Āpítán Pípóshā Lùn 阿毘曇毘婆沙論
Abhidharma-vibhāṣā-śāstra: Commentary Treatise on the Abhidharma by 浮陀跋摩 (等譯), 道泰 (等譯)
About the work
The Āpítán Pípóshā Lùn 阿毘曇毘婆沙論 (Skt. Abhidharma-vibhāṣā-śāstra, CBETA T28n1546) is a Northern Liang dynasty (北涼) translation of a Sarvāstivāda Vibhāṣā commentary, 60 juan, translated by Buddhavarman 浮陀跋摩 (浮陀跋摩) and Dàotài 道泰 (道泰) together with collaborators. It is an earlier, partial translation of commentary material related to the Jñāna-prasthāna (KR6l0009) — a predecessor to Xuánzàng’s complete Mahāvibhāṣā (KR6l0010). The colophon identifies it as: 北涼天竺沙門浮陀跋摩共道泰等譯.
Prefaces
The text opens with a preface that describes the monk Dàotài’s scholarly journey westward to obtain Sanskrit texts, his acquisition of “Hu manuscripts of more than 100,000 verses” (Hú běn shíwàn yú jì 胡本十萬餘偈), and the subsequent translation project in the Northern Liang.
Abstract
The Āpítán pípóshā lùn represents an early and partial translation of Vibhāṣā material on the Jñāna-prasthāna (發智論). It covers only part of the text that Xuánzàng later translated in its entirety as the 200-juan Mahāvibhāṣā (T1545). The Northern Liang translation enterprise, patronized by King Jǔqú Méngxùn 沮渠蒙遜 (沮渠蒙遜), was one of the most productive of the five-dynasties period; Dàotài traveled to Central Asia to obtain Sanskrit manuscripts, and Buddhavarman, a monk from Central India (Tiānzhú 天竺), led the translation.
The attribution in the catalog to 迦旃延子 (Kātyāyanīputra) and “500 arhats” reflects the traditional understanding that the Vibhāṣā was a compilation associated with the Kaśmīra council, commenting on Kātyāyanīputra’s root text.
Translations and research
- Willemen, Dessein, and Cox. Sarvāstivāda Buddhist Scholasticism. Leiden: Brill, 1998.
- Dhammajoti, Bhikkhu KL. Sarvāstivāda Abhidharma. 4th ed. Hong Kong: Centre of Buddhist Studies, 2009.
- No substantial secondary literature specifically on this translation located.
Links
- CBETA Online
- Taisho Vol. 28, No. 1546
- Kanseki DB