As a sequel to this, he informed the monks (of what had been in his mind), and desired them to make a regulation that from that day forth the king should not be allowed to enter the treasury and see (what it contained), and that no bhikshu should enter it till after he had been in orders for a period of full forty years.( 7) In the city there are many Vaisya elders and Sabaean( 8) merchants, whose houses are stately and beautiful.

The lanes and passages are kept in good order.

At the heads of the four principal streets there have been built preaching halls, where, on the eighth, fourteenth, and fifteenth days of the month, they spread carpets, and set forth a pulpit, while the monks and commonalty from all quarters come together to hear the Law.

The people say that in the kingdom there may be altogether sixty thousand monks, who get their food from their common stores.

The king, besides, prepares elsewhere in the city a common supply of food for five or six thousand more.