Alamban Pariksha

Author(s): Dinnaga, Dharmapala, N Aiyaswami Shastri
Publisher: Adyar Library

Page 20

XX
“The capital (Kāñci) was the birth-place of Dharmapāla who was the eldest son of a high official of the city. He was a boy of good natural parts which received great development as he grew up. When he came of age a daughter of the King was assigned to him as wife, but on the night before the ceremony of marriage was to be performed, being greatly distressed in mind he prayed earnestly before an image of Buddha. In answer to his prayer, a god bore him away to a mountain monastery some hundreds of li from the capital. When the Brethern of the monastery had his story told, they complied with his request and gave him ordination and the king on ascertaining what had become of him, treated him with increased reverence and distinction." (v. T. Watters, op. cit. p. 226). The direction to which he fled on the eve of distress is not mentioned there; yet we may assume that it was North where he spent major part of his life.
It is stated that he drew up the following works : S'abdavidyasamyuktas'astra in 25,000 s'lokas; a commentary on the Satasāstravāipulya ; on the Vidyamatrasiddhi ; and on Nyāyadvāratarkastāstra (= Nyayamukha of Dinnāga). The first of the above four works seems to be the same as the commentary on Bhartshari's treatise called pei-na, mentioned by I-tsing. Takakusu suggests that pei-na is probably ' Beda' or
Veda.' But this is improbable, because Bhartịhari is unknown to have composed any treatise on Veda, and much more so, that Dharmapāla should have commented upon it. So it may, perhaps, be Vyakarana.