soo-ho-to. legend of buddha.

in that country also buddhism1 is flourishing. there is in it the place where sakra,2 ruler of devas, in a former age,3 tried the bodhisattva, by producing4 a hawk (in pursuit of a) dove, when (the bodhisattva) cut off a piece of his own flesh, and (with it) ransomed the dove. after buddha had attained to perfect wisdom,5 and in travelling about with his disciples (arrived at this spot), he informed them that this was the place where he ransomed the dove with a piece of his own flesh. in this way the people of the country became aware of the fact, and on the spot reared a tope, adorned with layers6 of gold and silver plates.