Life and works of Alexander Csoma de Körös : $b A biography compiled chiefly from hitherto unpublished dataDuka, Tivadar
History
Life and works of Alexander Csoma de Körös : $b A biography compiled chiefly from hitherto unpublished data
Duka, Tivadar
Kőrösi Csoma, Sándor, 1784-1842
Then there arose the necessity of laying in stores of food for their
wants; but on cutting down their rice-fields this time they perceived
that the crops did not grow again, as was the case before. The animal
beings—mankind—therefore gathered together to reflect on their former
state. Some amongst them said, “We must mete out the land and assign a
boundary to every man’s property, saying, ‘This is mine, and that is
thine.’” It was done accordingly.
It happened afterwards that a certain individual took the salu (rice)
of another without its being given to him; that is to say, he stole his
brother’s share. On this he was seized and dragged before the assembly,
and was publicly reproved. Such instances occurred repeatedly.
Then they all assembled for the purpose of deliberation, and agreed to
elect one who had a better complexion than themselves, more beautiful,
was more fortunate and more renowned, and made him master and
proprietor of all their fields.
They said, “He shall punish those who deserve punishment, and reward
those to whom a reward is due. From the produce of the land he shall
receive a certain portion.”
They accordingly chose one and called him Maha Sammata, the Honoured by
Men! Maha Sammata’s family reigned for a long period. The last
descendant was called Ikshwaku Virudhaka.
He had four sons. After his first wife’s death he married again, this
time a princess, his father-in-law insisting that his daughter’s son
should become heir to the throne.
The king agreed to this, and expelled his four sons from the kingdom.
The four brothers, taking their half-sisters with them, and accompanied
by many followers, left the ancient capital, Potala, went towards
Himalaya to settle on the banks of Bhagirathi, not far from the
hermitage where Kapila the Rishi lived. By the advice and with the
sanction of this hermit, they married their half-sisters and begat many
children. The Rishi afterwards marked out a place for them, where a
city was built, and in honour of this sainted man it was called
Kapilavastu.
At Potala the king, thinking of his four sons, inquired on one occasion
from his courtiers what had become of the princes, his sons? On this he
was informed that after he had banished them they settled in the
neighbourhood of the Himalaya, took their half-sisters for wives, and
multiplied exceedingly.
The king, being much surprised on hearing this, exclaimed, “Shakya!
Shakya! is it possible! is it possible!” And this is the origin of the
Shakya name.
Thus ends the narration of Mongalyana. Shakya, the Bhagaván, approved
of it, and recommended it to his followers.
VII.
Mode of Expressing Numerals in Tibetan.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account