Bhadrakalpāvadāna

The Bhadrakalpāvadāna ("Narratives of the Good Kalpa") contains 34 legends narrated by Jayaśri to Jinaśri, recounting stories originally told by Upagupta to Emperor Aśoka (Mitra, 42–47). It chronicles the Buddha’s life from his first teachings at Sarnath to his return to Kapilavastu and departure to Svayambhū, linking the narrative to Nepal. Drawing on the Mahāvastu and other Indian sources, it uniquely expands on Yaśodharā’s hardships after Siddhārtha’s departure, differing from Sanskrit and Pali accounts (von Rospatt). The manuscript is written in both Nepālākṣara and Devanāgari scripts, with folios distributed as follows: Nepālākṣara: 1–296b, 288a, 387b–422b, Devanāgari: 270a–287b, 288b–387a, 423a–454b