ANALYSIS OF THE MDO. 4I7 



the life and doctrine of Sha'kya, the establisher, or foinider, of the Bud- 

 dhistic religion in ancient India. The Avork is divided into 27 chapters, the 

 contents of which are as follow : — 



First Chapter, from leaf 1 to 8. " Introduction." This siUra was deliver- 

 ed by Sha'kya (who speaks of himself under the name of Bodhisatwa) 

 at the special request of several gods, Bodhisatwas, and his principal disciples, 

 when he was in a grove near Shrdmsti, in Kosala. Here are mentioned 34 

 of his principal disciples, the names of eight Bodhisatwas, as also those of 

 several Buddhas or Tathdgatas, who had appeared in former ages and taught 

 their doctrines. Sha'kya is requested now to give instruction in the same 

 manner as they had done. 



Second Chapter, leaves 8 — 14. This chapter has for its title, " Great exhi- 

 laration, or rejoicing". Importance of this siUra. Several virtues enumerated 

 and commended to be practised. Description of the great festival in the 

 superb palace of the gods, in Galdan (in Tib. Dgah-\dan ; in. Sans. Ttis'hitd). 

 Hortative verses to Sh^^kya to teach his doctrine. 



Third Chapter, leaves 14 — 30, entitled, " The purest race or tribe." Insig- 

 nia of an universal monarch ; — his inauguration by those insignia ; — his visit- 

 ing the different kingdoms of his empire ; — his injvmctions to the chiefs and 

 the subjects to execute justice and to practise the ten cardinal virtues. Leaf 

 21. A Bodhisatwa, when about to become a Buddha, never takes his incar- 

 nation in a barbarous country, but in a civilized one ; nor in any low family, 

 but in the house either of a Brahman or a Kshatriya (the military tribe or 

 royal race) — reasons thereof. Sha'kya honoured the latter by taking his birth 

 in that tribe. Leaf 21 — 24. Consultation of the gods where Bodhisatwa 

 (Sha'kya) should be incarnated. There are said to have been at that time 

 sixteen principal tribes or ruling families in " Jambudwipd' (or in India), 

 several of which are enumerated by some of the gods, with recommendations 

 on their good qualities ; and they are of opinion that such and such a family 



will be proper for Bodhisatwa to be incarnated there. But some others find 



u 2 



