1897.] 
L. A. Waddell— Upagupta. 
81 
magnificent monuments which later tradition ascribes to the agency of 
the genii. Interesting details are also given of the manner in which A^oka 
made these pilgrimages. It is related, 1 how A^oka at the instance of 
Ya^as, the elder, invites Upagupta who was at Mathura to come to his 
assistance at Pataliputra, and the king provides the boats for this long 
river journey. On his arrival, A^oka receives him with the highest 
honours and exclaims : “ You who resemble the Master! You who 
are the sole eye of the universe, and the chief interpreter (of the Law) 
be my refuge Sir, and give me your commands ! I shall eagerly hasten, 
accomplished sage, to obey thy voice ! 5 The sage replied ‘ 0 great 
king, Bhagavat, the Venerable Tathagata, the perfect and complete 
Buddha has entrusted to me as well as to you the depository of the 
Law. Let us make every effort to preserve that which the Guide of 
beings has transmitted to us, when he was in the midst of his disciples.’ 
* * *. Then (the king) falling at the feet of the Sthavira 
Upagupta cried out, ‘ This 0 Sthavira, is my wish : I wish to visit, 
honour , and marie by a sign for the benefit of remote posterity all the spots 
where the Blessed Buddha has sojourned.’ ‘ Very good, 0 great king,’ 
replied the Sthavira, ‘ this thought of thine is good. I will go this 
day to show you the spots where the blessed Buddha sojourned’ 2 
#*****.“ Then the king equipped with an army of the 
four bodies of troops, took perfumes, flowers and garlands, and set out 
in the company of the Sthavira Upagupta. The latter began by con¬ 
ducting the king to the garden of Lumbini. Then extending his right 
hand he said to him: ‘ Here 0 great king, was the Bhagavat born' 
And he added ‘ Here (at this site), excellent to see, should be the first 
monument consecrated in honour of the Buddha ’ #*######. 
The king after giving a hundred thousand (golden coins) to the people 
of the country raised a stupa and retired.” 3 
How it is remarkable that the words here used are almost the 
identical words which A<j5ka himself uttered at this place, as inscribed 
on his edicLpillar which has just been found by Dr. Fiihrer in the 
place which was first indicated by me, 4 and by me also were made the 
arrangements for the recovery of this lost site. This inscription on the 
A 95 ka-edict-pillar at the actual birth-place of the Buddha is translated 
by Dr. Biililer in the Times of the 25th ultimo (January), as recording 
1 Burnouf’s Intro., p. 337. 
2 Burnouf’s Intro., p. 340. 
8 Idem., p. 342. 
* See my article sent to this Sooiety on the 11th May, 1896, entitled a Tibetan 
Quide-book to the site of Buddha's birth and death, and afterwards published in more 
detail in the Englishman of 1st June, 1896. 
J. I. 11 
