National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

r

70   ANTIQUITIES OF INDIAN TIBET

[Vol.. II

~11

,i   jJil

and he introduced the handicrafts and many kinds of work. In his time the life of men was 80,000 years. From a swelling on Spyi-bo-skyes' (Mūrdhaja's) right

shoulder a boy was born. He was called Mdzes-pa (Cāru). He turned the golden

wheel and reigned over the four continents. From a swelling on Mdzes-pa's left

shoulder a boy was born. He was called Ne-mdzes (TJpacāru) ; he turned the silver

wheel and reigned over three continents. From a swelling formed on Ne-mdzes'

right thigh a boy was born. He was called Mdzes-can (Carumant) : he turned the

copper wheel and reigned over two continents. From a swelling formed on Mdzes-

can's left thigh a boy was born. He received the name Mdzes-ldan (Cāruka) :

he turned the iron wheel and reigned over one continent. In his time a life was 70,000 years. These kings are called the five wheel-turning kings.

Mdzes-ldan's son was Rgyal-byed (Jaya ?) ; his son was Mdzes-dgah (Cārunanda ?) ;

his son was Mi-sred-pa (Aruci ?) ; his son was Btan-bzun (Mucilinda). During his reign a life was 60,000 years, and the propitious measures of time originated then. During King

Btan-bzun's reign Buddha Hkhor-ba-h j ig (Krakucchanda) came to teach. Btan-bzun's son was Lus-stobs-gser-thub. 9,000 generations after him, during the reign of King

Rgyal-byed-chen-po (Mahājaya), Buddha Gtsug-tor-can (Sikhin) came to teach. Then, 1,000,200 generations after him, a king called Me-sde-ldan appeared. The

100,000 royal families which originated from his eight sons and grandsons reigned over many various kingdoms. During their time a life was 40,000 years. Buddha

Thalns-cad-skyobs (Visvabhū) came to teach. 7,000 generations after them a king called Bzod-pa-bkab (Durdharsa ?) appeared. During his reign a life was 30,000 years.

Buddha Log-par-dad-sel (?) came to teach. He preached the Chos-spyod-rgyud (Dharmacaryā-tantra 2). 160,000 generations after him King Glan-chen-spyi appeared. During his time a life was 20,000 years. At the same time the perfect Buddha Gser-thub (Kanakamuni) came. 150,000 generations after him a king called Kri-kri (Krkin ?)

appeared. A life attained 15,000 years. Buddha Hod-srun (Kāsyapa) came to teach.

He preached the Chos-vnal-hbyor-rgyud (Dharmma-yoga-tantra). Kri-kri's son was Legs-

skyon. (Suraksita = Sujāta ?). 100 generations after him, at Gru-hdzin (Potala), a king

called Rna-ba-can (Karnika) appeared.

NOTES ON THIS CHAPTER

We find the same or similar subjects treated in the first chapter of Ssanang Ssetsen, in the Dpag-bsam-ljon-bzan (pp. 1-17), and in several Indian books which are not at my disposal. The mythological names given in Dpag-bsarn-ljon-bzan often differ from those given here. On the whole the above account is a compilation from several Indian works. But occasionally Tibetan ideas

are introduced. Thus, the first dynasty of gods, beginning with N   kver-rgyal-po_ . (in the time of
Hod-gsal), is probably of Bon-po origin. Nam-kyer-rgyal-po was, in my opinion, later on identified with Indra (Satakratu, Brgya-byin). Thus, in the Kesar-saga, Skyer-rdzon-span-po (probably the same as Namkyer-rgyal-po) and Brgya-byin are identical. From the Gzer-rig (a Bon-po work) we learn that also Yemkhyen, Hod-gsal, and Sman are names of Bon-po deities. Then the table of nations seems for the greater part to be of Tibetan origin. It is not yet possible, however, to identify all the nations mentioned in it. As regards (Se)-ha-za (pronounced Ghaza), which is supposed to be the same as Gar-'za, Lahul,, it is the natives of Lahul themselves who claim this name as referring to their country. In a seventeenth century document the name of the country is spelled Gva-ja. Khrom-Ge-sar-hdan-ma may refer to an ancient line of kings of Leh. In a rather modern inscription from Dpe-thub Ladakh is called Ge-sar-