The Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra (Sanskrit; , Tib. dam-chos dkon-mchog-brtsegs-pa) is a major ancient collection of Indian Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtras. It is also known simply as Ratnakūṭa Sūtra (), literally the Sutra of the Heap of Jewels in Sanskrit (kūṭa means ‘accumulation’ or ‘heap’).
The Mahāratnakūṭa contains many important Mahāyāna sūtras, like the Śrīmālā-devī-siṁhanāda, the Maitreya-paripṛcchā, Kāśyapa-parivarta, and the Sukhāvatīvyūha. The Heap of Jewels collection exists in Chinese and Tibetan translations. It also gives its name to one of the main divisions of Mahayana sutras in the Chinese Buddhist canon and in the Tibetan Buddhist canon.
Overview
The Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra contains 49 texts of varying length, which are termed "assemblies" by tradition. This collection includes the Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra, the Longer Sukhāvatī-vyūha Sutra, the Akṣobhya-vyūha Sūtra, a long text called the Bodhisattvapiṭaka, and others.Sangharakshita. The Eternal Legacy: An Introduction to the Canonical Literature of Buddhism. 2006. p. 168-169
Parts of this collection was brought to China and translated by Bodhiruci in the 8th century.Pederson, K. Priscilla (1980). "Notes on the Ratnakūṭa Collection" Bodhiruci translated some of the texts, and included others which had been previously translated. This later Bodhiruci (also known as Bodhiruci II) should not be confused with another Bodhiruci who was the translator of the commentary on Ten Stages Sutra.
The Ratnakūṭa collection totals 49 Mahāyāna sūtras, divided into 120 fascicles in the Chinese translation. Garma Chang, who is listed as General Editor of a volume of select sūtras from the Mahāratnakūṭa translated from Chinese into English, (see below, Further Reading, Garma C.C. Chang, (1983). A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras: Selections from the Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra. Title Page) summarizes the breadth and variety of texts contained in this collection:
In the Taishō Tripiṭaka in volumes 11 and 12a, the Mahāratnakūṭa is the text numbered 310, and texts numbered 311 through 373 are various other translations of some of the sutras contained in the Mahāratnakūṭa.
According to the Nikāyasaṅgraha (a Theravādin text), the Ratnakūṭa Sūtra was composed by the "Andhakas", meaning the Mahāsāṃghika Caitika schools of the Āndhra region.Adikaram, E.W. Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon. 1953. p. 100Paul, Diana. The Buddhist Feminine Ideal. 1980. p. 12 The texts of the sutra seem to have been collected over a number of centuries, and their varying subject matter is suggestive of historical transitions between major eras of Buddhist thought. The collection may have developed from a "Bodhisattva pitaka" attributed to some of the early Mahayana schools.
List of sutras
+NumberSanskrit Title English title Chinese title Tibetan title (Wylie) English translations1Trisaṁvara-nirdeśaThe Chapter Explaining the Three Vows三律儀會sdom pa gsum bstan pa'i le'u/Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000.co)2Anantamukha-pariśodhana-nirdeśaThe Chapter Teaching the Purification of Boundless Gateways無邊莊嚴會sgo mtha’ yas pa rnam par sbyong ba bstan pa’i le’uTranslation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)3Tathāgatācintya-guhya-nirdeśaThe Secrets of the Tathāgatas密迹金剛力士會de bzhin gshegs pa’i gsang ba Translation from Tibetan by 84000 Translation from Chinese by Shaku Shingan4Svapna-nirdeśaThe Teaching on Dreams淨居天子會rmi lam bstan paTranslation from Tibetan by 840005Sukhāvatī-vyūha The Array of the Blissful Land無量壽如來會 (The Assembly of Amitāyus Tathāgata, T. 360) Translation from Chinese in Chapter 18 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras. Translation from Chinese by Rulu6Akṣobhya-tathāgatasya-vyūhaThe Array of the Tathāgata Akṣobhya不動如來會mi 'khrugs pa'i bkod pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 17 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras 7Varma-vyūha-nirdeśaThe Teaching of the Armor Array被甲莊嚴會go cha’i bkod pa bstan