________________ 26 Introduction which was spoken by the Buddha, collected in the four agamas by the elder councillors, Mahakasyapa and Ananda, and which is contained in the Uddanagathas? (summary verses). This explanation helps us to identify the term sutra with the four agamas, viz., the Dirghagama, the Madhyamagama the Samyuktagama and the Ekottaragama, corresponding to the first four nikayas of the Pali canon. The Abhidharmapitaka and the Kshudraka-nikaya (Pali Khuddaka-nikaya) are not included here in the term sutta, pointing again to their late acceptance as canonical works. Incidentally, it may be noted that in the nikaya classification, Abhidhamma-pitaka is included by Theravadins in the Khuddaka-nikaya.. The Sarvastivadin meaning of the term sutta appears more accurate and nearer to the original meaning of that term, compared to the several meanings given by Buddhaghosa.. The term "dharmata' found in the Sanskrit version of the mahapadesas is also at a later period accepted by the Theravada school. The Nettipakarana, a non-canonicals Pali work ascribed by tradition to Mahakachchana (a direct disciple of the Buddha), contains the term dhammata along with sutta and vinaya. The meaning of these terms given in this work differs from the traditional Atthakathas. Its version of the mahapadesas reads : " * those words and syllables should be put beside the suttas, compared with the vinaya and put alongside the dhammata. With which sutta are they to be put beside ? With the Four Noble Truths. With which vinaya are they to be compared ? With the pacification of passion, ill will and infatuation. In which dhammata are they to be tested ? In the doctrine of patichcha-sammuppada." 1 On the uddana-gathas, see Adb. p. 197, n. 6. cf. Pali udddnasamgaha compiled by Sangitikaras. See Dhs A. I. 68. 2 Dhs A. I. 65. 3 In the Burmese tradition this book is included in the Khuddaka nikaya. See Winternitz, A History of Indian Literature, Vol. II. p. 77, n. 3. 4 Netti, p. 22. 5 Sarvastivadins also interpret dharmata as pratitya-samutpada: [na cha satram badhate] na cha sutr antaram virodhayati. [na dharmat am badhata] iti pratilya-samutpada-dharmatam. Soko. p. 705.
