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 thera Parappasādaka

Stanzas starting with Usabham pavaramvīram constitute the biography of the venerable thera Parappasādaka. This one also having done devoted service toward former Buddhas, accumulating meritorious deeds conducive towards escape from the rounds of rebirths (vaṭṭa) in this and that existence, was reborn in a brahmin family at the time of the Glorious One Siddhattha; he became proficient in the three vedas together with the fifth text Itihāsa (traditional lore), was one who could recite the verse and explain facts, together with nighaṇḍu and Keṭubha which he knew all divisions along with the alphabets and divisions or diversions, and efficient in worldly science, lokāyata, and in the characteristics of a great man, well-known as Sela brahmin by name; on catching sight of the Glorious One Siddhattha, who was seen by himself gracefully shining with thirtytwo characteristic and eighty minor marks of a great man, he became purely pious-minded and made manifest his praise by many a circumstance and by means of many an illustration. On account of that act of merit, he enjoyed the bliss of six stages of divine sensual pleasure, the prosperity of sakka, Māra and so on in the divine world, enjoyed;(or experienced) the prosperity of world king among human-beings, was reborn in a wealthy family-house; on having attained the age of intelligence, he became piously pleased with the Master, renounced the world and before long even, became a canker-free arahat who had attained four kinds of analytical knowledge and six sorts of higher knowledge. He became well-known as the thera Parappasādaka, because of his making the minds of all creatures pleasingly pious by means of his praise of Buddha.

20. One day, on having recollected his own former deed he became delighted and recited a stanza, starting with usabham pavaram vīram making manifest the deed done by him previously. There, Usabham, bull, vasabha, nisabha, visabha and āsabha; thus, are four eldest male bulls. There, vasabha bull is the eldest of a hundred cattle; nisabha is the eldest of a thousand cattle; āsabho is the eldest of a hundred thousand crores of cattle; in making praise of any one whosever the wise brahmins who are much learned make praise by way of his individual knowledge.

There is not a single one who is capable of making praise in all manner, however, of Buddhas; Buddha, indeed, is incomparable. Indeed, it has been said thus:

"Buddha also would speak in praise of Buddha; if for an aeon (kappa), even, He were to speak of another Buddha, the long long interval of aeon (kappa), might get exhausted but the praise of Tathāgata would not come to an end;"

thus, was the beginning. This brahmin also, said starting with "Usabha, bull", although he should say "Āsabha, biggest bull", by way of mouth mounting (mukhārūlha), and by way of definite pleasing piety. Selectable and wishable; thus, is varo, excellent; because of making exertion in many a hundred thousand aeons (kappa), is vīra; seeks and goes in quest of such great mass as that of moral precepts and so on, that Mahesim (great seeker) Buddha; having conquered such Māras as depravity (kilesa), aggregates (khandha) Māra and so on, distinctly; thus, vijitāvī;that Vijitāvīnam (that conqueror) self-enlightened Buddha. Suvaṇṇavaṇṇam (gold colour) of whosoever self-enlightened Buddha is similar to the colour of gold, that golden complexioned one; on having seen that golden complexioned self-enlightened Buddha, who, namely, is that creature, who does not become pleasingly pious.

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

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