Dharmapada, avadāna, and pūrvayoga texts

Haḍḍa?, Kharoṣṭhī ∙ BL 16+25

BML edition (version 1, March 2026)

Based on Lenz 2003. Update of the transliteration (g̱, s̱) and various minor emendations by Schlosser.

The Dharmapada and the avadāna/pūrvayoga stories are written by two different scribes.

The verses of the Dharmapada are parallel to the Khotan Dharmapada (Brough 1962), vv. 77–90 with a partially different sequence: 77–82, 85, 84, 83, 87, 86, 88–90.

Scribe 1: Dharmapada

§ 1

v. 1+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
1 + + + + + [ra bhi]khu
+ + + + + + + + (◦)

v. 1(One ought to avoid [women], who are wrathful, ungrateful, and malicious). Monk, [practice] (celibacy with respect to the teaching of the perfectly enlightened Buddha.)

v. 2+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + (bhi)2[kho]
ohatiṇo di bucadi ◦

v. 2(Cut off five. Abandon five. But five should be cultivated.) The monk (who transcends attachment to five) is called “one who has crossed over the flood.”

v. 3+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + +

v. 3(O Monk, bail out this boat. Bailed out, it will become light. Having cut off passion and evil, it will go to nirvana.)

v. 43 (yo najaga)mi bhavehi sada •
viṇ(i) [p](u)(ṣpa) + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + 4 + + + + + ṇo ◦

v. 4(That monk who has not found) any essence in existences, just as if he had searched (among fig trees [and not found a flower,] leaves behind this life and the next, just as a snake leaves behind his old, worn-out skin).

v. 5 yo upaϊdo [viṇ]e(di) + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + (di oraparo)
5 o[ra]gha [jiṇa]mi[va śpa]ya (puraṇo ◦)

v. 5That monk who rids himself (of anger) that has arisen, (as he would rid himself of suffused snake venom with medicines, leaves behind this life and the next), just as a snake [leaves behind] his (old,) worn-out skin.

v. 6yo sa 6(ve kileśa da)laïta •
[ṇala]sedo [ṇama] so[dhro]ba(lo) + + +
+ + + + + + + + + +
+ + + 7 + + + + śpaya pu[ra]ṇo ◦

v. 6(That monk who has) destroyed (all impurities [kileśa]), as (a great flood) [destroys] a very weak bridge made of reeds, (leaves behind this life and the next, just as a snake leaves behind his) old, (worn-out) skin.

v. 7 [y](o) tarṇa oca[ï] + + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
(bhi)8[khu jahadi] oraparo
o[ra]gha jiṇamiva śpa + + + + +

v. 7That monk who has (completely) cut off his thirst, (having dried up the swift-flowing stream of desire), leaves behind this life and the next, just as a snake leaves behind his (old,) worn-out skin.

v. 8 + + + + + + + + + +
(bisapuṣpa) 9 (ṇa)[ma] saleloa vighaśa
so bhikhu jahadi o[ra] + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + +

v. 8(That monk who,) upon plucking a lotus, (has completely rooted out [his] arrogance, as if he has plucked a lotus, both flower and stalk), leaves behind this life (and the next, just as a snake leaves behind his old, worn-out skin.)

v. 9 (yo ṇa a)10[ca]hari ṇa pracahari
save vita[ma]sea ti ña[tva] (loghe)
+ + + + + + + + [paro]
[ura]11(gha jiṇa)[mi]va śpaya puraṇo ◦

v. 9[That monk] who has understood that everything (in this world) is unreal and who has (neither) gone beyond [this world] nor moved toward [it] (leaves behind this life and) the next, (just as) a snake leaves behind his (old, worn-out) skin.

v. 10 yo ṇa [acahar](i) + + + + +
(sava iha acagha)me pra[paca]
so bhikh[u] + + 12+ + + + +
uragha jiṇamiva tvaya puraṇo ◦

v. 10That monk who (has overcome) all the diversified world but has neither gone beyond [this world] (nor moved toward it leaves behind this world and the next), just as a snake leaves behind his old, worn-out skin.