paTranslation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)8Dharmadhātu-prakṛty-asambheda-nirdeśaThe Teaching on the Indivisible Nature of the Realm of Phenomena法界體性無別會chos dbyings rang bzhin dbyer med bstan pa’i mdoTranslation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)9DaśadharmakaThe Ten Dharmas十法會chos bcu pa'i mdo/10Samantamukha-parivartaThe Exposition on the Universal Gateway文殊師利普門會kun nas sgo’i le’u Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000) Translation from Chinese in Chapter 8 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras11Raśmisamantamukta-nirdeśaThe Teaching on the Effulgence of Light出現光明會’od zer kun du bkye ba bstan pa Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000) Translation from Chinese in Chapter 11 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras12Bodhisattva-piṭakaThe Basket of Bodhisatva [teachings]菩薩藏經byang chub sems dpa’i sde snod Translation from Tibetan by The Norwegian Institute of Palaeography and Historical Philology, 8400013Āyuṣman-nanda-garbhāvakrānti-nirdeśaThe Teaching to the Venerable Nanda on Dwelling in the Womb佛爲阿難說處胎會tshe dang ldan pa dga’ bo la mngal na gnas pa bstan pa14Nanda-garbhāvakrānti-nirdeśaThe Teaching to the Venerable Nanda on Entry into the Womb佛說入胎藏會tshe dang ldan pa dga’ bo la mngal du ’jug pa bstan pa Translation from Tibetan by Robert Kritzer, 8400015Mañjuśrī-buddhakṣetra-guṇa-vyūhaThe Array of Virtues of Mañjuśrī’s Buddhafield文殊師利授記會’jam dpal gyi sangs rgyas kyi zhing gi yon tan bkod pa Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000) Translation from Chinese in Chapter 10 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras16PitāputrasamāgamanaThe Meeting of Father and Son菩薩見實會yab sras mjal ba'i mdo/17Pūrṇa-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Pūrṇa富樓那會 / 富樓那問經 / 菩薩藏經gang pos zhus paTranslation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)18Rāṣṭrapāla-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Rāṣṭrapāla護國菩薩會經yul ’khor skyong gis zhus pa Translation from Tibetan by the Vienna Buddhist Translation Studies Group, 84000. Translation from Chinese in Boucher, Daniel (2008). Bodhisattvas of the forest and the formation of the Mahāyāna a study and translation of the Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛchā-sūtra.19Gṛhapaty-Ugra-paripṛcchāThe Sūtra of Ugra's Questions郁伽長者會 / 郁伽羅越問菩薩經drag shul can gyis zhus pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Nattier, Jan (2005). A Few Good Men: The Bodhisattva Path According to the Inquiry of Ugra (Ugrapariprcchā). Univ of Hawaii Pr.20Vidyutprāpta-paripṛcchāThe Sūtra of Vidyutprāpta's Questions無盡伏藏會glog thob kyis zhus pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 9 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras 21Bhadramāyākāra-vyākaraṇaThe Prophecy for Bhadra the Illusionist授幻師跋陀羅記會sgyu ma mkhan bzang po lung bstan pa Translation from Tibetan by 84000.co Translation from Chinese by Lapis Lazuli Texts Translation from Chinese in Chapter 1 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras22Mahā-prātihārya-nirdeśaThe Teaching of the Great Magical Display大變會cho 'phrul chen po bstan pa'i mdo/23Maitreya-mahāsiṁhanādaThe Great Lion’s Roar of Maitreya摩訶迦葉會 / 大迦葉經byams pa’i seng ge’i sgra chen poTranslated from Tibetan by Karen Liljenberg and Ulrich Pagel24Upāli-paripṛcchāUpāli’s Questions優波離會’dul ba rnam par gtan la dbab pa nye bar ’khor gyis zhus pa Translated from Tibetan by the UCSB Buddhist Studies Translation Group, 84000.co Translation from Chinese in Chapter 15 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras25Adhyāśaya-saṁcodanaInspiring Determination發勝志樂會lhag bsam skul baTranslated from Tibetan by the Blazing Wisdom Translation Group, 84000.co26Subāhu-paripṛcchāSubāhu's Questions善臂菩薩會lag bzangs kyis zhus pa’i mdoTranslation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)27Surata-paripṛcchāSurata’s Questions善順菩薩會des pas zhus pa’i mdo Translated from Tibetan by the UCSB Translation Group 2, 84000 Translation from Chinese in Chapter 13 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras28Vīradatta-gṛhapati-paripṛcchāThe Questions of