Lalitavistara

"The Play in Full tells the story of how the Buddha manifested in this world and attained awakening, as perceived from the perspective of the Great Vehicle. The sūtra, which is structured in twenty-seven chapters, first presents the events surrounding the Buddha’s birth, childhood, and adolescence in the royal palace of his father, king of the Śākya nation. It then recounts his escape from the palace and the years of hardship he faced in his quest for spiritual awakening. Finally the sūtra reveals his complete victory over the demon Māra, his attainment of awakening under the Bodhi tree, his first turning of the wheel of Dharma, and the formation of the very early saṅgha." (84000). All leaves are more or less damaged, though the lettering remains very fine. Folios 2, 9, and 10 are missing. The recto of the first leaf contains the list of chapter titles of the sūtra. The colophon is difficult to read, as the ink has been washed out. For further details, see Matsunami’s Note Book 3, p. 46ff., where the scribe is identified as Jñānarāja.