Māndhātāvadāna

Māndhātāvadāna explores the karmic consequences of ambition. King Māndhātā attains miraculous powers through virtuous rule, bringing prosperity to his people. Over time, he becomes consumed by his power and seeks to conquer even the heavens. When he claims Indra’s throne, he is cast down to earth, illustrating the perils of unchecked ambition. The manuscript has slight water damage. Annotations in red ink, written in Newari, appear around the margins. The main text is in Newari, but from folio 24a to 99b, the script shifts to Devanāgarī with a change in handwriting, likely indicating a different scribe, while annotations remain in Newari. At folio 100a, the script returns to Newari. The text comprises twelve chapters (adhyāya), with the final folia listing topics with indices.