Commentary on Biography of the thera Paccāgamaniya

Stanzas starting with Sindhuyānadiyātīre, constitute the biography of the venerable thera Paccāgamaniya. 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 cakkavāka bird near the river Sindhu at the time of the Glorious One Vipassī; because the bird was yoked with the load of former deeds, it did not eat living creatures, or insects, wandered about eating moss only. At that moment, that bird saw the Glorious One in brilliant splendour, became pious-minded, cut off Sal flowers from the Sal tree by means of its beak, came near Buddha and reverentially offered the flowers. On account of that very pious mind, it passed away thence, sprang up in the divine world, enjoyed oft and on subsequently the bliss of six stages of sensual divine states and having passed away thence he sprang up in the world of human beings, enjoyed such prosperity as that of the world-king, and so on, was reborn in a family house when this Buddha arose; on his having attained the age of intelligence, he was of clear pious-faith in the Master due to the influence of his former deed, became a monk and before long became an arahat. He was wellknown as the thera Paccāgamaniya by the name of the former merit because when he was a cakkavāka bird, it saw the Glorious One, went somewhere, brought flowers and reverentially offered them.

13. On having recollected his own former deed, he became delighted and uttered a stanza, starting with Sindhuyā nadiyā tīre, in order to make manifest the deed done by him formerly. It quakes and shakes making cool sound, thus Sindhu (the shaking sound of coolness); it roars, it goes making sound; thus, and (river). Cakkavāko aham tadā, I was then a bird, cakkavāka; it swims, flies and goes swiftly either in water or on land or in the sky similar to the wheel going quickly; thus cakkavāka; at that time when I am the Glorious One Vipassī I;was a Cakkavāka bird; thus, is the meaning. Suddha-sevāla-bhakkho'ham (I was an eater of pure moss) I lived eating only clean moss, because of not being mixed with other forms of pasture; pāpesu ca susaññato (well-controlled with regard evil deeds) I am well-disciplined, well-controlled with regard three doors properly controlled in the matter of doing evil deeds under the influence of former propensity (vāsanā, proclivity).

14. Addasam virojam Buddham (I saw the stainless Buddha) I saw and caught sight of Buddha, free from stain, devoid of depravity, owing to being free from lust (rāga), hatred (dosa) and delusion (moha); gaccahantam anilañjase (going in the sky) Buddha going by the air-journey in the sky; tuṇḍena (by beak) with my mouth-beak;sālam, the Sal flower; paggayha, having lifted up; Vipassissa'bhiropayim (I had them mounted towards Vipassī) I offered with reverence to the Glorious One Vipassī; thus, is the meaning. The rest is but easily comprehensible.

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