114 



I have, in translation, endeavoured to keep as closely as possi- 

 ble to the original, and where that course gave rise to obscurity, 

 the foot-notes will afford the necessary explanation. 



I have used the edition published in 1869, by the Pandit 

 Dewarakkhita (better known in Ceylon as Bhatuvantudave) ; 

 and I may here render to him, as well as to the talented Sipka- 

 duve Sumangala, and Waskaduve Subhuti, my thanks for the 

 assistance which they afford me. 



B A! LA'YATA' EA. 



Buddharx tidha 'bhivanditva buddhambuja wilochanan. 

 Balavataran bhasissan balanan buddhiwuddhiya. 



f Having saluted in the three ways the <full-btown-lot us- 

 eyed Buddha, I will compose the Balavatara for the increase of 

 the knowledge of the ignorant? 



Akkharapadayo ekachattalisan.^ 



' The letters a, &c. } are forty-one.' 



Akkharapi akaradayo ekachattalisan suttantopakara-— tail 

 yatha. 



* According to the sutra there are forty- one letters, including -a 

 and the rest— how is it f 



a a i i u u e o ka kha ga gha na cha chha ja jha 

 na ta tha da dha na ta tha da dha na pa pha ba bha ma 

 ya ra la wa sa ha la an — iti. 



Thus;— a a i i u u e o ka kha ga gha na cha chha 

 ja jha n a ta tha da dha na ta tha da dha na pa pha ba 

 bha ma ya ra la wa sa ha la am 



* Alwis 1 Introduction to Kachchayana's Grammar, page xvii. Note. — 

 u Moggaiayana disputes the correctness of this suttan, and says that the 

 Pali alphabet contains forty-three characters, including ttH^short e 

 (epsilon) and o (omikron)." 



