BUDDHIST RECORDS OF THE WESTERN WORLD.

BOOK VI.

Contains an account of four countries, viz., (i) Shi-lo-fw-shi-ti; (2) Kie-pi-lo-fa-su-tu; (3) Lan-mo; (4) Ku-shi-na-k'ie-lo.

Shi-lo-fu-shi-ti [skavasti].

The kingdom of Sravastt (Shi-lo-fu-shi-ti)1 is about 6000 li in circuit. The chief town is desert and ruined. There is no record as to its exact limits (area). The ruins of the walls encompassing the royal precincts2 give a circuit

1 The town of Sravasti, also called Dharmapattana (TrihdndaMsJia, ii. I, 13), inUttara (Northern) Kosala, has been identified by Cunningham with a great ruined city on the south bank of the Rapti called Sahet Mahet, about 58 miles north of Ayddhya. As Hiuen Tsiang gives the bearing north-east, and the distance about 500 li, he evidently did not travel by the shortest route. Fa hian (chap, xx.), on the contrary, gives the distance eight ydjanas, and the bearing (corrected) due north, both of which are correct. For a full account of Sahet Mahet see Cunningham, Arch. Survey of Ind., vol. i. p. 331 ff.; see also /. R. As. S., vol v. pp. 122 ff. It figures also in Brahmanical literature, in which it is said to have been founded by Sravasta, the son of Srava and VOL. II.

grandson of Yuvanasva. Harivarhia, 670; Yiskn. Pur., vol, iii. p. 263; Hall's Vdsavadattd, Int. p. 53; MahdbMr., iii. 12518; Panini, iv. 2, 97; Bhdgav. Pur., ix. 6, 21. With respect, however, to the date of Vikramaditya of Sravasti, Cunningham seems to be misled by the statement of Hiuen Tsiang (ante, p. 106) that he lived in the middle of the thousand years after Buddha, as though this meant 500 A.B., whereas it means, as stated before, in the middle of the thousand years whicti succeeded the 500 years after Buddha, in the middle of the "period of images," in fact. See also Burnouf, Introd., pp. 201,150,209, 280; Lassen, Ind. All., vol. iii. pp. 200 f.; Vassilief, pp. 38, 75, 188, 218.

2 Julien translates here and elsewhere Taing shing by folate, but it A