v. 11 yasa [a] + + + + + + kae •
ora [a]ghamaṇa praceae •
s[o] 13 (bhi)[kh](u) jahadi oraparo
uragha jiṇamiva tvaya pura(ṇo ◦)

v. 11That monk who has (no ill propensities) at all that would constitute cause for rebirth in this world leaves behind this life and the next, just as a snake leaves behind his old, worn-out skin.

v. 12 + + baṇahea[e ṇa] sati kae [•]
viṇivadha bhave[a] 14 (hedugha)tva
so [bh]i[kh](u) jahadi (o)raparo
oragha jiṇa[mi] + + + [pu]raṇo ◦

v. 12(That monk who has) no desires, (which act as causes) for the bondage of the mind that [will] lead to rebirth, leaves behind this world and the next, just as a snake leaves behind his old, worn-out skin.

v. 13yo ṇivaraṇa prahadi paca
[aṇi]15(gha vi)[da]kasakasa vi[śala]
[so] bhikhu jahadi o[ra]pa[ro]
+ + + + + + + [tva]ya [pura]ṇo ◦

v. 13That monk who rids himself of the five hindrances, (is without affliction, has overcome) doubt, (and is free from pain) leaves behind this world and the next, (just as a snake leaves behind his) old, (worn-out) skin.

Scribe 2: Avadāna / Pūrvayoga stories

Avadāna / Story A

§ 2.1

r evo pariśra16◈vo ⟨∙⟩ nag̱are palaḍ̱ipu(tr)e (añadaro ṣama)no hovadi ◊ teno kale17[n](o) t(e)no samag̱en[o] • añadarasa puruṣa(sa) + + + + .o mahikoḍa dhanig̱a ⟨∙⟩ 18 [evo] pravaṭhave ⟨∙⟩ likhidag̱e aca avadane .. .. .. ^{ⓝThe likhidag̱e-notation is written by a different hand.Click to pin} ^{ⓝThere appear to be six circles, arranged like the six on a dice: ⚅, written over another
cakra-like circle.Click to pin}

Thus the tradition. 16 In the city Pāṭaliputra, there was (a certain monk). 17 At that time, at that moment, of some man … Mahikoḍa, a wealthy man. 18 (Thus) it should be [recited]. Now the avadānas have been written.

Pūrvayoga stories

Pūrvayoga 1

§ 2.2

bosisatvaprovayog̱e ⟨∙⟩ ev[o] 19 ṣuyadi • bos̱i[sa]tvo {•} vaniage [ho](vadi maha)[sa]mudravanige ◊ t(e)no pañ[o] 20 samudanido ⟨∙⟩ mahasamudro adirno ⟨∙⟩ [ya](napatra) bhirno ⟨∙⟩ vaniag̱a tala vi21layam=avarna[g̱]e ⟨∙⟩ [p](ra)cag̱aran(o) {•} hova[di] + + + [sa]rya ⟨∙⟩ [va]niag̱a śpag̱am=iśa 22 tirami {•} ḻiśavido • apano hado • evo (prova)[yo]g̱o ⟨∙⟩ vistare ya{•}s̱ayupamano si23yadi ⟨∙⟩ vatava ◦ 1

18 A previous birth of the bodhisattva^{ⓝHere and in the following: Lenz (2003) translates bosisatva as Buddha.Click to pin}. Thus it was heard. 19 The bodhisattva was a merchant, a merchant of the great ocean. Supplies were 20 collected by him. He set out on the great ocean. The ship was destroyed. The merchant 21 met his death on the surface (of the ocean). It was a favor. … The merchant himself 22 was set down [literally “caused to move”] here on the shore. He killed himself [literally “He was killed by himself”]. Thus the (pūrva)yoga. Expansion should be according to the model. 23 It should be told. [Story number] 1.

