Page:History of India Vol 2.djvu/277

 DEATH OF KANISHKA 239 somewhere in Kashmir, and adjourned to Jalandhar (or, possibly, met first in Jalandhar, and adjourned to Kashmir), where it completed its sittings; and that it set the stamp of its approval on certain commentaries prepared in accordance with the teaching of the Sarvas- tivadin school, and its derivative, the Vaibashika. If it be true, as Hiuen Tsang was told, that the works authorized by the council were engraved on copper plates and deposited in a stupa, it is possible that they may yet be revealed by some lucky chance. But the vagueness of the statements concerning the locality of the council precludes the possibility of deliberate search for the alleged records of its decisions. The assembly is said to have been convened by the king on the advice of a saint named Parsvika, and to have sat under the presidency of Vasumitra. The legends published by M. Sylvain Levi include a strange tale professing to relate the end of Kanishka, which may possibly be founded on fact. " The king," so runs the story, " had a minister named Mathara, of unusual intelligence. He ad- dressed Kanishka in these words: l Sire, if you wish to follow the advice of your servant, your power will assuredly bring the whole world into subjection. All will submit to you, and the eight regions will take refuge in your merit. Think over what your servant has said, but do not divulge it.' The king replied: called together the able generals and equipped a force of the four arms. Wherever the king turned, all men
 * Very well, it shall be as you say.' Then the minister