Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v4.c17.49

v4.c17.49

Muni, *Munirāja*, and *Munindra* in verses 1, 24, and 28 respectively; see Burgess, *Descriptive Notes*, pp. 73 and 75; *A.S.W.I.*, vol. iv, pp. 129 and 130; *Hyd. Arch. Ser.*, No. 15 (*Inscription in Cave XVII at Ajaṇṭā*, by V. V. Mirashi), Hyderabad, 1949, pp. 10, 12, and 13. ¹ These refer to *mānasika*, *vāchika*, and *kāyika* (mental, oral, and physical) qualities. ² This is obviously indicated by the epithets that follow. ³ *Kṛita* here, in my opinion, is to be taken in the sense of *Kṛita-yuga*, the age of purity and nobleness of character. Compare: *Loko mad-yuga-janmā kṛita-Kṛita-karmā na mad-dharmā | iti hetor=iva balinā Kalinā saṃpīdyate sā-dhuḥ ||* —“The fellow is born in my age, but has been doing the deeds of the *Kṛita* age and not following my ways”, reasoning thus, methinks, Kali (the modern age of discord) is specially harsh upon good people.’ ⁴ As pointed out by James Burgess, *drava-karuṇā-hṛidayeshu* is bad Sanskrit, yet its meaning is plain enough. ⁵ I take the word *kāchara* as a variant of *kachchhara*, meaning ‘wicked’, ‘ungainly’, &c. ⁶ The original has *Śāstri*, ‘teacher’ or ‘master’, which is another well-known appellation of the Buddha. See above, p. 116, n. 11 should (*therefore*) set up a memorial on the mountains that will endure for as long as the moon and the sun continue.¹