Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages c14.s10.23

c14.s10.23

Line 1: “Saṃsāra (*bhava*)”: *bhava* alternatively (or simultaneously) might be taken as referring to Śiva; cf. the polemic reference to Hari (Viṣṇu) in v. 11. Note also the *virodhābhāsa* (rhetorical contradiction) in *bhavo . . . apunarbhavaṃ*. Line 2: “known as Karuṇāśrīmitra . . .”: The three ablative phrases in *pāda* b of v. 2 provide etymological explanations for the three parts of his name, *karuṇā* ‘compassion’, *śrī* ‘wealth/glory’, and *mitra* ‘friend’, respectively. Line 3–4 [v. 3]: “like the Sun . . . unshakable . . . ,” etc.: [*a*]*dhṛṣyaḥ*, like all the adjectives in this verse, is doubly applicable to Maitrīśrīmitra and to the sun. For example, *sukṛtaghaṭito* with reference to the Sun means “created by a skillful act,” referring to the myth of Viśvakarma’s fashioning the Sun on his lathe; *buddhimān buddhimatsu* may be rendered as “he who is awake among those who are awake(ned),” and so on. Line 5: “In his heart . . . dwells the Mother of the Buddhas in eight thousand (verses)”: That is to say, he had memorized the *Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā*, known as “Mother of the Buddhas.” Line 6: “Like the moon in the bright fortnight”: all the epithets in the verse apply punningly to both Vipulaśrīmitra and to the waxing moon. Line 7: “the Mother of the Jinas turns unceasingly”: the reference is evidently to a ritual turning or procession of the *Prajñāpāramitā* manuscript (contra Majumdar, 100 n. 3). Line 9: “he who was the sole cynosure for the eyes of the world”: Majumdar takes the epithet *jagatāṃ netraikaviśrāmabhūḥ* (ll. 9–10) as referring to the renovation: “—(a work) in which alone the eyes of the world found repose.” But this is grammatically impossible, as the epithet must refer to the subject, namely, the donor Vipulaśrīmitra. Line 11: “dedicated to the Mitras”: This presumably refers to a declaration by Vipulaśrīmitra of his intention to share the merit of his foundation with the other members of the Mitra lineage. Line 13: “the vow of Mañjurava”: I.e., Mañjurava’s (Mañjuśrī) vow to remain a Bodhisattva until all beings are enlightened. Line 14: “that infinite place”: I.e., *Sukhāvatī* (Majumdar, 101 n. 5).