JOURNAL 



OF 



THE ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



JVo. 26.— February, 1834. 



I. — Extracts from Tibetan Works, translated by M. Alexander Csoraa de 



Koros. 

 Tibetan beau-ideal qf a wife. 

 [Extracted from the Bkah-hgyur, mdo kha, leaf 106-7 ; corresponding with leaf 

 73-74 of the Lalita vistara, the original Sanscrit text, in the Lantsa charac- 

 ter, presented to the Society by Mr. Hodgson] .* 



The required qualities in a maiden who may aspire to be united in 

 marriage with Shakya are thus denned by himself : 



" No ordinary woman is suitable to my taste and habits ; none who is 

 incorrect in her behaviour ; who has bad qualities, or who does not speak 

 the truth. But she alone will be pleasing and fit for me, who, exhila- 

 rating my mind, is chaste, young, of good complexion, and of a pure 

 family and descent." He indited a catalogue of these qualifications in 

 verse, and said to his father, " If there shall be found any girl with 

 the virtues I have described, since I like not an unrestrained woman, 

 let her be given to me in marriage." " She, who is young, well pro- 

 portioned, and elegant, yet not boastful of her beauty, (lit. with her 

 body ;) who is affectionate towards her brother, sister, and mother ; who 

 alway rejoicing in giving alms, knoweth the proper manner how to 

 bestow them on the priests and brahmans : — if there be found any such 

 damsel, father, let her be brought to me. One who being without 

 arrogance, pride, and passion, hath left off artifice, envy, deceit, and is 

 of an upright nature : — who even in her dreams hath not lusted after 

 any other man ; — who resteth content with her husband, and is always 

 submissive and chaste : — who is firm and not wavering : — who is not 

 proud or haughty, but full of humility like a female slave : — who hath 



* See Journal, vol. i. page 380, and page 1 — 8, where a brief analysis is given 

 by Mr. Wilson, of the contents of the Lalita vistara. 

 H 



