156 Journal of the Asiatic Socvety of Bengal. - | May, 1905- 
18. Sarvajia-mitra—a Tantrika Buddhist author of Kasmira in 
the 8th century A.D.—By Pror. Satis CHANDRA VipyapHusana, M.A. 
Amongthe manuscripts presented to the Asiatic Society of 
Bengal by Mr. Hodgson, there is a Buddhist Sanskrit work 
named Sragdhara-stotra by Sarvajfiia-mitra. The work derives its. 
name from that of the metre, viz., Sragdhard,! in which it is written. 
It isa hymn consisting of 37 stanzas in praise of the Tantrika 
goddess Tara who is called in Tibetan Serol-ma. ‘There is a Sans- 
krit commentary on the work, called Sragdhara stotra-tika, by Jina- 
raksita who was a monk of the great monastery of Vikramasila 
and a spiritual guide of a king of the time. 
‘The commentator states that Sarvajfiia-mitra, the author of 
Sragdhara-stotra, was a devout monk of Kasmira and was re- 
nowned for his unbounded charity. Having given away everything 
he possessed, he left the country and wandered abroad as a men- 
dicant. Once while he was proceeding to the kingdom of Vajra- 
mukuta, he met on the way a poor old Brahmana who was in a 
very pressing need of money for the marriage of his daughter. 
The Brahmana, who was going to the place of Sarvajfia-mitra 
himself for help, having learnt that the latter had nothing left. 
except the beggar’s bowl and robe, fell into great despair and shed 
tears. Sarvajfia-mitra, however, consoled him saying: ‘“‘ Be not 
sad, I shall give you what you ask for.” Atthattime King Vajra- 
mukuta was told by a certain person that all his desires would be 
fulfilled if he could wash himself sitting on 100 skulls 
freshly severed from the trunks. The king who had already 
secured 99 persons completed the number 100 by purchasing” 
Sarvajia-mitra, who sold his person for its weight in gold which 
was given to the poor Brahmana. The 100 victims were in a 
morning led into the Executioner’s Tank by officers of the king. 
Sarvajia-mitra finding no means of escape composed and chanted 
Oo” stanzas in praise of Arya Tara, whereupon all the victims. 
were miraculously saved and taken to their respective homes. 
Heaps of gold equal to the weight of the victims remained depo- 
sited on the edge of the tank. The king, surprised at the miracu- 
lous power of the monk, became a disciple of his. 
The story of Sarvajiia-mitra and a literal Tibetan translation 
of the Sragdhara-stotra are to be found in the Tangyur, section 
Reyud, vol. L. 
A similar story about Sarvajiia-mitra is narrated in the Tibetan 
work called Pagsam-jon-zang edited by Rai Sarat Chandra Das. 
1 The Sragdhara metre contains twenty-one syllables in each foot broken 
into three equal parts. In the Chandomafijari, the Sragdhara verse is. 
thus scanned :— 
i a er Jk TL OJ WS TR OY J are OS nn WO 
