'" [1]
Such was the discourse, and Fa-hien wished to write it down as a portion
of doctrine; but the man said, "This is taken from no Sutra, it is only
the utterance of my own mind."
[Footnote 1: That is, those whose Karma in the past should be rewarded
by such conversion in the present.]
CHAPTER XL
~After Two Years Fa-hien Takes Ship for China~
Fa-hien abode in this country two years; and, in addition to his
acquisitions in Patna, succeeded in getting a copy of the Vinaya-pitaka
of the Mahisasakah school; the Dirghagama and Samyuktagama Sutras; and
also the Samyukta-sanchaya-pitaka;--all being works unknown in the land
of Han. Having obtained these Sanscrit works, he took passage in a large
merchantman, on board of which there were more than two hundred men, and
to which was attached by a rope a smaller vessel, as a provision against
damage or injury to the large one from the perils of the navigation.
With a favorable wind, they proceeded eastward for three days, and then
they encountered a great wind. The vessel sprang a leak and the water
came in. The merchants wished to go to the smaller vessel; but the men
on board it, fearing that too many would come, cut the connecting rope.
The merchants were greatly alarmed, feeling their risk of instant death.
Afraid that the vessel would fill, they took their bulky goods and threw
them into the water.
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