Chapter 5 - Country of Ni-po-lo (Nepal)

This country is about 4000 li in circuit, and is situated among the Snowy Mountains. The capital city is about 20 li round. Mountains and valleys are joined together in an unbroken succession. It is adapted for the growth of cereals, and abounds with flowers and fruits. It produces red copper, the Yak and the Mingming bird (jīvañjīva). In commerce they use coins made of red copper. The climate is icy cold; the manners of the people are false and perfidious. Their temperament is hard and fierce, with little regard to truth or honour. They are unlearned, but skilful in the arts; their appearance is ungainly and revolting. There are believers and heretics mixed together. The saṅghārāma and Deva temples are closely joined. There are about 2000 priests, who study both the Great and Little Vehicle. The number of heretics and sectaries of different sorts is uncertain. The king is a Kṣattriya, and belongs to the family of the Licchavas. His mind is well-informed, and he is pureand dignified in character. He has a sincere faith in the law of Buddha.

Lately there was a king called Aṃśuvarman^[1] (An-shu-fa-mo), who was distinguished for his learning and ingenuity. He himself had composed a work on "sounds" (śabdavidyā); he esteemed learning and respected virtue, and his reputation was spread everywhere.

To the south-east of the capital is a little stream and a lake. If we fling fire into it, flames immediately arise; other things take fire if thrown in it, and change their character.

From this going back^[2] to Vai_ālī, and crossing the Ganges to the south, we arrive at the country of Mo-kie-t'o (Magadha).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

In Chinese, Kwang-cheu: the only Aṃśuvarman in the lists of Nepal dynasties is placed by Prinsep immediately after śivadeva whose date he adjusted tentatively to A.D. 470. In Wright's lists śivadeva is omitted, and Aṃśuvarman stands at the head of the Thākuri dynasty. In an inscription of śivadeva, Aṃśuvarman is spoken of as a very powerful feudal chieftain, who probably ruled at first in the name of śivadeva, but afterwards assumed the supreme power; and in other inscriptions dated Saṃ. 39 and 45, he is styled king, and the traditional account says he married the daughter of his predecessor and began a new dynasty; but it makes him contemporary with Vikramāditya of Ujjani (? cir. 540 to 580 A.D., Max Müller, India, p. 289). From Hiuen Tsiang's allusion we should be inclined to place Aṃśuvarman's reign about A.D. 580-600. His sister Bhogadevī was married to a Prince śūrasena, and by him was the mother of Bhogavarman and Bhāgyadevī. Aṃśuvarman was probably succeeded by Jishṇugupta, of whom we have an inscription dated Saṃ. 48. If these dates refer to the śrī Harsha era, then Aṃśuvarman ruled about A.D. 644-652—at the close of the lifetime of Hiuen Tsiang—which is rather late. See Wright's History of Nepal, p. 130 f.; Prinsep's Ind. Ant., vol. ii., U. T., p. 269; Ind. Ant., vol. ix. pp. 169-172.

[2]:

But the pilgrim does not appear himself to have gone into Nepal. He went to the capital of the Vṛjjis, and there speaks from report. His return therefore must be calculated from this place.