Blog Book Now Available

This will be the final post, thank you for following the often slow work of translating part of the Chinese Yi Zu Jing (Arthapada). I hope this blog will continue to be of interest to those who come across it. I've converted the whole blog into a book for ease of reading and edited the verses back into their correct order as they appear in the original sutra collection. I've also included two Gandhari fragments of the Arthapada - see post below. 

Selected Verses from the Chinese Arthapada - Yi Zu Jing 

Including two parallel Gandhari fragments

Gandhari Fragments of the Arthapada

Below are two fragments of the Arthapada in Gandhari from The ‘Split’ Collection of Kharoṣṭhī Texts (Falk H. 2011). Scholars have reported that a full version of a Gandhari Arthapada has been discovered (Salomon R. 2018) and is now held in a private collection, perhaps one day it will be made available to be translated.

In the meantime we have the two fragments below, as I'm not versed in Gandhari I've not provided a translation of the verses. However, being an Indian Prakrit it is closely related to Pali and so I've included the Pali parallels with English translations of three of the verses as comparison. I've also provided a translation of the equivalent parallel verses appearing in the Chinese version (Yi Zu Jing) which would have been originally translated from a Gandhari Arthapada in around 229 CE by Zhi Qian. 

All the above is now available via the book, Selected Verses from the Chinese Arthapada - Yi Zu Jing : Including two parallel Gandhari fragments. It includes all the translation work published on this blog with the verses rearranged into there original order for ease of reading.

Gandhari Arthapada Fragment and Text Side 1.

Gandhari Arthapada Fragment and Text Side 2.

Bibliography

Verse 8. Sutra Five - The Mirror King

For himself there are no [doctrines] what doctrines could there [be left] to follow?

A performer of doctrines seeks truth by correct actions,

But an observer of precepts seeks for truth [also],

Having completely [gone] he does not return back to the multitudes.

自無有何法行？　

Zì wú yǒu hé fǎ xíng?　

本行法求義諦，

Běn háng fǎ qiú yì dì,

但守戒求為諦，　 

dàn shǒu jiè qiú wèi dì,　

度無極眾不還. 

dù wújí zhòng bù hái.

Parallel: The Pali Sutta Nipata, Atthakavagga, Chap. 5, Verse 801

Discussion: 法 (fǎ) in the 1st and 2nd line I've translated as doctrines, Sanskrt: dhárma.

Bibliography

Verse 7. Sutra Five - The Mirror King

Intentions and perceptions formed of what is seen or heard,

Along with evil thoughts he has not the slightest notion of,

The wise practitioner of dharma ceases longing for views,

From where would one grasp them on abandoning the empty [things of] the world.

意受行所見聞，
Yì shòu xíng suǒ jiànwén,　　
所邪念小不想，
suǒ xiéniàn xiǎo bùxiǎng,
慧觀法竟見意，　　
huìguān fǎ jìng jiàn yì,
從是得捨世空。
cóng shì dé shě shì kōng.

Parallel: The Pali Sutta Nipata, Atthakavagga, Chap. 5, Verse 802

Bibliography

Verse 6. Sutra Five - The Mirror King

Determinedly, not desiring to be depended on both sides,

From [one] beginning to [another] beginning he has given up worldly attachments,

For in both sides he does not dwell,

Comprehending the way of insight he obtains true calm abiding.

悉無願於兩面，
Xī wú yuàn yú liǎngmiàn, 　　
胎亦胎捨遠離，
tāi yì tāi shě yuǎnlí,
亦兩處無所住，　
yì liǎng chù wú suǒ zhù,　
悉觀法得正止。
xī guān fǎ dé zhèng zhǐ.

Parallel: The Pali Sutta Nipata, Atthakavagga, Chap. 5, Verse 801

Discussion: In the last line I have translated 觀法 (guān fǎ) as the way (or techniques) of insight, Sanskrit vipaśyanā and 止 (zhǐ) as calm abiding, Sanskrit equivalent: śamatha.

Bibliography

Verse 5. Sutra Five - The Mirror King

Already given up and discarded [views] he has gone beyond,

Abandoning views he is dependent on no one.

Not [pursuing] self-knowledge to appear as one as clever,

Although with what one sees and hears one still practices insight.

是已斷後亦盡，　　
shì yǐ duànhòu yì jǐn,
亦棄想獨行得
yì qì xiǎng dúxíng dé
莫自知以致黠，
Mò zì zhī yǐzhì xiá,　　
雖見聞但行觀。
suī jiànwén dàn xíng guān.

Parallel: The Pali Sutta Nipata, Atthakavagga, Chap. 5, Verse 800

Discussion: 觀 (guan) in the forth line I have translated as insight, the Sanskrit equivalent being vipaśyanā.

Bibliography

Verse 4. Sutra Five - The Mirror King

The one cultivating comprehension the views of the world he dos not follow,

Even though others follow clever [brahmanical] reciters.

Ways of knowledge he compares and treats respectfully the same,

Not living thinking inferior or superior,

見世行莫悉修，　　
jiàn shì xíng mò xī xiū,
雖黠念亦彼行。 
suī xiá niàn yì bǐ xíng.

興行等亦敬待，

Xìngxíng děng yì jìng dài,　　
莫生想不及過， 

mò shēng xiǎng bùjíguò,

Parallel: The Pali Sutta Nipata, Atthakavagga, Chap. 5, Verse 799

Bibliography

Verse 3. Sutra Five - The Mirror King

Surrounded and dwelling in delusion leading to the praising of lust,

Certainly in such learning of evil he deceives [himself] as to his attainments.

What is seen, heard as a truth he accepts after pondering on it,

Although holding to precepts he may not approve, 

抱癡住婬致善，
Bào chī zhù yín zhì shàn,　　
已邪學蒙得度。
yǐ xié xué méng dédù.
所見聞諦受思，
Suǒ jiànwén dì shòu sī, 　　
雖持戒莫謂可，
suī chí jiè mò wèi kě, 

Parallel: The Pali Sutta Nipata, Atthakavagga, Chap. 5, Verse 798

Bibliography