Commentary on the Biography of the thera Annasamsāvaka

Stanzas starting with Suvaṇṇavaṇṇam sambuddham, constitute the biography of the venerable thera Annasamsāvaka. this one also, having done devoted deeds of service toward former Buddhas, accumulating meritorious deeds conducive towards escape from rounds of repeated rebirths (vaṭṭa), in this and that existence, was reborn in a certain family-house at the time of the Glorious One Siddhattha, saw the Glorious One gracefully shining with thirtytwo characteristics of a great personage, and a fathom-length radiating rays and also with nimbus, wandering about for alms-food, became piously pleased in mind, invited the Glorious One, led Him to his house, and entertained Him with excellent food and drink to His satisfaction. Due to that self-same mind of clear faith, he passed away thence, was reborn in the divine world, enjoyed heavenly prosperity and having passed away thence he was reborn in the world of human-beings, enjoyed the prosperity of human beings and thereafter, he now and then enjoyed the divine and human prosperity, was reborn in a certain family at the time of the appearance of this Buddha, became piously pleased with the dispensation (sāsana), became a monk, developed spiritual insight (vipassanā), and attained arahatship. He was popularly known as Annasamsāvaka thera by way of the name of having done meritorious deed formerly.

155-6. Subsequently, he remembered his own former deed, became delighted, uttered a stanza, starting with suvaṇṇavaṇṇam in order to make manifest, by way of solemn utterance (udāna) of his own deeds, done previously, saying: "In this manner, by means of the power of this good load of merit done by me, arahatship has been attained". There, Suvaṇṇavaṇṇam sambuddham (the self-enlightened Buddha of golden complexion), that gold-coloured Glorious One, whose complexion was like unto the colour of gold; that gold-complexion was like unto the colour of gold;that gold-complexioned buddha Sidhattha; thus, is the meaning. Gacchantam antarāpane (going in between selling shops), going inside the street in between the rows of shops of traders; kañcanagghiyasamkāsam (resembling valuable gold gate), similar to a gold gate-way; bāttimsavaralakkhanam (thirtytwo excellent characteristics), endowed with thirty two good signs (lakkhana) lokapajjotam (the shining or lighted lamp of the world) who has become the lighted lamp of the whole world; appameyyam (immeasurable), bereft of measurement; Anopamam (peerless), bereft of example; jutindharam (bearer of splendour), having seen Buddha Siddhattha, radiant with rays, the bearer of such six sorts of Buddha's rays as blue, golden yellow and so on; paramam (absolute), most excellent zest, alattham (I obtained), i received; thus, is the connection. The rest is but easily comprehensible.

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