Divine Stories: Divyavadana, Part 2
Explore this second volume of translations, in vivid prose, from one of the most celebrated collections of ancient Buddhist stories.

Actions never come to naught,
even after hundreds of millions of years.
When the right conditions gather and the time is right,
then they will have their effect on embodied beings.


Ancient Buddhist literature is filled with tales of past lives. The Buddha, surrounded by his followers, is asked how it came to be that a certain person has met a particular fate. With his omniscience, the Buddha looks into eons past and uncovers the events that led to the present outcome and foretells the future as well. With stories of wicked wives, patricidal princes, and shape-shifting serpents, Divine Stories offers a fascinating illustration of the law of karma—the truth that the power of good and bad deeds is never lost. These are some of the oldest Buddhist tales ever committed to writing, illuminating the culture of northern India in the early centuries of the common era and bringing to life the Buddhist values of generosity and faith.

Andy Rotman’s evocative translation combines accuracy with readability, with detailed editorial notes comparing readings in various Sanskrit, Pali, and Tibetan sources. Divine Stories is a major contribution to Indian and Buddhist studies.
1127027207
Divine Stories: Divyavadana, Part 2
Explore this second volume of translations, in vivid prose, from one of the most celebrated collections of ancient Buddhist stories.

Actions never come to naught,
even after hundreds of millions of years.
When the right conditions gather and the time is right,
then they will have their effect on embodied beings.


Ancient Buddhist literature is filled with tales of past lives. The Buddha, surrounded by his followers, is asked how it came to be that a certain person has met a particular fate. With his omniscience, the Buddha looks into eons past and uncovers the events that led to the present outcome and foretells the future as well. With stories of wicked wives, patricidal princes, and shape-shifting serpents, Divine Stories offers a fascinating illustration of the law of karma—the truth that the power of good and bad deeds is never lost. These are some of the oldest Buddhist tales ever committed to writing, illuminating the culture of northern India in the early centuries of the common era and bringing to life the Buddhist values of generosity and faith.

Andy Rotman’s evocative translation combines accuracy with readability, with detailed editorial notes comparing readings in various Sanskrit, Pali, and Tibetan sources. Divine Stories is a major contribution to Indian and Buddhist studies.
29.95 In Stock
Divine Stories: Divyavadana, Part 2

Divine Stories: Divyavadana, Part 2

by Andy Rotman
Divine Stories: Divyavadana, Part 2

Divine Stories: Divyavadana, Part 2

by Andy Rotman

Paperback(Translatio)

$29.95 
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Overview

Explore this second volume of translations, in vivid prose, from one of the most celebrated collections of ancient Buddhist stories.

Actions never come to naught,
even after hundreds of millions of years.
When the right conditions gather and the time is right,
then they will have their effect on embodied beings.


Ancient Buddhist literature is filled with tales of past lives. The Buddha, surrounded by his followers, is asked how it came to be that a certain person has met a particular fate. With his omniscience, the Buddha looks into eons past and uncovers the events that led to the present outcome and foretells the future as well. With stories of wicked wives, patricidal princes, and shape-shifting serpents, Divine Stories offers a fascinating illustration of the law of karma—the truth that the power of good and bad deeds is never lost. These are some of the oldest Buddhist tales ever committed to writing, illuminating the culture of northern India in the early centuries of the common era and bringing to life the Buddhist values of generosity and faith.

Andy Rotman’s evocative translation combines accuracy with readability, with detailed editorial notes comparing readings in various Sanskrit, Pali, and Tibetan sources. Divine Stories is a major contribution to Indian and Buddhist studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781614294702
Publisher: Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date: 12/05/2017
Series: Classics of Indian Buddhism , #3
Edition description: Translatio
Pages: 540
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Andy Rotman is a professor in the Department of Religion and Buddhist studies program at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. He received his PhD in South Asian languages and civilizations from the University of Chicago in 2003. His research concerns the ways in which narratives and images in South Asia function as a part of social history and material culture. He is the translator of the inaugural volume in Wisdom’s Classics of Indian Buddhism series, Divine Stories: Divyavadana Part 1, and of Divine Stories: Divyavadana Part 2.

 

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Map of Indian Places in the Divyavadana xvi

Technical Notes xix

A Summary of the Stories xxvii

The Divyavadana

18 The Story of Dharmaruci Dharmaruci-avadana 3

19 The Story of Jyotiska Jyotiska-avadana 45

20 The Story of Kanakavarna Kanakavarna-avadana 83

21 The Story of Sahasodgata Sahasodgata-avadana 95

22 The Story of the Deeds of the Bodhisattva Candraprabha Candraprabhabodhisattvacarya-avadana 117

23 The Story of Sahgharaksita, part I Sangharaksita-avadana 135

24 The Story of a Young Naga Nagakumara-avadana 157

25 The Story of Sahgharaksita, part 2 Sangharaksita-avadana 163

31 The Story of Five Hundred Farmers Pancakarsakasata-avadana 167

32 The Story of Rupavati Rupavati-avadana 181

34 The Mahayana Sutra on the Topic of Giving Danadhikarana-mahayanasutra 197

35 The Story of a Lonesome Fool Cudapaksa-avadana 201

36 The Story of Makandika Makandika-avadana 241

37 The Story of Rudrayana Rudrayana-avadana 287

Appendix: The Cosmos According to the Divyavadana 345

Notes 349

Glossary 445

Bibliography 467

Index 487

About the Translator 507

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