Pundravarddhan as seen by Hiuen-tsang

PUN-NA-FA-TAH-NA (PUNDRAVAHDDHANA)

This country is about 4000 li in circuit. Its capital is about 30 li round. It is thickly populated. The tanks and public offices and flowering woods are regularly connected at intervals. The soil is flat and loamy, and rich in all kinds of grain-produce. The Panasa (Pan-na-so) fruit, though plentiful, is highly esteemed. The fruit is as large as a pumpkin. When it is ripe it is of a yellowish- red colour. When divided, it has in the middle many tens of little fruits of the size of a pigeon's egg; breaking these, there comes forth a juice of a yellowish-red colour and of delicious flavour. The fruit sometimes collects on the tree-branches as other clustering fruits, but sometimes at the tree-roots, as in the case of the earth-growing fu ling. The climate (of this country) is temperate; the people esteem learning. There are about twenty sangharams with some 3000 priests; they study both the Little and Great Vehicle.

 Some hundred Deva temples
There are some hundred Deva temples, where sectaries of different schools congregate. The naked Nirgranthas are the most numerous.

The Po-chi-p'o sangharama
To the west of the capital 20 li or so is the Po-chi-p'o sangharama. Its courts are light and roomy; its towers and pavilions are very lofty. The priests are about 700 in number; they study the law according to the Great Vehicle. Many renowned priests from Eastern India dwell here.

A stupa built by Ashoka-raja
Not far from this is a stupa built by Ashoka-raja. Here Tathagata, in old days, preached the law for three months for the sake of the Devas. Occasionally, on fast-days, there is a bright light visible around it.

A place where the four post Buddhas walked

By the side of this, again, is a place where the four post Buddhas walked for exercise and sat down. The bequeathed traces are still visible

A statue of Kwan-tsz'-tsai Bodhisattva
Not far from this there is a vihara in which is a statue of Kwan-tsz'-tsai Bodhisattva. Nothing is hid from its divine discernment; its spiritual perception is most accurate; men far and near consult (this being) with fasting and prayers.

From this going east goo li or so, crossing the great river, we come to the country of Kia-mo-lu-po (Kamarupa).