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These four Kings inform Sakra of the good or evil going on in the world ; on the eighth day of each month the chief minister of each of the four Kings goes to and fro the earth to inspect what is go- ing on; on the 14th day the eldest son (koumara) of each of the Kings visits the earth ; on the fifteenth day each of the Kings in person does so ; they observe how far virtue is on the increase among men, or the contrary ; if there are but few who observe the precepts and bestow charity, then Sakra is grieved, because in this case he knows the 1 The text is here defective : I have supplied the word " ashes." ^ Jou-i, i.e., conformable to one's incUnation. ^ Explained in a note as the Po-li-che-to-lo Tree ; it may perhaps be the Palasa palm. * Literally, a hall of the excellent I^aw (Saddharma). 78 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST number of Devas will decrease, and the Asiiras increase.^ Originally, when Sakra was a man, because of his great charity, he was called Sak-Devanam- {i.e., able to rule the Gods) ; and because of his family he was called Kusika f and because of the name of his principal queen, Saclii,^ he was called Sachipati.^ Because of the thousand kinds of judgment he gives, from his tribune, he is called the thou- sand-eyed ; and because he rules the thirty-three Devas, he is called Indra." (The Avatamsaka says that Sakra's body possesses a 1000 eyes, and his hand holds the Vadjra from which the lightning proceeds. The Saddharma prakasa sasana says that he possesses 1 000 hands.) It may be asked. What is it determines the period of day and night in Heaven ? We reply. It is determined by the closing of the Padma flower, and the opening of the Utpala flower : in the former case it is night ; in the" latter day (Vibasha Shaster). At the time when a Deva is about to be born in this Heaven, one of the Devis finds a flower in her hand ; she knows by this sign that a child will be born to her ; after seven days the birth transpires ; the new-born Deva ac- quainted with the Law proceeds into the midst of a Koyal Palace, on which he is greeted by a lordless Devi, who says — Illustrious youth ! well come ! this is your abode ; I am your handmaiden ; let me attend you ! (This is extracted from the Sutra of the Eishi Vyasa.) Again, when the Deva rajahs desire to ramble about, the Devis surround them and strike up every sort of pleasant music; on arriving at the Palace of any other Deva, he goes forth to conduct them within, where they sit down and enjoy the sound of pleasant music, and eat Divine Suda^ and drink Divine ^ This, the Chinese Editor observes, is extracted from the Abidharma Shaster. He adds that, according to the Sutra of the Rishi Vyasa (pi- yc-sicn-king), the Preaching hall of Shakra has 84,000 pillars, and who- ever enters it is strictly forbidden to commit any act of impropriety. '' Sik-tai-houan-in. It may be a contraction of SakdevOndra. Kiao-she-ka. ' Slie-chi. Vide J.R.A.^., vol. i, 18G4, p. 92. ' Shc-chi-poh-ti. " In-tai-h. ■ Suto. SCRIPTURES FROM THE CHINESE. 79 nectar (ambrosia), whilst all the Devis are only too agree- able to afford them every indulgence. Having finished the visit, they proceed forthwith to another Palace, where the same pleasures await them, and so in succession through- out the thirty-three Heavens. Every palace is decorated with precious trees, lovely gardens, ornamental boundaries, and all of different colours, some like yellow gold, some like shining silver, others of crystal, lapis-lazuli, and so on. Then, again, some are composed of two sorts of the above precious substances ; some of three ; others of four ; and others of all seven. So the beautiful appearance of all is different. Again, if one or two Devas wish to travel, either in chariots or boats, the same kinds of pleasure are indulged in ; the Apsarasas laugh and chat and sing and play ; they stroll about and enjoy themselves as they list ; leading each other and exciting each other to love. If, however, the hearts of the Devas become too inflamed and they continue going here and there, indulging them- selves to excess, then Sakra