Nagarjuna's List of Kusaladharmas
Summary
Nagarjuna’s commentary on the Vigrahavyavartani includes a list of 110 kusaladharmas—wholesome qualities—but scholars long disagreed on their identification because the Tibetan and Chinese translations yielded divergent interpretations. Earlier editions by Tucci and Yamaguchi provided Tibetan and Chinese renderings but lacked precise Sanskrit equivalents. This article reports on the discovery by Rahula Sankrtyayana of a Sanskrit manuscript of the text, which allows the list to be matched more accurately with its Tibetan and Chinese counterparts. The author presents a table comparing each Sanskrit term with its translations and suggests solutions for ambiguous items. Many terms correspond to familiar virtues such as faith, energy, mindfulness and compassion, while others are technical categories. The study underscores the challenges of translating Buddhist philosophical lists and highlights the importance of cross‑linguistic comparison. By clarifying the list, the article enhances our understanding of Madhyamika ethics and demonstrates how philological discoveries refine our knowledge of Indian Buddhism.
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Conclusion
By collating Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese sources, the article clarifies a long‑standing textual puzzle concerning Nagarjuna’s enumeration of virtuous qualities. The reconstructed list not only refines our understanding of Madhyamika ethical theory but also illustrates the challenges of translation and transmission in Buddhist literature. Such philological work underscores the value of manuscript discoveries and comparative scholarship, offering a more precise foundation for future studies of Nagarjuna and the evolution of Buddhist ethics.