[INDOLOGY] Aśvaghoṣa

[Matthew Kapstein]

Dear Patrick,

Might it not be, more simply, that he seemed like a (formerly) full moon that was now waning? There need not be an astronomical contradiction.

best,
Matthew

On Sun, Sep 7, 2025 at 14:45, Patrick Olivelle via INDOLOGY <[indology at list.indology.info](mailto:On Sun, Sep 7, 2025 at 14:45, Patrick Olivelle via INDOLOGY <<a href=)> wrote:

> Dear All:
>
> Aśvaghoṣa in his Saundarananda (5.53) compares Nanda’s shaven head to the full moon in the “bahulapakṣa”, which I take to be the kṛṣṇapakṣa. But, as far as I understand, there is no full moon in the dark fortnight of the month. Am I missing something in this simile? Is he saying that the full moon, it it appeared in the dark fortnight, would have looked as pathetic as Nanda’s shaven head? Thanks for any input. Here is the verse:
>
> nandas tatas tarukaṣāyaviraktavāsāś cintāvaśo navagṛhīta iva dvipendraḥ /
> pūrṇaḥ śaśī bahulapakṣagataḥ kṣapānte bālātapena pariṣikta ivāvabhāse //
>
> With best wishes,
>
> Patrick
>
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