Xuanzang, born Chen Hui / Chen Yi, also known by his Sanskrit Dharma name Mokṣadeva, was a 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator. To know more dwelve in Wikipedia.
The citation of Ramagrama is found in the book The life of Hiuen-Tsiang, where his travelouge are written.
He starts with:
From this (Kapilavastu), going through a wild forest about 500 li east, we come to the country of Rama (Ramagrama). This country has but few houses or inhabitants. To the east of the old city is a brick stupa about 100 feet high. After the Nirvana of Tathagata, the old king of this country, having obtained a share of the relics (Sariras), returned home and built this stupa. It constantly emits rays of glory.
Nepali:
यसबाट(कपिलवस्तु ), जंगली वनको करिब ५०० ली पूर्व हुँदै हामी राम देश (रामग्राम) आइपुग्छौं। यस देशमा केही घर वा बासिन्दा मात्र छन्। पुरानो शहरको पूर्वमा इट्टाको स्तूप छ, जुन करिब १०० फिट अग्लो छ। तथागतको निर्वाण पछि, यस देशका पुरानो राजाले अवशेष (सरीरा) को हिस्सा प्राप्त गरेपछि, घर फर्किए र यो स्तूप बनाए। यसले निरन्तर महिमाका किरणहरू उत्सर्जन गर्दछ।
By the side of it is a Naga Tank. The Naga frequently changes his appearance into that of a man, and as such encircle the tower in the practice of religion (i.e. turning religiously with his right hand towards the tower). Wild elephants, with flowers held in their trunks, constantly come to offer their religious offerings.
Nepali:
यसको छेउमा नाग ट्यांकी छ। नागले प्रायः आफ्नो रूप परिवर्तन गरेर मानिसको स्वरूपमा परिणत गर्दछ, र यसरी धर्मको अभ्यासमा टावर (स्तूप) लाई(स्तूप) घेरो हाल्दछ (अर्थात् टावरतिर आफ्नो दाहिने हातले धार्मिक रूपले घुम्दै)। जंगली हात्तीहरू, आफ्नो सुँडमा फूल समातेका हुन्छन्, लगातार आफ्नो धार्मिक चढावा अर्पण गर्न आउँछन्।
Close by the side of this Stupa is a Sangharama of which a Sramanera is the subdirector (Karmadana). The tradition is this: There was formerly a Bhikshu who had induced some fellow-disciples to travel afield to pay reverence (to the sacred spots). Then they saw the wild elephants, carrying flowers in their trunks, lay them down before this tower. And again they saw them dig up the herbage with their tusks, and in their trunks bring water for sprinkling; the company seeing this were astonished and affected with emotion.
Nepali:
यो स्तूपको छेउमा एक संघाराम छ, जसको एक श्रामनेर उपनिर्देशक (कर्मदान) हो। परम्परा यो हो: पहिले एउटा भिक्षु थियो जसले केही सह-शिष्यहरूलाई पवित्र स्थलहरूमा श्रद्धांजलि अर्पण गर्न यात्रा गर्न प्रेरित गरेको थियो। त्यसपछि उनीहरूले जंगली हात्तीहरूलाई आफ्ना सुँडमा फूलहरू बोकेर यो टावरको अगाडि राखेको देखे। र फेरि उनीहरूले उनीहरूलाई आफ्नो दाँतले घाँस खनेर, र आफ्नो सुँडमा पानी ल्याएर छर्केको देखे; यसलाई देखेर उनीहरूको समूह अचम्मित र भावनामा प्रभावित भयो।
There was one Bhikshu in the company who resolved to give up the great rule of moral obligation, and remain there on the spot to render his religious offerings (at the shrine). Speaking to the others, he said: “The wild elephants, beast born as they are, know how to reverence this sacred tower; they gather flowers, and sprinkle water, and sweep! How then can we, belonging to the human race and devotees of Buddha, behold this desert spot and not render our religious assistance!”
Nepali:
समूहमा एउटा भिक्षु थियो जसले नैतिक दायित्वको ठूलो नियम त्याग्ने र त्यहाँ नै रहेर आफ्नो धार्मिक चढावा अर्पण गर्ने निर्णय गर्यो। उसले अरूलाई भन्यो: “जंगली हात्तीहरू, जसलाई जनावरको रूपमा जन्मिएको छ, यस पवित्र टावरलाई कसरी सम्मान गर्न जान्दछन्; तिनीहरूले फूलहरू संकलन गर्छन्, पानी छर्छन्, र सफा गर्छन्! त्यसपछि हामी, मानव जातिका र बुद्धका भक्तहरू, यस मरुभूमि स्थानलाई हेरेर हाम्रो धार्मिक सहयोग कसरी नगर्ने?”
So taking leave of his companions he remained there. He constructed a dwelling-place, cleared the land, and planted flowers, and cultivated fruits: he let not a moment pass in idleness, whether during winter or summer. The people of the neighboring countries, hearing of him, all contributed of their wealth and valuables to construct therewith a Sangharama, and they besought this priest to take the direction of the establishment as steward. From this time through successive generations, things have been managed according to this old plan.
Nepali:
त्यसैले आफ्ना साथीहरूलाई विदाई गरी ऊ त्यहाँ बस्यो। उसले एक बासस्थान निर्माण गर्यो, जमिन सफा गर्यो, र फूलहरू रोप्यो, र फलहरू खेती गर्यो: उसले जाडो वा गर्मीको समय पनि कुनै क्षण फुर्सदमा बित्न दिएन। छिमेकी देशका मानिसहरूले उसको बारेमा सुनेर, सबैले आफ्नो सम्पत्ति र मूल्यवान वस्तुहरू दिएर संघाराम (विहार) निर्माण गर्न सहयोग गरे, र यस भिक्षुलाई व्यवस्थापकको रूपमा यो संस्थाको निर्देशन लिन आग्रह गरे। त्यसबेलादेखि उत्तराधिकारका पुस्ताहरूमा, यो पुरानो योजनाअनुसार व्यवस्थापन गरिएको छ।
Going about 100 li (50 kilometers) to the eastward of the Sramanera convent through the great forest, we find a Stupa built by Ashoka-raja. It was here that the prince royal, having passed through the city, and reaching this spot, took off his ornaments and clothes and the hair jewel of his sacred tiara and gave them to Chandaka. Both here and where he cut off his hair there are commemorative towers.
Nepali:
श्रमानेरा मठको पूर्वतर्फको ठुलो जंगली वनको करिब १०० ली (५० किलोमिटर) यात्रा गरेर, हामी अशोक-राजाले निर्माण गरेको स्तूप पाउँछौं। यो त्यही स्थान हो जहाँ राजकुमार, शहर पार गरी, यो ठाउँमा पुगेपछि, आफ्नो गहना र कपडा र पवित्र मुकुट कपालका गहना हटाएर चण्डकलाई दिए। यहाँ र जहाँ उनले आफ्नो कपाल काटे, त्यहाँ स्मारक टावरहरू छन्।
Having left the forest we come to the kingdom of Ku-shi-na-k’ie-lo. This place is altogether desert and waste.
Nepali:
वन छोडेपछि हामी कु-शि-ना-रा को राज्यमा आइपुग्छौं। यो ठाउँ पूर्णतया मरुभूमि र फोहोर छ।
AI Representation of the then Ramagrama as mentioned by Huien Tsang.
Material Source : Page 97, 98 | The life of Hiuen-Tsiang | by the Shaman Hwui Li, Professor of Chinese, University College, London | Published by London Kegan Paul, Treanch, Trubner & Co. Ltd. | in 1914 AD
