A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t3.193

v2.c19.s6.t3.193

Another book, which has drawn liberally on the Avadāna-Śataka, is the Dvāviṃśatyavadāna (“The Avadānas in 22 sections”). Here too, Upagupta appears in conversation with Aśoka, but both of these soon give place to Śākyamuni and Maitreya. In this case, however, the legends are told in prose (with verses interspersed) and divided into sections according to the moral they teach (“meritorious actions,” “hearing of the sermon,” “generosity” and so on).³