Sakra then asked Buddha about
forty-two subjects, tracing the questions out with his finger one by one
on the rock. The prints of his tracing are still there; and here also
there is a monastery.
A yojana southwest from this place brought them to the village of Nala,
where Sariputtra was born, and to which also he returned, and attained
here his pari-nirvana. Over the spot where his body was burned there was
built a tope, which is still in existence.
Another yojana to the west brought them to New Rajagriha--the new city
which was built by king Ajatasatru. There were two monasteries in it.
Three hundred paces outside the west gate, king Ajatasatru, having
obtained one portion of the relics of Buddha, built over them a tope,
high, large, grand, and beautiful. Leaving the city by the south gate,
and proceeding south four li, one enters a valley, and comes to a
circular space formed by five hills, which stand all round it, and have
the appearance of the suburban wall of a city. Here was the old city of
king Bimbisara; from east to west about five or six li, and from north
to south seven or eight. It was here that Sariputtra and Maudgalyayana
first saw Upasena [1]; that the Nirgrantha made a pit of fire and
poisoned the rice, and then invited Buddha to eat with him; that king
Ajatasatru made a black elephant intoxicated with liquor, wishing him to
injure Buddha; and that at the northeast corner of the city in a large
curving space Jivaka built a vihara in the garden of Ambapali, and
invited Buddha with his one thousand two hundred and fifty disciples to
it, that he might there make his offerings to support them.
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