raise violent wind and rain and harm the grain." When his life ended he became the dragon of this land. The spring sent out white water and harmed the good of the land. Sakyamuni Tathagata, who ruled the world with great compassion, pitied the people of this country, who alone met with this trouble, and he sent down his spirit and came here, wishing to convert the violent dragon. The vajra-bearing spirit struck the mountain cliff with his club, and the dragon king shook with fear and came out and took refuge in him. He heard the Buddha preach the Law, and his mind was made clean, and he believed and awakened. Then the Tathagata bade him not to harm the crops. The dragon said, "All that I eat depends on what I gather from the fields of men. Now that I have received the holy teaching, I fear it will be hard to keep myself fed. I ask that once in twelve years I may take my store of grain." The Tathagata covered him with kindness, pitied him, and allowed it. And so even now, once in twelve years, they meet with the calamity of the white water.

More than thirty li southwest of the spring of the dragon Apoluoluo, on a great flat rock on the north bank of the water, there is the mark of the foot the Tathagata trod. It measures short or long according to the power of a man's merit. This is where the Tathagata, having subdued this dragon, left his trace and went away. Men of later days piled stones over it and made it a chamber, and from far and near they come running and make offerings of flowers and incense. Going down along the stream more than thirty li, one comes to the stone where the Tathagata washed his robe. The pattern of the kasaya stands out on it as bright as if it were carved.

Going more than four hundred li south of the city of Mengjieli, one comes to Mount Xiluo. The water of the valley divides to the west and runs back up toward the east. Many flowers and strange fruits cover the stream and ring the cliffs. The peaks and rocks are steep and dangerous, and the streams and valleys wind about. Sometimes one hears the sound of loud talking, and sometimes one hears the sound of music. Square stones lie like couches, as though a workman had made them, and they stretch on one after another and spread over cliff and valley. This is where the Tathagata, long ago, gave up his body and his life in order to hear the Law of half a verse.

More than two hundred li south of the city of Mengjieli, beside a great mountain, one comes to the monastery of Mohefana. This is where the Tathagata, long ago, while he practiced the way of a bodhisattva and was called King Safudaduo, fled from his enemy and gave up his country and went in secret and came here, and met a poor Brahman who had just come to beg. He had already lost his royal place and had nothing to give, and so at last he had himself bound and taken to the enemy king, hoping to turn the reward into a gift of kindness.

Going down the mountain thirty or forty li northwest of the monastery of Mohefana, one comes to the monastery of Moyu. There is a stupa more than a hundred feet high. On the great square stone beside it there is the mark where the Tathagata trod. This is where the Buddha, long ago, trod on this stone and sent out a hundred million rays of light that shone on the monastery of Mohefana, and preached to men and gods of the things of his former births. Under the base of that stupa there is a stone whose color is yellow and white, and it is always moist and oily. This is where the Tathagata, long ago, while he practiced the way of a bodhisattva, split his bone and copied out the scriptures in order to hear the true Law.

Going sixty or seventy li west of the monastery of Moyu, one comes to a stupa which King Wuyou built. This is where the Tathagata, long ago, while he practiced the way of a bodhisattva and was called King Shipijia, sought the fruit of Buddhahood and cut his own body here and gave it to the hawk in place of the dove.

Going more than two hundred li northwest of the place where he took the dove's place, one enters the valley of Shanniluoshe and comes to the monastery of Sabaoshadi. There is a stupa more than eighty feet high. Long ago, when the Tathagata was Shakra, the year met with famine and plague spread abroad, and medicine did not help, and the dead lay one after another along the roads. Shakra grieved and pitied them and thought how he might save them, and so he changed his form into the body of a great serpent and laid his corpse in the streams and valleys and made it known everywhere through the air. Those who heard were moved and glad, and they led one another and ran to the place, and as they cut, the flesh grew again, and it cured their hunger and healed their sickness. Not far from that place there is the great stupa of Suma. This is where the Tathagata, long ago, when he was Shakra, pitied all living things when plague went about in that age and changed his own body into the Suma snake, and none who ate of it failed to be made well. On the north side of the valley of Shanniluoshe, beside a stone cliff, there is a stupa. The sick who come and pray there are often cured. Long ago the Tathagata was the peacock king, and he came here with his flock. Driven by heat and thirst, they sought water and did not find it, and the peacock king struck the cliff with his beak, and a spring gushed out and flowed. It has now become a pond, and those who drink of it and wash in it are healed of their sickness. On the stone there are still the tracks of the peacock.

