Commentary on Biography of the thera Tisaraṇagamaniya

Stanzas starting with Nagare Bandhumatiyā, constitute the biography of the venerable thera Tisaraṇagamaniya. This one also, having done devoted deeds of service toward former Buddhas, accumulating meritorious deeds conducive towards escape from the rounds of repeated rebirths (vaṭṭa), was reborn in a family house, in the city of Bandhumatī at the time of the glorious One Vipassī and attended upon his blind parents. One day, he considered thus: "Looking after my parents, I do not get the chance of becoming a monk: what if I were to catch hold of the three refuges; in this way I shall have myself released from poverty, the evil existence", approached the chief disciple of the Glorious One Vipassī, named Nisabha, and took hold of the three refuges (saraṇa). He was in observance of having looked after them for a hundred thousand years and by means of that self-same deed even, was reborn in Tāvatimsa mansion. Thereafter, subsequently, he wandered about his rounds of repeated rebirths among divine and human beings, enjoyed both kinds of prosperity, was reborn in a very wealthy family, in the city of Sāvatthi, at the time of the appearance of this Buddha, and on his having attained the age of intelligence, while still seven years old, went to a certain ashram of the clergy (samghārāma), surrounded by boys. There, a certain canker-free thera preached him the dhamma and gave him refuges (saraṇa). He took them, remembered the refuges, looked after by himself formerly, developed spiritual insight (vipassanā), and attained arahatship. The Glorious One ordained him as and when he attained arahatship.

106. Having attained arahatship, and having been ordained, he remembered his own former deeds and uttered a stanza starting with Nagare Bandhumatiyā, in order to make manifest his former deeds by way of being delighted in mind. There, mātu upaṭṭhāko ahum (I was a supporter of my mother), I was, in the city of Bandhumatī, a supporter attending upon my parents; thus, is the connection.

108. Tamandhakāravihitā (blind folded by darkness) covered by unforsaken darkness of delusion;tividhaggīhi dayhare (they were burnt by three kinds of fire) all creatures were burnt and scorched by three kinds of fire reckoned as the fire of lust, the fire of anger and the fire of delusion; thus, is the connection.

114. Aṭṭhahetu labhāmaham (I gain the eight causes), I receive the eight circumstances which were the causes of happiness; thus, is the meaning. The rest is but easily comprehensible.

The commentary on the biography of the thera Tisaraṇagamaniya has ended.