Catuhsataka

Catuhsataka is a Sanskrit term that translates to "four hundred verses." It is often used to refer to specific Buddhist texts, particularly those that are structured in quatrains, or sets of four lines. The most well-known example is Aryadeva's Catuhsataka karikabhāṣya, a seminal work of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. This text is a commentary on Aryadeva's own eighty-verse treatise, the Pratītyasamutpādaśāstra, and it elaborates on the Madhyamaka philosophy, emphasizing the concept of emptiness (śūnyatā). The Catuhsataka is a foundational text for understanding the Madhyamaka school, which was significantly influenced by the teachings of Nagarjuna. It systematically analyzes various philosophical positions, refuting them through logical argumentation to demonstrate the lack of inherent existence in all phenomena. The work's structure, with its four hundred verses, allows for a comprehensive and detailed exploration of these complex philosophical ideas. It has been studied and commented upon extensively by Buddhist scholars throughout history and continues to be a significant text in Buddhist studies today.