~Râjagriha, New and Old--Legends Connected with It~
The travellers went on from this to the southeast for nine yojanas, and
came to a small solitary rocky hill, at the head or end of which was an
apartment of stone, facing the south--the place where Buddha sat, when
Sakra, Ruler of Devas, brought the deva-musician, Pañchasikha, to give
pleasure to him by playing on his lute. 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 Nâla,
where Sâriputtra was born, and to which also he returned, and attained
here his pari-nirvâna. 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 Râjagriha--the new city
which was built by king Ajâtasatru. There were two monasteries in it.
Three hundred paces outside the west gate, king Ajâtasatru, 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 Bimbisâra; from east to west about five or six li, and from north
to south seven or eight. It was here that Sâriputtra and Maudgalyâyana
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
Ajâtasatru 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 Jîvaka built a vihâra in the garden of Âmbapâlî, and
invited Buddha with his one thousand two hundred and fifty disciples to
it, that he might there make his offerings to support them. These places
are still there as of old, but inside the city all is emptiness and
desolation; no man dwells in it.
[Footnote 1: One of the five first followers of Sakyamuni. He is also
called Asvajit; in Pali Assaji; but Asvajit seems to be a military
title, "Master or trainer of horses." The two more famous disciples met
him, not to lead him, but to be directed by him, to Buddha.]