BHIDA. SYMPATHY OF MONKS WITH THE PILGRIMS.
After they had crossed the river, there was a country named Pe-t’oo,(1)
where Buddhism was very flourishing, and (the monks) studied both the
mahayana and hinayana. When they saw their fellow-disciples from Ts’in
passing along, they were moved with great pity and sympathy, and
expressed themselves thus: “How is it that these men from a border-land
should have learned to become monks,(2) and come for the sake of our
doctrines from such a distance in search of the Law of Buddha?” They
supplied them with what they needed, and treated them in accordance
with the rules of the Law.
NOTES
(1) Bhida. Eitel says, “The present Punjâb;” i.e. it was a portion of
that.
(2) “To come forth from their families;” that is, to become celibates,
and adopt the tonsure.