Going sixty or seventy li southwest of the city of Mengjieli, east of the great river, there is a stupa more than sixty feet high, which King Shangjun built. Long ago, when the Tathagata was about to enter final quiet, he told the great assembly, "After my nirvana, King Shangjun of the country of Wuzhangna should be given his share of the relics." When the kings were about to measure out equal shares, King Shangjun came late, and so there was talk of slighting him and setting him aside. At that time the great assembly of gods and men declared again the words the Tathagata had left behind, and so he shared alike with them and carried his portion back to his own country and raised it up with due reverence. Beside the stupa, on the bank of the great river, there is a great stone shaped like an elephant. Long ago King Shangjun loaded the relics on a great white elephant and came back, and when he reached this land the elephant suddenly stumbled and fell and died where it lay, and it turned into stone, and he raised a stupa at its side.

Crossing the great river more than fifty li west of the city of Mengjieli, one comes to the stupa of Luxidajia, more than fifty feet high, which King Wuyou built. Long ago, when the Tathagata practiced the way of a bodhisattva and was the king of a great country and was called Cili, he pierced his body here and drew blood and fed five yakshas.

Going more than thirty li northeast of the city of Mengjieli, one comes to the stone stupa of Ebuduo, more than forty feet high. Long ago the Tathagata preached the Law here and guided men and gods, and after the Tathagata had gone it rose up out of the ground. The common people honor it highly, and incense and flowers never cease.

Crossing the great river west of the stone stupa and going thirty or forty li, one comes to a shrine, and within it there is an image of the bodhisattva Afuluzhidishifuluo. Its awe and its spirit reach out unseen, and its divine traces are clear and bright, so that monks and laymen run to it and the offerings never cease.

Going a hundred and fifty li northwest of the image of the bodhisattva Guanzizai, one comes to Mount Lanbolu. On the ridge of the mountain there is a dragon pond, more than thirty li around. Its green waves spread wide, and its clear water is bright as a mirror.

Long ago, when King Piluzheji struck at the Shakya clan, four men who had withstood his troops were driven out by their kinsmen, and each fled his own way. One of them, a man of the Shakya clan, left the capital and wandered until he was worn out, and he stopped on the road. Just then a wild goose flew down before him, and since it seemed already tame he mounted it. The goose flew up and came down beside this pond. The Shakya man had traveled as though through the air, going far to another country, and he lost his way and could not find the road, and he dozed in the shade of a tree. The dragon maiden of the pond was walking by the water and suddenly saw the Shakya man. Fearing that she would not win him, she changed into human form, went up to him and stroked him. The Shakya man woke in fright and said in thanks, "I am a traveler and a worn-out man. Why do you show me such kindness?" Then he pressed his suit with warmth and would have joined with her there in the open. The woman said, "My father and mother have their teaching, and I obey it with care and do not go against it. I have received your kind regard, but I have not yet taken your high command." The Shakya man said, "The mountain valleys are far and dark. Where is your house?" She said, "I am the dragon maiden of this pond. I have heard with respect that the holy clan is scattered and flees from trouble, and as I walked here I made bold to comfort your weariness. It is said that a life has its own private joy, but I have not heard what brings you. And more than this, my evils have piled up and I have received this dragon body. Men and beasts go different ways, and such a thing I have not heard of." The Shakya man said, "If you grant me one word, the heart I have long held will be at rest." The dragon maiden said, "I hear your command with respect, and I will go or stay as you wish." Then the Shakya man made a vow in his heart: "By whatever power of blessing and virtue is in me, let this dragon maiden become human in her whole body." Moved by the power of that merit, the dragon changed her form, and when she had gained a human body she rejoiced deeply. Then she thanked the Shakya man and said, "I piled up an evil fate and turned about in the evil ways. By your regard and by the power of your merit, this worn body of many ages has been changed in one morning. If I would repay this virtue, I would not refuse to have my body ground to dust. In my heart I wish to be your companion, but the matter is bound by what others will say. I ask to tell my father and mother, and after that to make the rites ready." The dragon maiden went back to the pond and told her father and mother, "Today as I walked I suddenly met a man of the Shakya clan. Moved by the power of his merit, he changed me into a human being. In my heart I would join with him, and so I make bold to tell you what has happened." The dragon king was glad at the way of men and held the holy clan in honor, and so he followed his daughter's request. He came out of the pond and thanked the Shakya man, saying, "You did not cast me off as one of another kind, but lowered your honor and came down to the humble. I ask that you come to my house and let me serve you with sprinkling and sweeping." The Shakya man received the dragon king's request and went to his dwelling. There in the dragon palace he was welcomed in person, the rites were made ready, and they held a joyful feast and took their pleasure to the full. The Shakya man looked on the dragon's shape, and his heart was always afraid and full of loathing, and so he wished to take his leave and go out. The dragon king stopped him and said, "Do not dwell far off, I beg you. Live near this house, and I will make you hold the land and take a great name, and rule over subjects and people, and your blessing will stretch through long ages." The Shakya man declined and said, "These words are not what I hoped for." Then the dragon king put a jeweled sword in a box and covered it with fine white cotton and said to the Shakya man, "Take this cotton, I beg you, and offer it to the king of the country. The king will surely receive the gift of a man from afar with his own hands, and at that moment you can kill him. Then you may take his country. Is that not well?" The Shakya man received the dragon's counsel and went at once and made the offering. When the king of Wuzhangna raised the cotton with his own hands, the Shakya man seized his sleeve and stabbed him. The attendant ministers and the guards cried out in confusion on the steps, and the Shakya man waved his sword and said, "The sword in my hand was given me by a divine dragon, to cut down those who submit too late and to behead those who will not serve." All of them feared his divine valor and raised him to the high place. Then he set up his government along the old ways, and he made the worthy known and helped those in trouble. After that he moved the great assembly and made ready a carriage of state, and he went to the dragon palace to report that he had done as he was told, and he brought the dragon maiden back to the capital. The dragon maiden's former deeds were not yet spent, and some of their reward remained, so that whenever they were alone together nine dragon heads came out of her head. The Shakya man was afraid and full of loathing and did not know what to plan, and he watched until she slept and cut them off with a sharp blade. The dragon maiden woke in fright and said, "This is no good thing for those who come after. Not only is my own life somewhat harmed, but your sons and grandsons will suffer from pains in the head." And so the clan of this country has always had this trouble. It does not run on without a break, but from time to time it rises again. After the Shakya man died his son took his place, and this was King Wadaluoxina.

