Declaration of the Best: A Sanskrit-Uigur Commentary on the Agraprajñaptisūtra – Reedition of the Text TT VIII H

Abstract

The Brāhmī leaf in Sanskrit and Uigur (TT VIII H) from the Berlin Turfan collection, edited by A. von Gabain in 1954, suggests an Indian origin, although this cannot be definitively proven in its current form. The fragment appears to be a commentary on the Agraprajñaptisūtra, the sūtra that declares the triratna (Buddha, Dharma, Saṃgha) as the best. The preserved part is about the question of its origin or occasion (utpatti). The present new edition includes an introduction on the Agraprajñaptisūtra (I), the text, translation, and comments (III), along with the description of the leaf, characteristic usage of the Uigur Brāhmī script and thoughts on dating (II) and three Appendices (IV) on the Agraprajñaptisūtra, the *Ekāgrasūtra in Uigur sources, and the interpretation of etadagrikeṣu vyākr̥teṣu. Additionally, three glossaries (V) (Sanskrit – English – Uigur; Uigur – English – Sanskrit; Uigur – English), abbreviations and bibliography (VI) and plates (VII) are provided.