Chapter XV Bhida. Sympathy of Monks With the Pilgrims
After they had crossed the river, there was a country named Pe-t’oo,1 where Buddhism was very flourishing, and (the monks) studied both the mahayana and hinayana. When they saw their fellow-disciples from Ts’in passing along, they were moved with great pity and sympathy, and expressed themselves thus: “How is it that these men from a border-land should have learned to become monks,2 and come for the sake of our doctrines from such a distance in search of the Law of Buddha?” They supplied them with what they needed, and treated them in accordance with the rules of the Law.
Notes
1 Bhida. Eitel says, “The present Punjâb;” i.e. it was a portion of that.
2 “To come forth from their families;” that is, to become celibates, and adopt the tonsure.