Fragments of the Sanskrit Paссaviṃњatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra (SI 3492, SI 3650) in the Serindia Collection (IOM, RAS)

According to the latest data, the Sanskrit part of the Serindia Collection (IOM, RAS) includes 667 storage units, which represent manuscript fragments of various Buddhist texts. About 100 of the largest and most well-preserved manuscripts have been studied and introduced into scientific circulation by Russian and foreign researchers. At the same time, many other texts in a rather scattered and fragmented condition still remain unpublished. Among the unexplored Sanskrit Buddhist manuscripts in the Serindia Collection, the most important place belongs to the fragments of fundamental texts in the Mahāyāna tradition — the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras (“Sūtras on Perfect Wisdom”). The present paper deals with three previously unpublished Sanskrit fragments (SI 3492, SI 3650) housed in the Serindia Collection as part of the “N.F. Petrovsky Subcollection”. Fragments have been identified as parts of the Paсcaviṃњatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra (“Sūtra on Perfect Wisdom in 25000 lines”). Judging from the external characteristics and contents, these fragments not only belong to the same manuscript, but also fit together like three puzzle pieces. The paper includes a description of the fragments, a transliteration of the manuscript and its comparison with the critical edition of the Sanskrit text of the Sūtra, a Russian translation, and facsimiles made before and after its restoration.