Life and works of Alexander Csoma de Körös : $b A biography compiled chiefly from hitherto unpublished dataDuka, Tivadar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Life and works of Alexander Csoma de Körös : $b A biography compiled chiefly from hitherto unpublished data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
1. Arise, commence a new course of life,
Turn to the religion of Buddha;
Conquer the host of the lord of death, the passions,
As an elephant subdues everything under his feet in a muddy lake.
2. Whoever has lived a pure life,
According to the precept of this law,
Shall be free from transmigration,
And shall put an end to all his miseries.
In Tibetan, according to the pronunciation of the Lamas of Sikkim.
1. Tsampar chashing jungwar cha,
Sangye tenla suppar cha;
Dampü chimna longchen zhin,
Chida deni zhonpar cha.
2. Kanshik raptu payö par
Chödul dela dögyur pa
Tyeove khorua rappan sa
Dugnal ṭḥamar cḥopar gyur.
The compendium of the doctrine of Buddha in one sloka:—
In Tibetan.
Digpa chiyan minja te
Geba pünsum tsopa tsán
Rangi sempa yonsu dul
Ṭḥéni sangye tempa yin.
In English.
No vice is to be committed;
Virtue must be perfectly practised;
Subdue entirely your desires.
This is the doctrine of Buddha.
IX.
Interpretation of the Tibetan Inscription on a Bhotian Banner taken in
Assam.
The following is the description of this trophy:—
It is a bit of plank, mounted on a staff, painted red, with an image of
Buddha on one side and a Tibetan inscription on the other. The
Demangiri Rajah always had it carried before him with great solemnity
and under the special charge of a large guard of honour, who, however,
in the affair of Subang-Kotta ran away without it, and it fell into our
hands. A copy of the inscription was forwarded to Csoma for
translation. With the exception of the salutation at the beginning and
the conclusion and a few terms in the middle, the whole is in the
Tibetan language. The purport of it was to obtain the favour and
protection of several inferior divinities for the person and family for
whom the ceremony had been performed and this magic emblem set up.
It may be that this flagstaff was carried before the Tibetan chief in
his march and so used as an ensign in war; but it is more probable that
it may have belonged originally to the house-top or terrace of the
Prince of Bhotan; because the houses of great personages in that
country are generally decorated with such ensigns of victory.
The inscription, as already mentioned, is an invocation to several
deities, and concludes thus: “Ye all! look on this emblem of Hu, the
regent or governor (by whom, namely, it was set up). Ye divine
principal Rakshákas, rulers of the world, I beseech you, that you will
make this patron, the bestower of charitable gifts, obtain the fruit of
his work and actions, who is very faithful to the doctrine of Shakya.
May he, with his household and family, prosper more and more, and
abound in life, fortune, honour, wealth—like the increasing face of the
moon.”
The text is given in the original with a literal translation.
X.
Note on the White Satin Embroidered Scarfs of the Tibetan Priests.
(Translated by Csoma at Mayor Lloyd’s request.)
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