goes forth in his royal chariot and exhorts them not to give way to undue pleasure, but rather to prepare merit for themselves by self-denial. Then the Gods, respectfully acquiescing, go their way and return to their several Palaces. (This is extracted from the Sad- dharma prakasa sasana Sutra. This Suti-a says that Sakra has attained to the first step of Srotapanna, in Buddhist excellence.) THE CHARACTER OF THE KARMA WHICH LEADS TO BIRTH IN THE TRAYASTRINSHAS HEAVENS, 8. The Djnana Prasthana Shaster says : " In old times there was a Brahman of the family Kusika, who, with his 32 friends, acquired such religious merit that, at the end of their lives, they were all born on the top of Sumeru; Kusika became heavenly Ruler (tien chu) ; and the thirty-two men became his chief ministers." Another authority says that "after the Nirvana of Kasyapa 80 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST Bnddlia, tliere was a woman whose heart prompted her to raise a tower (over his ashes) ; in reward for which she became Heavenly Ruler, and the thirty-two men who assisted her became her chief ministers." Another authority says : " Whoever perfectly practises the ten virtuous rules, will be born in the Trayastriilshas Heavens." The Dirghag-ama Sutra says : " Whatever follower of Buddha acts up to the Eules of a Brahma-chari, at the end of life shall be born in the thirty-three Heavens, and pos- sess the five excellencies, viz., long life, beauty, renown, bliss, and personal address." Another authority says •} " Whatever priest or priestess observes the 250 Eules of the Pratimoksha shall be born in the thirty-three Heavens." Another Sutra^ says : " The reward of those who wash (the feet of) a priest is birth in Heaven." The Samyuktagama Siltra says : " Whoever bestows in charity beautiful garments, and loves to engage in religious exercises, gives incense, and choice food, does not kill, does not covet, or get angiy, gives food to the poor, affords proper hospitality to priest and priestess, shall be born in Heaven, in abodes corresponding to the character of body ; if the body is golden-coloured, they shall enjoy superlative happiness." The Saddharma prakusa sasana Sutra says : " Those who keep the ten commandments will be born in Heaven." Again it says : " Those who commit theft or murder or adultery, if they are born as men, their bodies are of a miserable colour, without comeliness or grace ; and if by chance they are born in Heaven, their appearance is very inferior, and they are slighted by the Devis ; they are objects of ridicule to the Devas, and are always worsted in contending with the A suras. The Fah-yuen says : " Whoever avoids killing animals ' Viz., the Shen-kai-king ; the Sutra of excellent Rules. - Viz., the Wan-chih Sutra. SCRIPTURES FROM THE CHINESE. 81 shall be bom in the place of the four Kings ; neither killing nor stealing he shall be born in the Trayastriiishas heaven ; if he also avoids adultery he shall be born in the Yaraa heaven; if he also avoids lying he shall be born in the Tusita heaven; if he keeps all the commandments and culti- vates the seven excellencies of speech and body^ he shall be born in the Nimala and Paranimita heavens. A CONSECUTIVE ACCOUNT OF THE THREE WORLDS. 9. In the midst of the inferior region of space is the great wind circle^ 160,000 yojanas high (Kosha Shaster); the water circle, 80,000 high, and 123,450 yojanas wide. By the combined energy (karma) of all living creatures, the water is not dispersed, just as food not yet digested is re- tained in the system.^ Above the water circle is the gold circle, 320,000 yojanas high, and according to the Kosha Shaster of the same breadth as the water circle. This gold circle is formed by a wind which constantly blows on the surface of the water circle, just as cream is formed on the surface of milk. (According to the In-pen Sutra this gold circle is 3 lakshas and 20,000 yojanas thick, i.e., 320,000 yojanas.) The earth circle is 68,000 yojanas thick. Within the circular range of Mountains is the Salt Sea, then the seven concentric circles of golden Moun- tains, then the Fragrant Sea, and in the midst of this Mount Sumeru.