Page:Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 1.djvu/24

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Abstract of the Contents of the Dul-vá.
[Jan.

The Dulvá, according to the analysis now submitted, comprises seven portions.

1. Tib. Dul-va-zhi; Sans. Vinaya-vastu. The substance or basis of discipline, 4 vols.

2. Tib. So-sor-t'har-pé-do; Sans. Pratimoksha Sútra. Rules for emancipation, 30 leaves.

3. Tib. Dul-vá-nám-pár-jet-pá; Sans. Vinaya-vibhanga. Neglect of discipline or transgression, 4 vols.

4. Tib. Gé-long-má-so-sor-thár-pé-do; Sans. Bhikshuni-prati-mok-sha Sútra. Rules for emancipation for nuns, or female mendicants.

5. Tib. Gé-long-má-dul-vá-nám-pár-jet-pá; Sans. Bhikshuni-vinaya-vibhanga. Neglect of the discipline by female mendicants, in one volume, with the preceding tract.

6. Tib. Dul-vá-phrán-tshegs-kyi-zhi; Sans. Vinaya-kshudraka-vastu. Minor essentials of discipline, 2 vols.

7. Tib. Dul-vá-zhung-la-má; Sans. Vinaya Uttara-grantha. The last treatise on discipline, 2 vols.

Some admit only four divisions of the Dul-vá, termed in Sanscrit:—1. Vinaya-vastu. 2. Pratimoksha Sútra, and Vinaya-vibhanga. 3. Vinaya-kshudraka-vastu; and 4. Vinaya Uttara-grantha.

The first part of the Vinaya-vastu treats of the Pravrajita-vastu, the circumstances under which the religious profession may be adopted.

It opens with an account of the hostilities that usually prevailed between the kings of Anga, the country about Bhágalpur, and the kings of Magadha, or Behar, until Padma-chenpo, sovereign of the latter, became tributary to his rival, an event that happened shortly before Sákya's appearance on earth.

Before the same occurrence also, the birth and education of Vimba-sa′ra, surnamed Sreníka, the son of Padma-chenpo, are described. The young prince encourages his father to withhold the tribute, and in the war that ensues, defeats, and kills the sovereign of Anga, and annexes that country to his patrimonial government. He subsequently succeeds his father, and is ruling at his capital Rájagriha, at the time of Sa′kya's birth.

The particulars of Sa′kya's birth are not enumerated in this place; but an account is given of his two first disciples Sariputra and Mangalayana, two young philosophical Brahmans, who have studied under different masters, without being satisfied with any of their instructions; the particular of whose tenets are enumerated. At last they find Sa′kya teaching in Rájagriha, and attach themselves to his person.