Abhidharmakosakarika (I. 1-8)
Summary
Focusing on the first eight verses of the Abhidharmakosakarika, this study offers a translation and commentary that unpack the dense philosophical terms of Vasubandhu’s treatise. The verses introduce fundamental Abhidharma categories—the five aggregates, eighteen elements and twelve sense bases—while hinting at debates over the reality of dharmas and the nature of time. Drawing on classical commentaries and comparing the Sanskrit with Chinese and Tibetan translations, the author explains each term, parses compound words and clarifies doctrinal nuances. Differences between Sarvastivada positions and those of rival schools are highlighted to show why Vasubandhu’s concise statements were so influential. Particular attention is paid to the unconditioned elements of space and cessation, and the theory of momentariness that underlies the Abhidharma system. The article situates these verses within the wider scholastic tradition, noting how they serve as a mnemonic guide for students and preface detailed analysis in later chapters. By elucidating linguistic subtleties and philosophical context, the commentary makes the opening of the Abhidharmakosa accessible to modern scholars.
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Conclusion
By translating and elucidating the opening karikas of the Abhidharmakosa, the article demonstrates Vasubandhu’s methodical approach to classifying phenomena. It underscores how the early verses set the stage for discussions of the aggregates, elements and sense bases and how they framed later debates about the ontology of dharmas. The commentary invites readers to appreciate the intellectual rigour of the Abhidharma tradition and prepares them for further study of Vasubandhu’s work.