Atthakatha


Aṭṭhakathā refers to Pali-language Theravadin Buddhist commentaries to the canonical Theravadin Tipitaka. These commentaries give the traditional interpretations of the scriptures. The major commentaries were based on earlier ones, now lost, in Prakrit and Sinhala, which were written down at the same time as the Canon, in the last century BCE. Some material in the commentaries is found in canonical texts of other schools of Buddhism, suggesting an early common source.
According to K.R. Norman:
There is no direct evidence that any commentarial material was in fact recited at the first council, but there is clear evidence that some parts of the commentaries are very old, perhaps even going back to the time of the Buddha, because they afford parallels with texts which are regarded as canonical by other sects, and must therefore pre-date the schisms between the sects. As has already been noted, some canonical texts include commentarial passages, while the existence of the Old Commentary in the Vinaya-pitaka and the canonical status of the Niddesa prove that some sort of exegesis was felt to be needed at a very early stage of Buddhism.
As with the Canon itself, the contents of collected editions of the Theravadin commentaries, compiled from the fourth century CE onwards, vary between editions. The minimal collection, found in the Thai edition includes the following.
In addition, the following are included in one or both of the other two editions: the Burmese Chatthasangayana edition and the Sinhalese Simon Hewavitarne Bequest edition.
  • The Patimokkha and its commentary Kankhavitarani, ascribed to Buddhaghosa
  • Commentary by Dhammapala on the Nettipakarana, a work sometimes included in the canon.
  • Vinayasangaha, a selection of passages from Samantapasadika arranged topically by Sariputta in the twelfth century.
  • Saratthasamuccaya, commentary on the Paritta. In Sinhalese.
In addition, there are treatises like Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga, a systematic presentation of the traditional teaching. This work, noted in both Sinhalese and Burmese traditions, is sometimes loosely referred to as a "commentary" on the first four nikāyas for the material it details, although it is not traditionally considered as an "Aṭṭhakathā".

Buddhaghosa

Below is a listing of fourth- or fifth-century CE commentator Buddhaghosa's fourteen alleged commentaries on the Pāli Tipitaka.
Only the Visuddhimagga and the commentaries on the first four nikayas are accepted by a consensus of scholars as Buddhaghosa's.

Dhammapala

The commentator Dhammapala's date is uncertain. He wrote after Buddhaghosa, and probably no later than the 7th century. His Khuddaka Nikaya commentaries are Paramatthadipani comprising :
  • Udana-atthakatha regarding the Udana.
  • Itivuttaka-atthakatha regarding the Itivuttaka.
  • Vimanavatthu-atthakatha regarding the Vimanavatthu.
  • Petavatthu-atthakatha regarding the Petavatthu.
  • Theragatha-atthakatha regarding the Theragatha.
  • Therigatha-atthakatha regarding the Therigatha.
  • Cariyapitaka-atthakatha regarding the Cariyapitaka.

    Other Khuddaka Nikaya commentaries

Other Khuddaka Nikaya commentaries are :
  • Saddhammapajotika by Upasena regarding the Niddesa.
  • Saddhammappakasini by Mahānāma regarding the Patisambhidamagga.
  • Visuddhajanavilasini by an unknown author regarding the Apadana.
  • Madhuratthavilasini attributed to Buddhadatta regarding the Buddhavamsa.
Three books are included in some editions of the Khuddaka Nikaya: Nettipakarana, Petakopadesa and Milindapañha. Of these only the Nettipakarana has a commentary in any standard edition.

