12th day of the waxing moon 5th lunar month Buddhist Era [BE] 2486, a tao sanga year
Copying date in Gregorian:
1943 April 17
Place of copying:
Luang Prabang
Script:
Tham Lao
Writing support:
Palm-leaf
Watermark?:
No
Countermark?:
No
Manuscript cover?:
No
Binding?:
No
Manuscript cover dimension:
4.8 x 55.8 cm
Manuscript paper dimension:
4.8 x 55.8 cm
Text block dimension:
3.5 x 51.2 cm
Number of pages:
26 pages
Number of blank pages:
5 pages
Rubrication?:
No
Illumination?:
No
Illustration?:
No
Manuscript condition:
Good
Description of manuscript content:
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha talked about a peta (hungry ghost) named Pesakara who had once been the wife of a weaver. When she was a human being, she was stingy. She scolded her husband when he donated food and robes to monks. After his death, the husband was reborn as a deity living near a main road and his wife was reborn as a ghost living near him. She was living without food and clothes and burned and in much distress. When she asked for food and clothes from the deity, the food turned into excrement and clothes became hot metal sheets
Colophon:
Folio 11 on the recto side: In the Buddhist Era [BE] 2486, a tao sanga year, on the twelfth waxing day of the fifth [lunar] month, a kap set day, the sixth day of the week (Friday). The writing of [this manuscript] was finished at noon. Nang (Mrs.) Phia Tun had the religious faith to sponsor the making of [this manuscripts entitled] Mahā Vibak, to support the Teachings of Gotama Buddha to last until the end of 5000 years. May all my wishes come true. On other hand, may I be released from demerits, offenses and five types of demerits that I did Pānātipāta (killing) in my previous lives.
Other notes:
Folio 2 on the left margin, a note written with a blue ball-pen says: Mahā vibak, single fascicle.