Lalit Vistara

Author(s): Rajendralala Mitra
Publisher: Asiatic Society

Page 20

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LALITA-VISTARA.
dba, in the year 512 B. C., arranged and classified the whole of the discourses and doctrines of their master under three different heads, collectively called the Tripithaka, or the three reposi-, tories; and suverally, the Sutra, the Vinaya, and the Abhidharma.
Of these the first or Sútra division comprehens all the fandamental mixins of the religion (Múla-grantha), and as such, is held in the hiybest veneration. It was compiled by Ananda, a cousin of Silky, and is said to be undo up principally of the very words of the tounder, (Builibhi-rachunu). The title of Sútra is not applical.le to the form of the compositious included under this herul; they consist of dialognes relative to ethics and philosophy, and, just of the alınost enigmatic sententiousness peculiar to Brolunan Sutas, are remarkable for their endless tautology and Catigning verhoesity. They are callel Sútras merely on account of their containing maximis which in the Brahmaṇical writ. ings are present in th. concise inanner denoted by that term.* They all buzin by uning some particular scene of Sákya’s ministry and his counter in the set form alluded to in note 5, (18le', p. 7,) and terminale with a scutence to this effect: "When Blagarán hai ishte his discourse, all present were greatly delighted, and approved bis doctrine.” Some of thein are simple in style, and nice from all inythological machinery, while others are applilial versions of some simple original, and bring into the scene of acima supernatural beings of various grades. Although all of them are attributed to Ananda, there is every reason to believe, they were coinposed at various times between the fir-t and the third convocation, and perhaps long after, "The amplitiet (only) Sútras are written in a mechanical style, ningliny pryse and verse in regular alternation, the pinetical portion being an abstract of the circumstances de tailed in the prowe, and generally introduced (as if) for their corroboration. They allude to individuals who lived long after the days of their alleged author, and claim a degree of elabora..
uretrefent refredi
पसोभमनबसविद विदुः। “Thoso who are versed in sútra bestekplaha a kits to be a short stopinat, uperring and apt definition, without fault and adundance."" ?