[51] The 'sacred learning' is sruta, knowledge of Vaidik texts. &c., the 'spiritual knowledge,' gñâna, to be learnt from the Upanishads, the philosophical Darsanas and the like.
[52] In the Avadânakalpalatâ the hare that gave up his body is No. 104. It is much akin to the version of the Avadânasataka, as I ascertained from the two Cambridge MSS. of the Avadânakalpalatâ.
[53] The text is slightly corrupt here. The MSS. have ºsukhâh, the printed text ºmukhâh, but in the various readings the editor again adopts the reading of the MSS. But now Prof. Kern tells me he should rather suppose that the original reading was ºsakhâh, which suits the sense better.
[54] Instead of îshatpârsvâpavrittabimbam, the reading of the MSS., I think we should read ºâpakrittabimbam. In the evening before full-moon's day the disc of the moon is not completely round, presenting one side so as to seem a little flattened.
[55] The political wisdom, which aims at attaining worldly ends by worldly means, and makes morals subordinate to self-interest, is taught in such books as Kâmandaki's Nîtisâstra, Sukra's Nîtisâra, in the Pañkatantra and the Hitopadesa. It is considered sinful by Buddhistic lore. The Gâtakamâlâ often reproves it, see for instance, IX, 10; XXIII, 51.
[56] Read babhûvânibhritâº. Cp. supra, II, 38, and Bodhisattvâvadânakalpalatâ II, 52.
[57] Strength of mind, constancy, earnestness, wisdom and virtue are all implied by the Buddhistic term dhîra; its opposite, adhîra, denotes therefore those who possess the opposed qualities, the 'fickle-minded.'
[58] For, if he had, he would have discovered it, owing to the transcendent power he had obtained by his penance.
[59] Instead of gunasobhâvidhih parah I read ºnidhih parah, comp. 51, l. 11 of the edited text gunâbhyâsanidher udâratâ.
[60] In other words, his hut. Both Pâli redactions mention here his pannasâlâ, 'hut of leaves.'