A History of Sanskrit Literature c33.s7.7

c33.s7.7

Açvaghoṣa's works have already been considered in their aspects as epics and lyrics or as the application of the tale to moral and religious ends. The *Mahāyānaçraddhotpāda*,¹ if it be really his, is more simply philosophical and develops a very complex system of thought in which the influence of the Brahmanical absolute appears distinctly operative. Avadānas are numerous both individually and in collections; in addition to the *Avadānaçataka* and *Divyāvadāna*, already mentioned, there are the *Dvāviṅçatyavadāna*,² a collection of twenty-two tales in prose with verses inserted; the *Bhadrakalpāvadāna*,³ thirty-four legends in verse; the *Vratāvadānamālā*,⁴ a collection of legends to explain certain ritual vows; and in Kāvya style the *Avadānakalpalatā*⁵ of the polymath Kṣemendra of Kashmir, the one hundred and eighth tale being added by his son Somendra, who also provides an introduction. As usual in Kṣemendra, his version is valuable for matter, not form.