Therigatha-Commentators-Envoi

Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Therigatha >> TherigathaCOMMENTATORS-ENVOI

Adapted from Archaic Translation By Mrs. Rhys Davids 1909

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

COMMENTATORS-ENVOI

The Hymns of them who through the rightous Dhamma Became the true-born children and the heirs, Mouth-born, of Him who is the Master, Great One(Buddha), King of the Dhamma, became offspring of Dhamma(path of eternal truth), Excelling in all virtue, Arahants, Who caused all that it was possible to do– These Hymns, their utterances when Anna (Enlightened state) They did proclaim, or whensoever it was, Beginning with Monk SUBHUTI'S verse, With Theris Hymns, headed by Therika– All these the Leaders of the Order took, And in one ordered serial compiled, The THERAGATHA-THERIGATHA named.

To elucidate the importance of that work Three Older Commentaries are extant. To that this interpretation I have tried <p style="text-align:center;">To compose, the which, in that wherever it was fit, <p style="text-align:center;">I strove to set the highest meaning forth, <p style="text-align:center;">I named the Paramattha-Dipani; <p style="text-align:center;">The whole of which, now finished to the end, <p style="text-align:center;">By orderly decision is arranged, <p style="text-align:center;">For recitation from the sacred text, <p style="text-align:center;">In chapters of the number ninety-two. <p style="text-align:center;">Thus by the efficacy of such good <p style="text-align:center;">As has given to me, by me applied, <p style="text-align:center;">Have I made bright the glory of the word, <p style="text-align:center;">The system, of the Lord of the worlds; <p style="text-align:center;">That, by their pure attainment in all truth <p style="text-align:center;">And virtue, mortals all may come to taste <p style="text-align:center;">the essence of enlightenment(vimutti, vimukti). <p style="text-align:center;">Long may the Very Buddha's Word and Law remain <p style="text-align:center;">and ever may it be revered <p style="text-align:center;">By every creature that has life and breath! <p style="text-align:center;">And may the weather-god in season due <p style="text-align:center;">Send rain on earth, and may the powers that be <p style="text-align:center;">Govern the world with Dhamma(righteousness) <p style="text-align:center;">As lovers of the Dhamma(path of eternal truth)!

Thus ends the Commentary on the Therigatha, by the Acharya, Dhammapala Thera, residing at the Padara-Tittha-Vihara(monastery).

[1] Vipassana : This refers to the foremost insight meditation called 'Vipassana'  taught by Buddha in which attention is focussed on inner phenomenon (breath,body,emotions, sensations & mind) with detachment (samata/equanimity) leading to self-awakening & enlightenment.

[2] Rebirth in 'hell,' as animal, as 'ghost,' as demon, are the four bad destinations('purgatorial lives,' ); Good destinations are two as human or as god(angel).

[3] Dasbala : The Ten Powers peculiar to a Tathagata are: (1) He knows thoroughly right and wrong occasions; (2) he knows thoroughly the effect of all karma-series; (3) the methods for accomplishing anything; (4) the elements (data) of the world; (5) the various tendencies, inclinations, of beings; (6) the capacities of beings; (7) the nature and procedure of all contemplative disciplines; (8) former lives; (9) he has the 'celestial vision'; (10) he has realized the intellectual enlightenment(vimutti, vimukti) of the Arahant(enlightened equal to Buddha)

[4] Vareyyam. So above, lit., 'Let there be choosing for you, child,' the term for marriage in high life, whether or no the woman had any voice in the matter.

[5] The body (rupa) is as empty of essence (soul) as the clot of foam drifting down the Ganges.

[6] Nectar=amatan, rendered elsewhere in this work by 'ambrosia,' its etymological equivalent. Usually considered one of the many terms for Nibbana, it is here by the commentarial tradition associated with the Dhamma–'the Amata of the Dhamma(path of eternal truth) brought to us by the Very Buddha in his great compassion'.

[7] Iddhi(magical ability), the Purified Hearing of any place, knowledge of the thoughts of others, memory of former lives(rebirths), the past lives of other beings, the extinction of the Asavas(sensual desires) within i.e. purity.