Pūrvayoga 2

§ 2.3

sudaṣ̄a ⟨∙⟩ [u]dahara(ne)[no] karyam=ido ⟨∙⟩ yado sarvadado 24 [ra]yam=abhuṣ̱i • hastinago bramanasa dite ⟨∙⟩ .. (va)[ha]no raja[rn]o • nidhavido ya dara25g̱a paricata • śakro de{•}vana idro vi(hayasa) pr(a)[to] śilog̱ano abhaṣa26di ◦ kriṣo vadaya puruṣo kriṣ̱̄a [bhu](jadi) bhoyano ⟨∙⟩ vistare ⟨∙⟩ sarvo karya ◦ 27 ◦ ◦ 2

23 Sudaṣ̄a. This should be done by [way of] example. Since the prince was a giver of all, 24 the great royal elephant was given to a Brahman. The (carriage) was abandoned by the prince, and the children were 25 forsaken. Indra, king of the gods, arrived (by way of the sky) and spoke in verse: 26 “Certainly this evil man eats vile food.” Expansion. All should be done. 27 [Story number] 2.

Pūrvayoga 3

§ 2.4

añadakoḍ̱iñasa p(rova)yog̱(o) ⟨∙⟩ [e] (vo pa)[ri]śravo ⟨∙⟩ añadakoḍ̱iño añage 28 [na]dig⟨e⟩ {◦} kulalo hovadi • yavi to pra[de](śa a)ñadaro {•} praceg[a]sabudho ga[do] ⟨∙⟩ 29 kul[a]l[a]sa matredi iś̄a deś̄a • varṣavas̱o • + + + .. .. .. tri[masa] mo śalokarano ⟨∙⟩ 30 so matredi • yadi me bhado • sarvakalo [u](vaga)[cha]s̱i eva tu nimatre[mi] thana ce 31 [ta] karavi[ś̄a] .. .. .. matr[e]di • kulalo + + + vi tulaspi upag̱arano mama punu 32 anugrahartho iś̄a pradighetavo • [ya](di te di)do [va]rṣavas̱o yavi p(ra)ya[da]33mi ⟨∙⟩ praceg̱abudho matredi mame bh[a](do) + + + .. 34 + [avara] + + + + + + + + + + + + + + .. .o + + di k[i] ◊ ◦^{ⓝLenz 2003: di k[i .a]Click to pin} v35 ku[lala]sa hod(o) .. .. .. [ki] .. .. ṣo ka + + + praceg̱abudho janadi [aho] 36 gilanago hakṣe .. .. .. .. .. .. .. + + + ◊ kulalo vipaḍ̱isare [hodo] ⟨∙⟩ 37 ya[vi] praceg̱abudho kalagado [ka](rma)vivago • co tasa • praceg̱abu38dhano pacamatra śada agada aka(śano) cadanaka◈ṭho gina[ta] ⟨∙⟩ 39 kulalo aramano hodo ⟨∙⟩ k[u]ḻalo (pra)[ni]s̱ano upadayadi ⟨∙⟩ aho 40 anagade [atva]n[o] budho aragajo • a(ho) dharma ayaneja ◊ aha co sarva41(pra)dh[o]^{ⓝThe reconstruction pra is based on Lenz 2003, but the remains of the letter rather
suggest a va or ka.Click to pin} [bha]vej[e] ⟨∙⟩ teno purvapranis̱i aña(dak)oḍ̱iñasa ⟨∙⟩ vistare yas̱ayupa42mano siyadi • ◦ 4

27 A previous birth of Ājñāta Kauṇḍinya. Thus the tradition. Ājñāta Kauṇḍinya 28 was a potter at a certain stream. Then a certain pratyekasaṃbuddha went to that place. 29 He said to the potter, “In this place, the rainy-season residence … three months constructing a hut for me.” 30 He [the potter] said, “If, Venerable Sir, you come to me for the whole time, then I invite you and I will have a hut 31 built.” The potter said, “… ; my aid, then, is to be 32 accepted here as a gift. (If the) rainy-season residence (is given to you), then I [make effort]. 33 The pratyekabuddha said, “My … (Venerable Sir)… .” 34 … other… . 35 The potter thought … . The pratyekabuddha understood: “I 36 will become sick.” … The potter was regretful. 37 Then the pratyekabuddha died and his karma came to fruition. 38 Five hundred pratyekabuddhas bearing sandalwood sticks came by way of the sky. 39 The potter was overjoyed. The potter made a pious wish: 40 “In the future, may I myself encounter the Buddha. May I understand the dharma. And may I 41 become … (of) all. Thus, the previous vow [i.e., a pious wish made in a previous birth] of Ājñāta Kauṇḍinya. Expansion 42 should be according to the model. [Story number] 4.

