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To: vladimir998

you don’t even know who the Tocharians were, right?


150 posted on 09/25/2019 12:08:38 PM PDT by grumpygresh
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To: grumpygresh
Keep trying. Here's a portion of a work originally written in Tocharian A for you: The elephant Bhadrā venerates a pratyeka-buddha in the hope of being reborn as the daughter of King Mahendrasena. She then casts herself down from a mountain and meets her death (as in the Liùdùjíjīng). She is reincarnated as the daughter of King Mahendrasena. The neighboring kings and princes seek her hand in marriage, but King Mahendrasena fears their enmity if he gives her in marriage to any of them. She declares that she will choose her husband freely, thus avoiding enmity among neighboring kingdoms. King Mahendrasena gladly sends messengers from the city of Videhak to announce that all worthy suitors should come on the day appointed. Bhadrā, recalling how she had cast herself down from the mountain as an elephant, longs to marry King Brahmadatta, and at the place of marriage, she selects him as her husband. As queen, Bhadrā claims to have seen four images arousing in her the desire to obtain the tusks of the S. ad. danta-Bodhisattva; Brahmadatta promises to send hunters to satisfy her wish. Bhadrā fears that none of them is sufficiently skilled to perform the task, but one hunter expert in the five skills of archery is found. He disguises himself in a monk's robe and shoots a poisoned arrow into the elephant's heart, yet the wounded S. ad.danta-Bodhisattva treats him with compassion. Subhadrā, spouse of the bodhisattva, condemns the hunter, but he chastises her for her doubts and declares the hunter, and the saffron garment, without fault: he declares that it is only under the power of the kleśas that the hunter has pierced his heart. He then protects the hunter from the wrath of the elephants, sending them away, and telling him: "Take what you wish!" The hunter is amazed by his virtue. He confesses his sin and declares that just as he has pierced the heart of the S. ad.danta-Bodhisattva xvi with a poisoned arrow, the bodhisattva has pierced his heart with the arrow of virtue. Clearly, this hunter feels deep remorse. Then (as in the Sūtrālam. kāra) the S. ad.- danta tears out his own tusks with his trunk, causing himself immense suffering, but enabling him to attain buddhahood. Indra descends to the earth and praises his noble act. The bodhisattva declares that remembering the torments of those in hell, he has endured his pain for the benefit of others. He invites Indra to observe what will next occur: the six tusks immediately reappear in their place, and gods and men rejoice. Indra assures the S. ad.danta-Bodhisattva that he will attain buddhahood. Later, upon the hunter's return, Bhadrā falls to the ground in a faint. Then, revived, she recalls her past lives and confesses her guilt. She departs from the royal palace and becomes a nun (as in the Liùdùjíjīng). As an arhat, she finally comes before the Buddha. Falling at his feet and confessing her sins in all incarnations, she attains his forgiveness.
151 posted on 09/25/2019 1:12:19 PM PDT by vladimir998 ( Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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