After King Shangjun took the throne his mother lost her sight. When the Tathagata was returning after he had subdued the dragon Apoluoluo, he came down out of the air into her palace. King Shangjun had just gone out hunting, and so the Tathagata spoke briefly to his mother of the essentials of the Law. She met the holy one and heard the Law, and so her sight came back. The Tathagata asked her, "Your son is of my clan. Where is he now?" His mother said, "He went out hunting this morning, and he will turn his carriage back now." The Tathagata and the great assembly were about to set out, and the king's mother said, "I alone met with such blessing that I bore and raised one of the holy clan, and the Tathagata has pitied me and has come down in person. My son will return at once. I beg you to stay a little and wait." The World Honored One said, "This man is of my clan. He will hear the teaching and believe and awaken. He is not one who must be taught in person before he raises his heart. I will go. When he returns, tell him this: 'The Tathagata goes from here to the city of Jushi, to enter nirvana among the sala trees. You should take the relics and make offerings to them yourself.'" The Tathagata rose into the air with the great assembly and went away. King Shangjun was still hunting, and from far off he saw a bright light shining in the palace and feared there was a fire, so he broke off the hunt and returned. When he saw that his mother's sight had come back, he rejoiced and asked, "How long have I been gone, that such a blessed sign has come and made my kind mother see again as she did before?" His mother said, "After you went out the Tathagata came here. I heard the Buddha preach the Law, and my sight came back. The Tathagata goes from here to the city of Jushi, to enter nirvana among the sala trees, and he called you to come quickly and take your share of the relics." When the king heard this he cried out in grief and fell down, and after a long while he came to himself and ordered his carriage and hurried away. He reached the place between the twin trees, and the Buddha had already entered nirvana. At that time the kings of the countries made light of him as a man of the border, and they prized the relics and would not share them with him. Then the great assembly of gods and men declared again the Buddha's will, and when the kings heard it they gave him an equal share before all others.

Northeast of the city of Mengjieli one crosses mountains and passes through valleys and goes up against the current of the river Xindu. The road is steep and dangerous, and the mountain valleys are dark and deep. Sometimes one treads on a rope, sometimes one holds to an iron chain. Plank roads hang over the void, flying bridges are set up in perilous places, and one climbs by steps of rafters and pegs. After more than a thousand li one comes to the valley of Daliluo, which is the old capital of the country of Wuzhangna. Much gold and saffron come from it. In the middle of the valley of Daliluo, beside a great monastery, there is an image of the bodhisattva Cishi carved in wood. Its gold color is dazzling, and its divine seeing reaches out unseen. It is more than a hundred feet high, and the arhat Motiandijia made it. By his divine power the arhat took a workman up to the Dushiduo heaven to look on the wonderful form in person, and after three journeys the work was finished at last. From the time this image was made, the Law flowed out and spread to the east. Going east from here, crossing ridges and passing through valleys and going up against the current of the river Xindu, by flying bridges and plank roads, treading on danger and passing through peril, after more than five hundred li one comes to the country of Boluluo.