When he heard that a Sramana had arrived in a ship across the sea, bringing with him books and images, he immediately came to the seashore with an escort to meet (the traveller), and receive the books and images, and took them back with him to the seat of his government.

On this the merchants went back in the direction of Yang-chow;( 12) (but) when (Fa-Hsien) arrived at Ts'ing-chow, (the prefect there)( 13) begged him (to remain with him) for a winter and a summer.

After the summer retreat was ended, Fa-Hsien, having been separated for a long time from his (fellow-)masters, wished to hurry to Ch'ang-gan; but as the business which he had in hand was important, he went south to the Capital;( 14) and at an interview with the masters (there) exhibited the Sutras and the collection of the Vinaya (which he had procured).
After Fa-Hsien set out from Ch'ang-gan, it took him six years to reach Central India;( 15) stoppages there extended over (other) six years; and on his return it took him three years to reach Ts'ing-chow.

The countries through which he passed were a few under thirty.

From the sandy desert westwards on to India, the beauty of the dignified demeanour of the monkhood and of the transforming influence of the Law was beyond the power of language fully to describe; and reflecting how our masters had not heard any complete account of them, he therefore (went on) without regarding his own poor life, or (the dangers to be encountered) on the sea upon his return, thus incurring hardships and difficulties in a double form.