1848.] Gleanings in Buddhism. 89 



An Account of Dhammdsoka, Raja of Awadi. 



B. C. 321. "King Dhammasoka Raja, the lord of earth and sky, go- 

 verned the country of Awadi with strict justice ; and pursued the humane 

 and munificent course which great Princes ought to follow. 



In the midst, however, of prosperity and abundance the kingdom was 

 suddenly afflicted by a sweeping pestilence. The king consulted his 

 astrologers, and they advised him to emigrate with his people to another 

 quarter. His Majesty accordingly set out with all his family, and he 

 was followed by the largest portion of his subjects. Of these followers 

 thirty-one thousand were able-bodied men, [31,000,]* who had their 

 wives, children and effects with them. 



This body journied to the southward, and wandered about for seven 

 months, when it formed a temporary encampment in the jungle. 

 Houses for the priests were here constructed, especially for two (princi- 

 pal ones) named Buddha Kamphean, and Achan Buddha Sakon. A 

 temple was likewise erected here and a tank dug.f 



Several years prior to these events Raja Naga had paid a visit to the 

 temple at the Diamond Sands, and as a memorial of his having done so 

 he left a precious stone fixed in the fork of a tree. 



This temporary residence of the king was not far distant from the 

 above temple, although he was not aware of it. Indra therefore felt 

 himself called on to lend his aid. By his order his minister having 

 assumed the appearance and dress of a peasant, stationed himself near 

 to a spot where a hunter was watching to kill deer for the king's table. J 

 He contrived to bring one before the hunter, who wounded it with an 

 arrow. It went slowly away and the hunter followed it to the Dia- 

 mond Sands, where it left him benighted. He mounted a tree for pro- 

 tection during the darkness, and early next morning he was forcibly 

 attracted by the glare of the jewel left by Raja Naga. He speedily 

 secured the rich prize and returning presented it to the king, and 

 described the nature of the place where he had found it. His Majesty 



* Which would give a total of about 155,000 in all, so that if this account be true, 

 and if it was the famous Asoka who is here brought forward, we may suppose that he 

 only changed his capital for a while for a more healthy spot. 



t I cannot find any thing in the Mahawanso respecting this wandering of Asoko. 



\ The eating of animal food had not then been prohibited. 



N 