Translations

  • Samantapasadika
  • * Introduction translated as "The inception of discipline" by N. A. Jayawickrama, in 1 volume with the Pali, "Vinaya nidana", 1962, PTS, Oxford.
  • * Chinese adaptation called Shan chien p'i p'o sha tr P. V. Bapat & Akira Hirakawa, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona.
  • Patimokkha tr K. R. Norman, 2001, PTS, Oxford.
  • Kankhavitarani: translation by K. R. Norman & William Pruitt in preparation.
  • Sumangalavilasini
  • * Introduction translated in a learned journal in the 1830s.
  • * Commentary on Brahmajala Sutta, abr tr Bodhi in The All-Embracing Net of Views, BPS, Kandy, 1978. Available for free download
  • * Commentary on Samannaphala Sutta, abr tr Bodhi in The Discourse on the Fruits of Recluseship, BPS, Kandy, 1989. Available for free download .
  • * Commentary on Maha Nidana Sutta, abr tr Bodhi in The Great Discourse on Causation, BPS, Kandy, 1984. Available for free download .
  • * Commentary on Mahaparinibbana Sutta tr Yang-Gyu An, 2003, PTS, Oxford.
  • Papancasudani
  • * Commentary on Mulapariyaya Sutta, abr tr Bodhi in The Discourse on the Root of Existence, BPS, Kandy, 1980. Available for free download .
  • * Commentary on Sammaditthi Sutta, tr Nanamoli in The Discourse on Right View, BPS, Kandy, 1991. Available for free download.
  • * Commentary on Satipatthana Sutta, tr Soma in The Way of Mindfulness, Saccanubodha Samiti, Kandy, 1941; reprinted BPS, Kandy. Available for free download @.
  • Sāratthappakāsānī.
  • * and in the Mahāvagga by Aggācāra Dhamma.
  • Manorathapurani : stories of leading nuns and laywomen, tr Mabel Bode in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, new series, volume XXV, pages 517-66 & 763–98
  • Paramatthajotika on Khuddakapatha, tr Nanamoli as "The illustrator of ultimate meaning", in 1 volume with "The minor readings", 1960, PTS, Oxford.
  • Dhammapada commentary, translated in two parts.
  • * Stories giving background to verses, tr E. W. Burlingame as Buddhist Legends, 1921, 3 volumes, Harvard Oriental Series; reprinted PTS, Oxford.
  • * Explanations of verses, translated in the Dhammapada translation by John Ross Carter & Mahinda Palihawadana, Oxford University Press, 1987; included only in the hardback edition, not the paperback World Classics edition.
  • Udana commentary tr Peter Masefield, 1994–5, 2 volumes, PTS, Oxford.
  • Itivuttaka commentary tr Peter Masefield, 2008–2009, 2 vols., PTS, Oxford.
  • Vimanavatthu commentary, tr Peter Masefield as Vimana Stories, 1989, PTS, Oxford.
  • Petavatthu commentary, tr U Ba Kyaw & Peter Masefield as Peta-Stories, 1980, PTS, Oxford.
  • Theragatha commentary: substantial extracts translated in Psalms of the Brethren, tr C. A. F. Rhys Davids, 1913; reprinted in Psalms of the Early Buddhists, PTS, Oxford.
  • Therigatha commentary, tr as The Commentary on the Verses of the Theris, by William Pruitt, 1998, PTS, Oxford.
  • Jataka commentary.
  • * Introduction tr as The Story of Gotama Buddha by N. A. Jayawickrama, 1990, PTS, Oxford.
  • * Most of the rest is translated in the Jataka translation by E. B. Cowell et al., 1895–1907, 6 volumes, Cambridge University Press; reprinted in 3 volumes by PTS, Oxford.
  • Paṭisambhidāmagga's commentary- second section: Saddhammmappakāsinī - translated by Dr. Thiri Nyunt; third section: by Ven. Dr. Cālā Therī.
  • Madhuratthavilasini, tr as The Clarifier of the Sweet Meaning by I. B. Horner, 1978, PTS, Oxford.
  • Atthasalini, tr as The Expositor by Pe Maung Tin, 1920–21, 2 volumes; reprinted in 1 volume, PTS, Oxford.
  • Sammohavinodani, tr as The Dispeller of Delusion, by Nanamoli, 1987–91, 2 volumes, PTS, Oxford.
  • Kathavatthu commentary, tr as The Debates Commentary by B. C. Law, 1940, PTS, Oxford.
  • Visuddhimagga
  • *The Path of Purity, tr Pe Maung Tin, 1923–31, 3 volumes; reprinted in 1 volume, Pali Text Society, Oxford.
  • * The Path of Purification, tr Nanamoli, Ananda Semage, Colombo, 1956; reprinted Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Available for free download .