Derge Kangyur/Tengyur e-text, Esukhia/Barom edition — public domain (mechanical reproduction)
The text, titled Tattva-doha-gītikā-nāma in Sanskrit and Doha mdzod kyi de nyid kyi glu zhes bya ba in Tibetan, is a composition in the dohā genre focused on the nature of reality (suchness). The fragment provided indicates an argument centered on the lack of substantial existence of the self and others. By employing the metaphor of the dreams of a mute child, the author asserts that these entities are devoid of inherent existence upon analysis. The work commits the reader to a process of analytical inquiry intended to dismantle conventional notions of identity and duality, aligning the reader with a non-dualistic understanding of existence. The text begins with a traditional invocation to Mañjuvajra, signaling its placement within a specific tantric or scholarly lineage of the Indo-Tibetan tradition.
Provenance
About this text
A treatise on the nature of reality, the Dohakoṣatattvagītikā belongs to the tradition of the General Unexcelled Yoga Tantra Works. The work is attributed to the Indian author Thagana. It is preserved in the classical Tibetan period within the Tengyur, specifically in volume ཟི, where it occupies one page under the Tibetan title do ha mdzod kyi de nyid kyi glu/. The text opens with an invocation to Mañjuvajra and employs the dohā genre to argue that self and other lack substantial existence. By comparing these entities to the dreams of a mute child, the author enacts a process of analytical inquiry designed to dismantle conventional notions of identity and duality. A scholar or serious reader consults this work today to examine its non-dualistic understanding of existence and its use of metaphor to illustrate the difficulty of realizing the true nature of reality, which the author likens to a child playing at gambling.
Cite thisAnuvāda, “A Song on Suchness, A Treasury of Dohās” (Toh 2346), machine draft, 2026.https://naxiai.com/tibetan/works/toh2346
Summary & commentary
Significance
The work is significant as an example of the dohā tradition, which utilizes poetic, often paradoxical language to convey profound philosophical insights. Its focus on the emptiness of self and other suggests it serves as a practical guide for realizing the nature of suchness within the Mahayana framework.
Structure
Passages
Section
Description
1
Introduction
Contains the title in Sanskrit and Tibetan, an invocation to Mañjuvajra, and an initial assertion regarding the insubstantiality of self and other.
Themes
Lack of substantial existence (1)
Non-duality of self and other (1)
Summary, significance and provenance note generated by gemma4:31b from the translation and the catalogue record.
In the language of India: Tattva-doha-gītikā-nāma. In the language of Tibet: Doha mdzod kyi de nyid kyi glu zhes bya ba (The Song of the Reality of the Treasury of Dohas). Homage to Mañjuvajra!
When analyzed, self and other have no substantial existence; they are like the dreams of a mute child. Realizing that reality is extremely difficult; it is like a child playing at gambling. At the very limit, one speaks; yet that reality is difficult to express in words. Without clearing away the conceptualization of appearance and emptiness, how could liberation be attained? If the body, speech, and mind are not known to be equal within the expanse, that reality is extremely difficult to realize; it is like a child playing at gambling. It is difficult to express the nature of things in words. Even though phenomena are spoken of in words, can they be established by words alone? Without realizing the reality of the mind, there is no realization of the oneness of all things. Realizing the ultimate is extremely difficult; it is like a child playing at gambling. At the very limit, one speaks.
The Song of the Reality of the Treasury of Dohas, composed by Thakana and transmitted from the master Kanari, is hereby complete.
Translation status: Not among 84000's published translations, and not in progress there. Translations published elsewhere have not been searched for, so one may exist. (source: 84000 catalogue + registry; checked 2026-11-10).
Set in Newsreader and EB Garamond; Tibetan in Noto Serif Tibetan; Chinese in Noto Serif SC.