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 Sayanadāyaka

Stanzas, starting with Padumuttara Buddhassa constitute the commentary on the biography of the venerable thera Sayanadāyaka. This one also having done devoted service toward former Buddhas, accumulating meritorious deeds conducive towards escape from rounds of rebirths (vaṭṭa), in this and that existence, was reborn in a family house at the time of the Glorious One Padumuttara; after having attained the age of intelligence, he properly set up a house-hold life, enjoyed prosperity, listened to the preaching of truth (dhamma) of the Master became full of clear faith in the master, had a couch of great worth made of tusk, gold, silver, pearl, and ruby, spread on it such spreads as chinese cloth, velvet and so on, and offered it to the Glorious One for the purpose of sleeping on it. The Glorious One slept there, making his uplift. One account of that act of merit he wandered about his rounds of rebirths, among divine and human beings, enjoyed such prosperity as going through the sky, sleeping with comfort and so on, was reborn in a wealthy family; when this Buddha arose; after having attained the age of intelligence, he listened to the preaching of truth (dhamma), of the Master, became pious-minded, made himself a monk, developed clear insight (vipassanto), and became an arahat not long afterwards even.

20. After having recollected his own former deed, he became pleasure-minded and uttered this stanza, starting with Padumuttara-Buddhassa in order to make manifest the deed done by him formerly. The meaning of that stanza has but been aforesaid.

21. Sukhette bījasampadā (seed-success in a fertile field) just as the sown-seeds in a fertile field endowed with such qualities as soft mud and so on, devoid of grass and garbage, produce a bumper harvest of crops, exactly in the same way, the said offerings of charity, though they may be small in quantity are of full fruition in the field of merit of pure recipient, bereft of grass and garbage reckoned as one thousand five hundred such sorts of depravity (kilesa) as lust (rāga), anger (dosa) and so on; thus, is the meaning. The rest is but easily comprehensible.

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

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