*Manasvikavidyārāja

Gandhāra, Kharoṣṭhī ∙ BC 3

BML logoBML edition (version 1, March 2026)

Based on Strauch forthcoming.

1. Setting (nidāna)

§ 1
1 [eva m](e) [ś]ru[ṯa] eka samaya bha[g̱a]va śavastie viharaṯi jedava(ṇ)[e] (arame mahada) 2 bhikhusagheṇa sadha adhatreḍ̱aś̱ahi bhikhuśadehi
Thus I have heard. At one time the Blessed One stayed in Śrāvastī, in the Jetavana park, together with the great saṃgha of monks, with one thousand two hundred and fifty monks.

2. Manasvika approaches the Buddha

§ 2
as̱a ho maṇas̄pio (ṇag̱arayo) + + + + 3 + + .. [ra]die jedavaṇo diveṇa [o](ha)[s̱e](ṇa) + + .. .. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 4 + + (bhag̱a)[vado śiras̱a] pada vadadi bhag̱avado śiras̱a pada va[di](ta) + + + + + + + 5 + + + + (ṇi)[ṣ̱a]ṇo ya maṇaspi[o ṇa]g̱arayo bhag̱avato edad oya
Then Manasvika, (the nāga king,) (filled) in (this) night the Jetavana with heavenly light (and approached the Blessed One. Having approached him,) he honoured the feet of the Blessed One with his head. Having honoured the feet of the Blessed One with his head, (he sat down at one side), and sitting (on one side,) the nāga king Manasvika spoke thus to the Blessed One:1

3. Manasvika’s speech

§ 3
ke + + + + + + + + 6 + .. .. .. .. [im](e) [purva bhikh]u [p]u[rvaratro avararatro jag̱ar](iayo)[g̱am aṇ]u[yu](ta) 7 te edarahi ṇa bhuyo purvaratro avararatro jag̱ariayog̱am aṇuyuta [vihara](t)[i]
*Why (is it like this?) (...) These monks abode formerly always (lit. night by night) practicing wakefulness. Now they are abiding no longer always practicing wakefulness.

4. Buddha’s answer

§ 4
(a)8to bhag̱ava maṇaspio ṇag̱arayo edad oya iś̱a maṇa[sp]i(a) [ṇag̱a](raya) + + + + 9 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + (bhi)[khu maṇ](u)[śa](ṇa bhayati) 10 amaṇuśaṇa bhayati vyaḍ̱eaṇa bhayati jatu(ṇa bhayati) + + + + + 11 ṇa bhayati yakṣaṇa bhayati praduṭhacitaṇa bhayati teṇa spidi [pr]u(va purvaratro) 12 [avararatro jag̱aria]yog̱am aṇuyuta viharati te [e](darahi) + + + + +
Therefore the Blessed One said to the nāga king Manasvika: Here, nāga king Manasvika, (is the reason: these) monks (are afraid) of human beings, are afraid of non-human beings, are afraid of beasts of prey, are afraid of demons, are afraid of (…), are afraid of yakṣas, are afraid of evil-minded. Just therefore they abode formerly always practicing wakefulness. Now they are (not anymore practicing it).

5. Manasvika utters the mantra and its effects

§ 5
13 eva vuto maṇaspio ṇag̱arayo bhag̱avato edad oya
Thus addressed, the nāga king Manasvika said to Blessed One:

5.1 The effects of the mantra

§ 5.1
ya ri .. + + + + + + + 14 [maha]viṣ̱aṇa ṇamo jaṇea ṇa teṇa maṇuśaṇa bhayidave [ṇa a](maṇuśaṇa ṇa vyaḍ̱e)15aṇa bhayidave ṇa drigheaṇa bhaïdave ṇa jat[u]ṇa [bhayidav](e) [ṇa] + + + + + + + 16 ṇa yakṣaṇa bhayidave ṇa praduṭhacitaṇa bhayidave ṇa śa[str]eṇa [ka](le kaṭave) 17 ṇa agiṇa dajidave ṇa udeami kale kaṭave ‧ ṇa viṣ̱eṇa kale (kaṭave) [vi]ṣ̱(e)[ma]18se bhuto bhatapariṇamae pariṇamiśadi
Which (person …) would know the names of the great poisons, he has not to be afraid of human beings, he has not to be afraid (of non-human beings and of beasts of prey,) he has not to be afraid of snakes, he has not to be afraid of worms, he has not to be afraid of (…), of yakṣas, he has not to be afraid of evil-minded, he cannot die from a weapon, he cannot be burnt by fire, he cannot die in the water, he cannot die from poison. One who has eaten poison will transform the eaten for (the purpose of) digestion of food.

