Suvarnavarnavadana / tr and ed together with its Tibetan translation and the Laksacaityasamutpatti

Abstract

The Suvarnavarnavadana has long been known as part of a work called the Vratavadanamala. With the discovery of a Sanskrit manuscript which, though without a title, corresponds very closely with both the Tibetan and the Chinese versions of this avadana it can now be asserted that the version as known through the manuscripts of the Vratavadanamala is only an adaptation of an earlier story for the purpose of illustrating the importance of practising various observances. This edition is chiefly concerned with the text of the Suvarnavarnavadana, but as all but one of the Sanskrit manuscripts used belong to the Vratavadanamala tradition and therefore include the text of the Laksacaityasamutpatti, an edition of it, too, is appended. As constant reference is made to them, a romanized text of the Tibetan version and a photocopy of the Chinese translation are also provided In the translation into English literal accuracy was aimed at rather than readability. The manuscript of the Suvarnavarnavadana brought from Tibet by Tripitakacarya Sri Rahula Sankrtyayana was not known to me at the time of undertaking this work as it is catalogued merely as "(Mahayana) Sutra". I had almost completed my own edition based upon manuscripts belonging to the Vratavadanamala tradition, when in October 1971 I received a copy of Dr, Sita Ram Roy's edition of the above manuscript. Dr. Roy's work, however, had been carried out without reference to its Chinese and Tibetan versions and to the manuscripts belonging to the Vratavadanamala tradition.