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A Reference to Maga in the Tibetan
Translation of the Tarkajvālā
Shinjo Kawasaki
For a study of theories and practices of the Brahmanical, as well as the nonBrahmanical, religious schools in India around the fifth century, the Madhyamaka-hrdaya-karika (hereinafter referred to as MHK) of Bhavya or Bhāvaviveka (490-570ca.) and his auto-commentary Tarkajvala (TJ) provide much valuable information. In the ninth chapter: Mimāņsa-tattva-ni rņaya-avatara, of these two works, which discusses the doctrinal differences between the Mimāmsakas and the Buddhists, we come across a noteworthy reference to the book of Maga (maga-śāstra).
"And this Veda is conjectured to be a work of a wicked person. Because it teaches such unmoral deeds as harming of living things and drinking of wine. Like the book of Maga."
anumeyaś ca vedo 'yam asat-puruşa-kartěkah/ Iskye bu mi bzan bas byas par/ /rig byed ḥdi ni gshal bya stel /bhūta-hinsä-surāpāna-kriyôkter maga-śāstravat/ (MHK IX, 31)1)
/hbyun po htshe dan chan hthun 'brdsun) /smra phyir ma gahi bstan bcos bshin/ This verse in MHK is commented in TJ, which is only available in the Tibetan translation, as follows:2)
"Maga and so on are the followers of a perverted belief (vrata), i.e. Persians and others who live in the land of barbarians (mleccha). Their teachings (siddhānta) are known to be like these:
1) This Sanskrit verse in MHK is offered by Prof. V. V. Gokhale of Poona. It
is a copy, made by his own handwriting, from what Rev. Sāmkệtyāyana copied at Sha-lu monastery in Tibet. The present writer remains thankful to Prof. Gokhale's kind guidance and his generous permission for the use and publication of this material.
The Tibetan translation “brdsun” suggests “mithyā” or “mặsā” for “kriya.”
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