5.2 The mantra

§ 5.2
{sa[ṃ]yas̱i[da]} 19 saṃyas̱ida ◦ paṃḍara ◦ karaḍ̱a ◦ keyura ◦ [dudu]ra ◦ data ◦ da[vi](a ◦) 20 bidumaṯi ◦ śirimaṯi ◦ teyavaṯi ◦ ras̱ag̱apaṯi ◦ puruṣ̱a ◦ k[a]ja[a] (◦) 21 vihatra ◦ tarag̱adriṭhi [◦] iṣ̱imuha ◦ hili cili ◦ khili cili ◦ kha .. + (◦) 22 vihala ◦ ras̱ag̱adriṭhi ◦ oruḍ̱a ◦ uruḍ̱a ◦ [dadu](ra ◦ daha ◦ utama ◦) 23 suutama ◦ utamatama ◦
[The mantra is] as follows: paṃḍara ◦ karaḍ̱a ◦ keyura ◦ dudura ◦ data ◦ davia ◦ bidumaṯi ◦ śirimaṯi ◦ teyavaṯi ◦ ras̱ag̱apaṯi ◦ puruṣ̱a ◦ kajaa ◦ vihatra ◦ tarag̱adriṭhi ◦ iṣ̱imuha ◦ hili cili ◦ khili cili ◦ kha .. + + ◦ vihala ◦ ras̱ag̱adriṭhi ◦ oruḍ̱a ◦ uruḍ̱a ◦ dadura ◦ daha ◦ utama ◦ suutama ◦ utamatama ◦

5.3 The spheres of use of the mantra

§ 5.3
aya khu bhag̱ava vija maṇas[p]ia (◦ pa)[thag̱ad](e)[ṇa] 24 maṇas̱ikaṭave upas̱ag̱adeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave rañag̱adeṇa [maṇa](s̱ikaṭave) [rayaüla]25maj̄ag̱adeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave mitramaj̄ag̱adeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave amitramaj̄ag̱adeṇa 26 maṇas̱ikaṭave śastratarag̱a[d]e[ṇa ma]ṇas̱ikaṭave a[g]i[a]tarag̱adasa maṇas̱ikaṭave 27 udeaaṃtarag̱adeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave ‧ viṣ̱apiṯeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave vi[ṣ̱](e)[ma](se bhuto) 28 bhatapariṇamae pariṇamiśadi ◦
This, Blessed One, is the spell of Manasvika. It should be memorized (by a person who has got on the path), it should be memorized by a person who has got off the path, it should be memorized by a person who has got inside a forest, it should be memorized by a person who has got inside (the king’s palace), it should be memorized by a person who has got amidst friends, it should be memorized by a person who has got amidst enemies, it should be memorized by a person who has got in between weapons, it should be memorized by a person who has got into fire, it should be memorized by a person who has got into water, it should be memorized by a person who has drunk poison. One who has eaten poison will transform the eaten for (the purpose of) digestion of food.

6. Buddha repeats the mantra and its effects

§ 6
eva vuto ‧ bhag̱ava maṇaspio [ṇag̱a](rayo edad o)29ya ‧ evam eva maṇaspia evam eva maṇaspia (evam eva ma)ṇasp[ia ‧]
Thus addressed, the Blessed One said to the nāga king Manasvika: Thus it is, Manasvika. Thus it is, Manasvika. (Thus it is,) Manasvika.

6.1 The effects of the mantra

§ 6.1
[imeṣ̱a] 30 mahaviṣ̱aṇa ṇamo jaṇea ‧ ṇa teṇa maṇuśaṇa bhayidave ‧ ṇa amaṇuśaṇa bhayidave 31 ṇa vaḍ̱eaṇa bhayidave ṇa drigheaṇa bhayidave ◦ ṇa jatuṇa bhayi[da](v)e [ṇa c]o[raṇa] bha32yidave ‧ ṇa yakṣaṇa bhayidave ṇa pra[duṭhaci]◈taṇa bhayidave ṇa śastr(e)ṇa kale kaṭave 33 ṇa agiṇa dajidave ṇa udeami kale kaṭave ṇa viṣ̱eṇa kale kaṭave vi(ṣ̱)e(mase bhuto) 34 bhatapariṇamae pariṇamiśadi
One should know the names of these great poisons. (Then) one has not to be afraid of human beings, has not to be afraid of non-human beings, has not to be afraid of beasts of prey, has not to be afraid of snakes, has not to be afraid of demons (?), has not to be afraid of thiefs (?), has not to be afraid of yakṣas, has not to be afraid of evil-minded. One cannot die from a weapon, cannot be burnt by fire, cannot die in the water, cannot die from poison. One who has eaten poison will transform the eaten for (the purpose of) digestion of food.

