Apadana commentary (Atthakatha)
by U Lu Pe Win | 216,848 words
This is the English translation of the commentary on the Apadana (Atthakatha), also known as the Visuddhajana-Vilasini. The Buddhist stories known as apadanas refer to biographies of Buddhas, Buddhist monks and nuns. They are found in the Pali Canon (Khuddaka Nikaya), which is the primary canon of Theravada Buddhism. Alternative titles: Visuddhaja...
Commentary on Biography of the thera Ambadāyaka
Stanzas starting with Anomadassī Bhagavā constitute the biography of the venerable thera Ambadāyaka. This one also, having done devoted service toward former Buddhas, accumulating meritorious deeds conducive towards escape from rounds of repeated rebirths (vaṭṭa) in this or that existence, was reborn in the womb of a monkey at the time of the Glorious One Anomadassī, and properly lived having become the monarch of monkeys in the Himavanta region. On that occasion, the Glorious One Anomadassī went to Himavanta out of compassion for the monkey-king. Then, on having seen the Glorious One, that monkey-king became pleasingly pious-minded and offered very sweet mango fruits together with a small quantity of honey to Him. Then, the Glorious On ate them all while the monkey was still looking on even, said words of thanks, and made His departure. Then, the monkey became delighted in mind and joyful at heart, lived on as long as his life-span lasted with that self-same zest and delight, passed away thence, was reborn in the divine world, enjoyed bliss there, oft and on, experienced human prosperity among men, was reborn in a wealthy family-house, when this Buddha arose, had pleasing faith in the Master, renounced the world and became one who had attained six sorts of higher knowledge. He was well-known as Ambadāyakathera by the name of his former meritorious deed.
53. Subsequently, he noticed the seed of the meritorious deed done by himself, became delighted and uttered a stanza beginning with Anomadassī Bhagavā, in order to make manifest the deed done by himself formerly. Mettāya aphari loke appamāne nirupadhi (He pervaded the world with loving kindness) without substratum of existence immeasurably; that Glorious One pervaded, spread and developed with love and heart of loving kindness having made free from substratum of existence with such saying as "May they be happy" and so on, towards the whole world and numberless living-beings; thus, is the meaning.
54. Kapi aham tadā āsim (I was then a monkey), at the time of His coming then I was a monkey-king; thus, is the meaning.
The Commentary on the biography of the thera Ambadāyaka has ended.