1 837.] Examination of the Pdli Buddhistical Annals. 507 



of Buddhaghoso to Ceylon. The following extract is from the 37th 

 chapter. 



" A brahman youth, born in the neighbourhood of the great bo-tree (in Maga- 

 dha), accomplished in the ' wijja 1 and ' sippa ;' who had achieved the knowledge 

 of the three wedos, and possessed great aptitude in attaining acquirements ; in- 

 defatigable as a schismatic disputant, and himself a schismatic wanderer over 

 Jombudipo, established himself, in the character of a disputant, in a certain 

 wiharo, and was in the habit of rehearsing, by night and by day, with clasped 

 hands, a discourse which he had learned, perfect in all its component parts, and 

 sustained throughout in the same lofty strain. A certain Mahdthero, named 

 Rewato, becoming acquainted with him there, and saying (to himself), • This 

 individual is a person of profound knowledge ; it will be worthy (of me) to 

 convert him,' inquired, ' who is this who is braying like an ass ?' (The brahman) 

 replied to him, ' Thou canst define, then, the meaning conveyed in the braying of 

 asses.' On (the th£ro) rejoining, ■ I can define it ;' he (the brahman) exhibit- 

 ed the extent of the knowledge he possessed. (The thero) criticised each of his 

 propositions, and pointed out in what respect they were fallacious. He who had 

 been thus refuted, said, * Well then, descend to thy own creed ;' and he pro- 

 pounded to him a passage from the ' Abhidhammo 1 (of the PitaJcattayan). He 

 (the brahman) could not divine the signification of that (passage) ; and inquired, 

 ' whose manto is this ?' ' It is Buddho's manto.' On his exclaiming ' Impart 

 it to me ;' (the theVo) replied, ' enter the sacerdotal order.' He who was 

 desirous of acquiring the knowledge of the Pitakattayan, subsequently coming 

 to this conviction : ' This is the sole road (to salvation) ;' became a convert to 

 that faith. As he was as profound in his (ghoso) eloquence as Buddho himself, 

 they conferred on him the appellation of Buddhoghoso (the voice of Buddho) ; 

 and throughout the world he became as renowned as Buddho. Having there 

 (in Jambudipo) composed an original work called ' Nanodagan ;' he at the 

 same time wrote the chapter called « Atthasdlini,' on the Dhammasangini (one 

 of the commentaries on the Abhidhammo) . 



" Rewato the'ro then observing that he was desirous of undertaking the com- 

 pilation of a * Parittatthakathan* (a general commentary on the Pitakattayan) 

 thus addressed him : ' The text alone (of the Pitakattayan) has been pre- 

 served in this land : the Atthakathd are not extant here ; nor is there any 

 version to be found of the " wddd" (schisms) complete. The Singhalese Attha- 

 kathd are genuine. They were composed in the Singhalese language by the in- 

 spired and profoundly wise Mahindo ; the discourses of Buddho, authenticated 

 at the three convocations, and the dissertations and arguments of Sa'riputto and 

 others having been previously consulted (by him) ; and they are extant among 

 the Singhalese. Repairing thither, and studying the same, translate (them) ac- 

 cording to the rules of the grammar of the Magadhas. It will be an act condu- 

 cive to the welfare of the whole world.' 



" Having been thus advised, this eminently wise personage, rejoicing thereat, 

 departed from thence, and visited this island, in the reign of this monarch 

 (Maha'na'mo). On reaching the Mah&wih&ro (at Anur&dhapura) he entered the 

 Mahdpadhano hall, the most splendid of the apartments in the wihdro, and lis- 

 tened to the Singhalese Atthakathd, and the Therawdda, from beginning to 



