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 6 - Country of Po-li-ye-to-lo (Paryatra)
Note: Pāryātra is said in the next section to be 500 li (100 miles) west of Mathurā or Muttra. This would favour the restoration of the Chinese Po-li-ye-to-lo to Virāta or Bairāt. The distance and bearing from Sarhind, however, given in the text, do not agree with this. Bairāt is some 220 miles south of Sarhind.
This country is about 3000 li in circuit, and the capital about 14 or 15 li. Grain is abundant and late wheat. There is a strange kind of rice grown here, which ripens after sixty days.[1] There are many oxen and sheep, few flowers and fruits. The climate is warm and fiery, the manners of the people are resolute and fierce.[2] They do not esteem learning, and are given to honour the heretics. The king is of the Vaiśya caste; he is of a brave and impetuous nature, and very warlike.
There are eight saṅghārāmas, mostly ruined, with a very few priests, who study the Little Vehicle. There are ten Deva temples with about 1000 followers of different sects.
Going east from this 500 li or so, we come to the country of Mo-t'u-lo (Mathurā).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Julien states (p. 206, n. 3) that this is a species of "dry rice" or "mountain rice," called Tchen-tch'ing-tao, which, according to a Chinese account, ripens in this period of time.
[2]:
The people of Virāta were always famous for their valour; hence Manu directs that the van of an army should be composed of men of Matsya or Virāta (amongst others). Cunningham, Anc. Geog. Ind., p. 341.