Buddhacharita


Buddhacharita is an epic poem in the Sanskrit mahakavya style on the life of Gautama Buddha by Aśvaghoṣa of Sāketa, composed in the early second century CE.
The author has prepared an account of the Buddha's life and teachings which, unlike other treatments such as Mahavastu and Lalitavistara, is not only artistically arranged but also restrained in the description of the miracles of Gautam Buddha. His work also reflects a vast knowledge of Indian mythology and pre-Buddhist philosophy, as well as a court poet's interest in love, war, and statecraft.
Of the poem's 28 cantos, only the first 14 are extant in Sanskrit. But in Chinese and Tibetan translations, all 28 chapters are preserved. In 420 AD, Dharmakṣema made a Chinese translation, and in the 7th or 8th century, a Tibetan version was composed by an unknown author which "appears to be much closer to the original Sanskrit than the Chinese."

English translations

  • E.B. Cowell, trans., Oxford, Clarendon 1894, reprint: New Delhi, 1977.
  • Samuel Beal, trans. The Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King. Oxford, 1883.
  • E. H. Johnston, trans. The Buddhacarita or Acts of the Buddha. Lahore, 1936. 2 vols.. Reprint: Delhi, Motilal Barnasidass 1978
  • E. H. Johnston, trans., "The Buddha's Mission and last Journey: Buddhacarita, xv to xxviii", Acta Orientalia, 15: 26-62, 85-111, 231-292.
  • Patrick Olivelle, trans. Life of the Buddha. Clay Sanskrit Library, 2008. 1 vols.
  • Willemen, Charles, trans.,, Berkeley, Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research.

Other Language Translations

  • Iyothee Thass, Tamil Buddhist text in the form of long narrative called Buddharadhu Adhivedham, Madras, 1914.
Ayyathurai, Gajendran., Ph.D. Thesis, Columbia University, Department of Anthropology.
  • Bhaskar Hanumath Kompella, Telugu Translation in the form of Tika and Tatparya., Ajo-Vibho-Kandalam Publications, Hyderabad, 2018
  • Bhavanath Jha. Buddha-charitam Restored into Sanskrit verses by Pt. Bhavanath Jha.. Mahavir Mandir Prakashan.