The Ms. of Asanga's Abhidharmasamuccaya
By Prahlad Pradhan
Summary
The article begins by noting that the Abhidharma Samuccaya, a key Yogacara text traditionally attributed to Asanga, was long thought lost in Sanskrit. Scholar M. P. Rahul Sankrityayana discovered a fragmentary manuscript in Tibet during his 1934 expedition and photographed it. Both Chinese and Tibetan translations existed: the Chinese translation by Huen Tsang and the Tibetan translation by Jinamitra, Silendrabodhi and Yes-ses-sde. The author describes the structure of the text – two main divisions subdivided into chapters such as Three Dharmas, Collection, Union and Accompaniment – and discusses differences between Chinese and Tibetan chapter divisions. Only 17 leaves of the manuscript were found, many damaged or missing, so the author used Chinese and Tibetan versions to reconstruct the Sanskrit text. Detailed textual analysis and catalogue references show that the commentary Abhidharmasamuccaya-bhāṣya is complete and provides insight into missing portions. The author promises a critical edition of the text and translation in future publications.
Conclusion
The paper establishes the authenticity and significance of a long‑lost Yogacara text by collating a fragmentary Sanskrit manuscript with Chinese and Tibetan versions. It clarifies chapter divisions, highlights the need for reconstruction and promises a critical edition, illustrating the value of cross‑cultural transmission for preserving Buddhist literature.