Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang)
by Samuel Beal | 1884 | 224,928 words | ISBN-10: 8120811070
This is the English translation of the travel records of Xuanzang (or, Hiuen Tsiang): a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India during the seventh century. This book recounts his documents his visit to India and neighboring countries, and reflects the condition of those countries during his time, including temples, culture, traditions and fest...
Chapter 5 - Country of She-to-t’u-lu (Shatadru)
Note: Śatadru (also spelled Sutudrī, śatudrī, and śitadrus) means “flowing in a hundred branches” and is the name of the Satlaj.[1]
This country is about 2000 li from east to west, and borders on a great river. The capital is 17 or 18 li in circuit. Cereals grow in abundance, and there is very much fruit. There is an abundance of gold and silver found here, and precious stones. For clothing the people wear a very bright silk stuff; their garments are elegant and rich. The climate is warm and moist. The manners of the people are soft and agreeable; the men are docile and virtuous. The high and low take their proper place. They all sincerely believe in the law of Buddha and show it great respect. Within and without the royal city there are ten saṅghārāmas, but the halls are now deserted and cold, and there are but few priests. To the south-east of the city 3 or 4 li is a stūpa about 200 feet high, which was built by Aśoka-rāja. Beside it are the traces where the four past Buddhas sat or walked.
Going again from this south-west about 800 li, we come to the kingdom of Po-li-ye-to-lo (Pāryātra).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
śatadru—also spelled Sutudrī, śatudrī, and śitadrus, "flowing in a hundred branches"—the name of the Satlaj (Gerard's Koonawur, p. 28). It is the Hesidrus (or Hesudrus?) of Pliny (H. N., lib. vi. c. 17, 21) and the Zaradros or Zadadrês of Ptolemy (lib. vii. c. 1, 27, 42). See Lassen, Ind. Alt., vol. i. p. 57. It also appears to have been the name of a kingdom of which Sarhind was probably the chief town, referred to in the text.