690 



Pdli Buddhistical Annah. [Aug. 



been given to it over the Mhahathd. On subjects necessarily involv- 

 ing continuous narrative, the information could in general only have 

 been obtained by reference to several parts of the Pitakattayah (as the 

 narrative portion of that compilation consists principally of unconnected 

 parables) ; and by forming a connected statement from those references. 

 In those cases, I have preferred at once availing myself of the continu- 

 ous statement frequently furnished by Buddhaghoso in his AMakatha 

 or commentaries on the text of the Pitakattayah. My object being to 

 select for consideration, in every instance, those points which are con- 

 sidered of the greatest importance, not by the European inquirer but 

 by the Buddhist commentator ; and to present them also, as far as pos- 

 sible, in the language used by Buddho, his disciples, and the last great 

 commentator on his doctrines, Buddhaghoso. 



Concerning the PubbSniwdsandnan, Extract from the Patisamblidan, the twelfth 

 book in the Khudakanikdyo in the Suttapitako. 



"He (who has attained the arahat, sanctification) is endowed with the power, 

 called Pubbeniwdsan&nan, of revealing his various former existences. Thus I am 

 acquainted with one existence, two existences, three existences, four existences, 

 five existences, ten existences, twenty existences, thirty existences, forty existences, 

 fifty existences, a hundred existences, a thousand existences, and a hundred 

 thousand existences; innumerable Sanwatta-kappe ; innumerable Wiwatta-kappi ; 

 innumerable Sanwaitaiviwatla-kappe. 



" I know that I was born in such a place, bearing such a name, descended of such 

 a race, endowed with such a complexion : that I subsisted on such an aliment, 

 and was subjected to such and such joys and griefs, and was gifted with such a 

 term of existence : who after death (in each of those existences) was reproduced 

 in such a place, bearing such a name, descended of such a family, endowed with 

 such a complexion, nourished by such aliment, subjected to such and such pains 

 and pleasures, gifted with such a term of existence : and who, after death in that 

 existence, was regenerated here. Thus it is that he who is endowed with the 

 Pubbeniwasananan is acquainted both with his origin and external appearance 

 (in his form existence).'' 



The Atthakathd called the Saddhammappakasini, on the Patisambhi- 

 dan affords the following explanation of this passage. 



" This power of Pubbeniwasananan six descriptions of beings exercise ; viz. the 

 Titthiyd (the ministers of other religions), the Pakatisawakd (disciples ordinary of 

 Buddho), the AsitimaMsdwakd (his eighty principal disciples), the Dwe-aggasdwakd 

 (the two chief disciples), the P ache he" kd Buddhd (inferior Buddhos), and the Buddhd 

 (supreme Buddhos). 



** Among these, the Titthiya have the power of revelation over forty kappe, and 

 not beyond, on accouut of their limited intelligence ; and their intelligence is limit- 

 ed as they recognize a limitation to corporeal and individual regeneration. 



" The ordinary disciples (of Buddho) have the power of revelation over a hun- 

 dred and a thousand kappe being endowed with greater intelligence. 



"The eighty principal disciples have the power of revelation over a hundred thou- 

 sand kappe. The two chief disciples over one asankheyyan and a hundred thousand 

 kappe". The inferior Buddhd over two asankheyydne and a hundred thousand kappS 



