Commentary on Biography of the thera Pañcadīpaka

Stanzas starting with Padumuttara Buddhassa constitute the biography of the venerable thera Pañcadīpaka. This one also having done devoted service toward former Buddhas and accumulating meritorious deeds conducive towards escape from the rounds of repeated rebirths (vaṭṭa), in all existences wherever he sprang up, was reborn in a family house, at the time of the Glorious One Padumuttara; he grew up in due course, lived his household life, listened to the preaching of truth (dhamma) by the Glorious One, became established in the right view, became full of pious faith and pure piety, saw reverential offering to the bodhi tree being done (or made) by a great (or big) body of men, himself had the bodhi tree surrounded and made reverential offering of lighted lamps. On account of that meritorious act, he wandered about his rounds of rebirths among divine and human-beings, enjoyed such prosperity as that of world-king and so on, lived in such mansions as were endowed with shining brilliance, shining in every existence, wherever he sprung up, was reborn in a wealthy family when this Buddha arose;on having grown up, pious faith sprang up in him, he became a monk and not long after even, he became an arahat. He was well-known as the thera Dīpaka, due to the consequence of his reverential offering of lights.

50. One day, he recollected his own former-deed, became pleasure-minded, and uttered a stanza starting with Padumuttara Budhassa in order to make manifest the deed done by him, formerly. The meaning of it has but been aforesaid. Ujudiṭṭhiahosaham (I was or became one of straight view) having discarded crooked wrong view, I became one who attained right view, the straight uncrooked path facing the direction of nibbāna;thus, is the meaning.

51. Padīpadāham pādāsim (I offered the charity of lighted lamps) here, it shines and illuminates, thus, padīpa, lighted lamp; offering of it is padīpadāna, offering of lighted lamps. I gave it, I made the reverential offering of lighted lamps;thus, is the meaning. The rest is but clear in meaning, everywhere.

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