Pūrvayoga 4

§ 2.5

anadasa pru(vayo)ge ⟨∙⟩ yas̱ayupamano sarvo ⟨∙⟩ 43 gas̱abadhag̱a iś̄a jabudive ray[o] (ho)vadi [∙] pradeśige tasa duve 44 putra hovadi sabrudidrigo co • bhano + + + s(a)b(ru)didrigo pravayido ⟨∙⟩ 45 [pra]ce[geha]budhi prato ⟨∙⟩ gatha ⟨∙⟩ vi(stare) ◦ 5

42 A previous birth of Ānanda. All according to the model. 43 Gas̱abadhaga was king here in Jambudvīpa. His provincial governors were his two sons 44 Sabrudidrigo and Bhano. Sabrudidrigo became a monk. 45 He attained individual enlightenment. Verse. (Expansion.) [Story number] 5.

Pūrvayoga 5

§ 2.6

evo ṣuyadi takṣaï46l[e] añadaro {•} ṣamano {•} hovadi [de] + + + .. ñaïdano ⟨∙⟩ as̱a so co bha47dato marga[n]o agachadi ⟨∙⟩ g̱amo^{ⓝShort horizontal stroke at the bottom.Click to pin} (aga)[ch](a)di ◊ añadaro co sago 48 istrig̱agana∙pradivrud[o] paśi[d](o) + + + + .. .. • aśpado a[kha]49+ [sa] ṣaman[e] matredi ma okha+ + + + + + + [va]s̱ami • na ovas̱ami ⟨∙⟩ 50 ataruvano ṣamanano • yadi sa .. + + + ^{ⓝLenz 2003: sa[ga]///(sa ṣaman)///o matredi, but the ga is not legible and there should
be more akṣaras missing. Click to pin} (ṣaman)o matredi ki 51 (ka)ran[i]go • sago matredi ṣama[na](sa) [ka]lami dha[r]ma^{ⓝLenz 2003: dhamra, but cf. line 53, where the r- is attached equally high.Click to pin} e[go] sama [e] 52 + + co yadi • teno kachaveno so + + + .. [sa]mo ◊ as̱a ido siya[di] 53 [ki ka]ranigo ◊ sago matredi ya[vi] + + + + + + + [a](r)[ya]dha[r]ma 54 (atar)[i]dhido a[r]yadharma prada .. + + + + + + + + + + + + 55 + di yavi rahado ⟨∙⟩ vistare yas̱ayu(pamano siyadi ◦ 6)

45 Thus it was heard. In Takṣaśilā, 46 there was a certain monk… . And then that venerable [monk] 47 came by the road. He came to a village. And a certain Saka 48 surrounded by a group of women was seen… . 49 The monk said to the venerable Akha-, “For me, Okha- … I [honor] … I do not [honor].” 50 “On his own account then, by a monk,” said the monk, 51 “what is to be done?” The Saka said to the monk: “… at this time the dharma is one and the same 52 … If by this … . Then, this would be… . 53 What is to be done?” The Saka said, “Then … the noble law … 54 disappeared (?), the noble law is [obtained] … 55 … then an arhat.” Expansion [should be] according (to the model. [Story number] 6.)

Pūrvayogas 6–10

§ 2.7

+ + + + + + + 56 + .. ^{ⓝLenz 2003: [sa].Click to pin} harano ⟨∙⟩ vistare yas̱ayupa(mano siyadi ◦ 7)^{ⓝOr only yas̱ayupamano and a cirle, as in line 58.Click to pin}

56 … Expansion [should be] according to the model. [Story number] 7 (?).

§ 2.8

+ + + + + + + + + + 57 ca[dra]daro na[mo] h(o)[va]di [•] pra[ja] + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 58 + + + yas̱ayu[pa]mano ◦ ◈

… 57 there was a … named Candradara. 58 … according to the model.

§ 2.9

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 59 + + + + karyam=ido ◦

59 … should be done.

§ 2.10

.. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 60 + .. ◦

…

§ 2.11

bha[di] li + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 61 + + + .. .. .. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

…