6.2 The mantra

§ 6.2
saṃyas̱ida ◦ paṃḍara ◦ karaḍ̱a ◦ keyura ◦ [d]u[d]ura ◦ 35 data ◦ davia ◦ bidumadi ◦ śirimadi ◦ teyavadi ◦ ras̱ag̱apa[di] (◦) [p](uruṣ̱a ◦ kajaa) 36 vihatra ◦ tarag̱adriṭhi ◦ iṣ̱imuha ◦ hili cili ◦ khili cili ◦ kha .. + (◦ vihala ◦) 37 ras̱ag̱adriṭhi ◦ oruḍ̱a ◦ uru[ḍ̱a] ◦ dadura ◦ daha ◦ utama ◦ suu[ta](ma ◦) 38 utamatama ◦
[The mantra is] as follows: paṃḍara ◦ karaḍ̱a ◦ keyura ◦ dudura ◦ data ◦ davia ◦ bidumadi ◦ śirimadi ◦ teyavadi ◦ ras̱ag̱apadi ◦ puruṣ̱a ◦ kajaa ◦ vihatra ◦ tarag̱adriṭhi ◦ iṣ̱imuha ◦ hili cili ◦ khili cili ◦ kha .. + + ◦ vihala ◦ ras̱ag̱adriṭhi ◦ oruḍ̱a ◦ uruḍ̱a ◦ dadura ◦ daha ◦ utama ◦ suutama ◦ utamatama ◦

6.3 The spheres of use of the mantra

§ 6.3
aya khu maṇaspia vija ‧ pathag̱adeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave ‧ upas̱a[g̱ad](e)[ṇa] (ma)[ṇas̱](i)39kaṭave rañag̱adeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave rayaülamaj̄ag̱adeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave + + + + + + + + 40 mitramaj̄ag̱adeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave amitramaj̄ag̱adeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave ‧ (śastratarag̱adeṇa) 41 maṇas̱ikaṭave ‧ agiatarag̱adeṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave udeaatarag̱a(deṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave) 42 viṣ̱apideṇa maṇas̱ikaṭave viṣ̱emase bhuto bhatapariṇamae pariṇamiśadi ◦
This is the spell of Manasvika. It should be memorized by a person who has got on the path, it should be memorized by a person who has got off the path, it should be memorized by a person who has got inside a forest, it should be memorized by a person who has got inside the king’s palace, (…) it should be memorized by a person who has got amidst friends, it should be memorized by a person who has got amidst enemies, it should be memorized (by a person who has got in between weapons), it should be memorized by a person who has got into fire, (it should be memorized) by a person who has got into water, it should be memorized by a person who has drunk poison. One who has eaten poison will transform the eaten for (the purpose of) digestion of food.

7. The nāga king instructs the Buddha to teach the mantra

§ 7
43 as̱a ho maṇaspio ṇag̱arayo bhag̱avato idad oya ‧ ya [bhag̱ava] ede ma[tra ugh](i)[ṇas̱](i) 44 ta aho ‧ ṇiviṣ̱o ‧ bhomi ‧ gamiśama spidi bhate bhag̱ava yava he [ga] di bh[o]mi 45 ta pac̱̄i bhag̱ava ede matra ṣavag̱aṇa saprag̱aś̱ehi
Then the nāga king Manasvika said to the Blessed One: If you take up these spells, Blessed One, I am non-poisonous. We will go (together), venerable Blessed One, until (…). After that, Blessed One, illuminate these spells to the disciples.

8. The Buddha instructs Ānanda to teach the mantra

§ 8
as̱a ho bha[g̱a](va) + + + (bhi)[kh]u ‧ 46 amatredi ughiṇahi aṇade maṇaspia vijaraya ‧ payaüṇehi aṇad(e) ma[ṇaspia vija]47raya arañiaṇa bhikhuṇa hidae bheśadi suhae caduṇa pariṣ̱aṇa bhikhu[ṇa] 48 bhikhuṇiṇa uas̱eaṇa uas̱iaṇa arthae bheśadi hidae suhae bheśadi [pha](ṣa)49viharadae bheśadi ‧
Then the Blessed One (…) addresses the monks: Ānanda, take up this king-spell of Manasvika. Ānanda, learn this king-spell of Manasvika. It shall be for the benefit of the monks dwelling in the wilderness, for (their) happiness. It shall be for the sake of the four assemblies, [i.e.] the monks, the nuns, the laymen, the laywomen, for [their] benefit, for [their] happiness, for [their] state of comfort.

9. The conclusion

§ 9
eva bha[t]e [bhag̱ava a]iṣpa aṇado .. .. .. + (ida)[m avayi] (bhag̱a)50va aïṣpa aṇado maṇaspio ca ṇag̱arayo sadevamaṇuṣ̱as̱aro .. + (bhag̱avato) 51 bhaṣ̱ido abhiṇadi ❉
Thus [may it be], Venerable Blessed One, (spoke) the venerable Ānanda. (...) The venerable Ānanda and the nāga king Manasvin, (and the world filled) with gods, humans and asuras, rejoiced at the speech of the Blessed One.