the Householder Vīradatta勸授長者會khyim bdag dpas byin gyis zhus paTranslated from Tibetan by the University of Calgary Buddhist Studies team, 8400029Udayanavatsarāja-paripṛcchāQuestions of King Udayana of Vatsa優陀延王會bad sa’i rgyal po ’char byed kyis zhus paTranslation from Tibetan by 84000.co30Sumatidārikā-paripṛcchāQuestions of the Girl Sumati妙慧童女經bu mo blo gros bzang mos zhus pa Translation from Tibetan by 84000.co Translation from Chinese by Lapis Lazuli Texts Translation from Chinese in Chapter 14 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras31Gaṅgottarā-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Gaṅgottarā恒河上優婆夷會gang gA’i mchog gis zhus pa Translation from Tibetan by 84000.co Translation from Chinese by Lapis Lazuli Texts Translation from Chinese in Chapter 3 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras32Aśokadatta-vyākaraṇaAśokadattā’s Prophecy無畏德菩薩會 / 無畏德經mya ngan med kyis byin pa lung bstan pa Translation from Tibetan by 84000.co Translation from Chinese in Chapter 7 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras33Vimaladattā-paripṛcchāVimaladatta's Questions無垢施菩薩應辯會 / 無垢菩薩分別應辯經dri ma med kyis byin pas zhus pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 5 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras 34Guṇaratnasaṁkusumita-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita功德寶花敷菩薩會yon tan rin chen me tog kun tu rgyas pas zhus paTranslation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)35Acintyabuddhaviṣaya-nirdeśaThe Teaching on the Inconceivable Scope of a Buddha善德天子會sangs rgyas kyi yul bsam gyis mi khyab pa bstan pa Translation from Tibetan by 84000.co Translation from Chinese in Chapter 2 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras36Susthitamati-devaputra-paripṛcchāThe Sūtra of the Devaputra Susthitamati's Questions善住意天子會lha'i bu blo gros rab gnas kyis zhus pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 4 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras 37Siṁha-paripṛcchāSiṃha’s Questions阿闍世王子會seng ges zhus paTranslated from Tibetan by the Kīrtimukha Translation Group, 84000.co38Upāyakauśalya-jñānottara-bodhisattva-paripṛcchāBodhisattva Jñānottara's Questions on Skillful Means大乘方便會 (The Mahayana Assembly of Skillful Means)byang sems ye shes dam pas zhus pa'i le'u/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 22 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras 39Bhadrapāla-śreṣṭhi-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Bhadrapāla the Merchant賢護長者會 / 移識經tshong dpon bzang skyong gis zhus pa Translated by Karen Liljenberg and Ulrich Pagel, 84000 Translation from Chinese in Chapter 12 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras40Dārikā Vimalaśraddhā paripṛcchāThe Questions of the Girl Vimalaśraddhā (or Vimalaśuddha)淨信童女會bu mo rnam dag dad pas zhus paTranslated from Tibetan by The Karma Gyaltsen Ling Translation Group, 8400041Maitreya-paripṛcchā-dharmāṣṭakaThe Question of Maitreya on the Eight Qualities彌勒菩薩問八法會byams pas chos brgyad zhus paTranslated from Tibetan by Karen Liljenberg and Ulrich Pagel, 8400042Maitreya-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Maitreya彌勒菩薩所問會byams pas zhus paTranslated from Tibetan by Karen Liljenberg, 8400043Kāśyapa-parivartaThe Kāśyapa Discourse普明菩薩會 / 古大寶積經od srungs kyi le'u/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 20 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras 44Ratnarāśi-sūtraThe Mass of Jewels寶梁聚會 / 寶梁經rin po che'i phung po'i mdo/ Silk, Jonathan. The Origins and Early History of the Mahāratnakūṭa Tradition of Mahāyāna Buddhism with a Study of the Ratnarāśisūtra and Related Materials, 1994. Translation from Chinese in Chapter 16 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras45Akṣayamati-paripṛcchāAkṣayamati's Questions無盡慧菩薩會blo gros mi zad pas zhus pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 21 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras 46Saptaśatikā-nāma-prajñāpāramitāThe Seven Hundred [śloka] Perfection of Wisdom文殊說般若會 (The Assembly Where Mañjuśrī Expounds Prajñāpāramitā)sher phyin bdun brgya pa/ Translation from Chinese by Lapis Lazuli Texts