A study of the wisdom chapter (Prajńāpāramitā pariccheda) of the Bodhicaryāvatārapańjikā of Prajńāpāramitā
Abstract
This thesis is a study of the heart of Prajiiakaramati's Bodhicaryavatarapanjika: the
only commentary preserved in Sanskrit on Santideva's Bodhicaryilvatara, one of the
most popular and influential texts in Mahayana Buddhism. The primary purpose of
the thesis is an annotated translation of the Prajfiaparamitil Pariccheda (Wisdom
Chapter) of the Bodhicaryavatarapanjika. The translation is based on Louis de La
Vallee Poussin's edition of the Sanskrit text with close reference to the Tibetan
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translation. The annotations present material necessary to understand PrajiinkaratI\,ti's
comme}ary both regarding the terminology he uses and the context in which he was
writing. The annotations identify sources of quotations and parallel passages in other
texts, and provide references to scholarly material on the subject matter treated by
Prajiiakaramati. While the reference point for the translation has been the Sanskrit text
the Tibetan translation has been studied as an aid to the translation. Note has been
made of where the Sanskrit and Tibetan texts diverge and some variant readings have
been offered on this basis. There is an appendix containing an edited version of the
Derge (sDe dge) and Peking editions of the Tibetan translation. A short introduction
outlines the scope of the work, presents the known facts concerning Santideva and
PrajiUikaramati and their works, and discusses scholarly research done on
Prajiink:aramati's commentary.