Description
Book SynopsisPresents an examination of the British Library Kharosthi scrolls, which are fragile and brittle fragments of manuscript on birch-bark rolls. This book presents two texts, one representing an anthology of verses well known in the Buddhist tradition, and the other a series of stories concerning previous births of the Buddha and of his disciples.
Trade Review"The Gandhari canon may prove to be a crucial link in understanding the way Buddhism moved northward along the Silk Road, into Central and East Asia, even as it largely died out in India."
* Chronicle of Higher Education *
"[As did] its predecessors, this book has . . . advanced our knowledge of Gandhari."
* Journal of the American Oriental Society *
"A rare glimpse into a rich world of lost Buddhist story literature..One comes away with a sense of wonder at how much Lenz has taught us from so few preserved words! The significance of these texts and the scholarly work done on them cannot be underestimated."
* Bulletin of the Asian Institute *
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations and Tables
Preface
Transcription and Citation System
Abbreviations
1. Description of British Library Fragments 16 + 25
Part I. The Gandhari London Dharmapada
2. Introduction and Analysis: Dharmapada
3. Paleography and Orthography: Dharmapada
4. Phonology: Dharmapada
5. Morphology: Dharmapada
6. Transcribed Text with Reconstructions, Translation, and Commentary: Dharmapada
Part II. The Purvayoga Text
7. Introduction and Analysis: Purvayoga Text
8. Paleography and Orthography: Purvayoga Text
9. Phonology: Purvayoga Text
10. Morphology: Purvayoga Text
11. Transcribed Text with Reconstructions, Translation, and Commentary: Story A and the Purvayoga Text
Appendix 1. Verse Concordance: London, Khotan, Pali, and Patna Dharmapadas and Suttanipata, Udanavarga, and Jataka
Appendix 2. A Second Purvayoga of Ajnata Kaundinya (British Library Fragment 3): Text and Commentary
Appendix 3. Avadana of Zadamitra (British Library Fragment 1): Text and Commentary
Appendix 4. Sanskrit and Chinese Parallels for Purvayogas 1-4
References
Word Index for the London Dharmapada
Word Index for the Purvayoga Text
