A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t1.21

v2.c19.s3.t1.21

[^1): Copleston (*Buddhism*, pp. 46, 53) is of the opinion that this Sutta is based on an earlier epic poem, from which these stanzas were taken. I rather think that these verses are the first beginnings of a poetical version of the life of Buddha (in the form of *sacred ballads*). [^2): However, in some cases, passages were originally in the Mahā-Parinibbāna-Sutta, and thence found their way into other texts. The parallel texts have been collected by interpolations and extensions have not succeeded in destroying the character of this text, which recalls our gospels more than any other text of the Tipiṭaka.