Notes

n.1For the full account, see Gonsalez 2021, p. 309. See also Siklós 1990, p. 83.

n.2See Toh 468, folio 163.b.

n.3For example, the term kalpa/rtog pa is used in this way in The Tantra of the Glorious Black Yamāri in Three Chapters.

n.4Cf. Sparham 2009, p. 63 and Tāranātha, folio 17.b. Here, however, a Sanskrit title is preserved (śrīkṛṣṇa­yamāritantratri­kalpa) that contains the word kalpa, indicating that this may be a specialized meaning of the word.

n.5Another reason mentioned by Tāranātha (f. 17.b) is the allegedly wrong Tibetan transcription in the tantra of the Sanskrit word dza la tsa. However, none of the editions that we have consulted contain this word.

n.6The colophon in K reads thar chen rgyal rigs gyis zhus chen bgyis bas dag, which can tentatively be translated “This was corrected by Tharchen Gyalrik in his capacity as editor.” The identity of Tharchen Gyalrik (thar chen rgyal rigs) is uncertain.

n.7Tib. mtshan ma, which is here understood to be equivalent to the Sanskrit liṅga.

n.8H, N, S and Toh 2006 read “we will follow your wishes” (dpa’ bo’i dgongs pa bdag gis bgyi).

n.9Neither Toh 471 nor Toh 2006 offers an entirely satisfactory reading of this line. Toh 471 reads lha ma srin ni sde brgyad kyis, which could be interpreted to mean “The devas (lha), mātṛs (ma), rākṣasas (srin) [and others from] the eight classes of beings...” Alternatively, lha ma could indicate devas (lha) and asuras (lha ma yin). Toh 2006 reads (lha ma yin sde brgyad), which could be interpreted as “the eight classes of asuras.” Since eight classes of beings are listed in the next four lines, we have rendered this simply as “the eight classes of beings.”

n.10These eight syllables are part of Vajrabhairava’s root mantra.

n.11Toh 2006 reads “the humans offered na” (mi yis na phul).

n.12Tāranātha believed this verse to be a later addition since the tsen are indigenous Tibetan deities. See Tāranātha, folio 17.b.

n.13This translation follows Toh 2006 in reading ye shes lha yis dgongs pa. Toh 471 reads ye shes lha yi dgongs pa.

n.14Translation tentative.

n.15This transliteration follows Toh 471 without emendation. Toh 2006 reads oṁ ya ma rā jaḥ sa do me ya | ya me do ru | ṇa yo da ya | ya da yo ni ra yakṣe ya | yakṣe yaccha ni rā ma ya | hūṁ hūṁ phaṭ phaṭ.

n.16According to Tāranātha (ff. 17.b–18.a), this means, “he blessed them as messengers of the lord of death” (bsod byed pho nyar byin gyis brlabs).

n.17Likely referring to the final five hundred years in which the Dharma will remain in this world. This is generally considered a time of degeneration.

n.18This translation is tentative. Toh 2006 reads, tentatively, “They took this oath, and were freed from the oppression that oppressed them” (zhes byas dam bcas pa dang / mnan bzhin du mnan bor ro). Both versions are syntactically ambiguous.

n.19Apparently, this later appeared as Siklós, Bulcsu. 1996. The Vajrabhairava Tantras. Buddhica Britannica, Series continua. London: Institute of Buddhist Studies. We were unable to obtain a copy of this work.