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INTRODUCTION.
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solemnity, been invested with the dignified title of Mahanâma, resident at the parivena founded by the minister Dighasa ndana, endowed with the capacity requisite to record the narrative comprised in the Mahavamsa, in due order, rejecting only the dialect in which the Singhalese Atthakathâ are written, but retaining their import and following their arrangement, the history, entitled the Palapadôruvamsa (Padyapadânuvamsa), is compiled. As even in times when the despotism of the ruler of the land, and the horrors arising from the inclemencies of the seasons, and when panics of epidemics and other visitations prevailed, this work escaped all injury; and moreover, as it serves to perpetuate the fame of the Buddhas, their disciples, and the Paché Buddhas of old, it is also worthy of bearing the title of Vamsatthappakäsinî.'
As the evidence of these two passages in support of the identity of the author and the commentator of the Mahavamsa seemed to me very startling, I requested Mr. Rhys Davids to copy for me the passage of the commentary.
The passage runs as follows:
Yå ettavata mahâvamsatthânusarakusalena Dighasandasenâ patinâ kârâpita-mahâparivenavasinā Mahânâmo ti garůhi gahitanâmadheyyena therena pubba-Sîhala-bhasitaya Sîhalatthakathâya bhâsantaram eva vaggiya atthasaram eva gahetva tantinayânurdpena katassa imassa Padyapadanuvamsassa atthavannanâ mayà tam eva sannissitena âraddha, padesissariya-dubbutthibhaya - rogabhayâdi - vividha-antarâya-yuttakåle pi anantarâyena nitthânam upagatâ, sâ buddha-buddhasâvaka-pakkekabuddhâdînam porânanam kikkam pubbavamsatthappakâsanato ayam Vamsatthappakâsinî nâmå ti dhåretabba. ... Padyapadânuvamsavannanâ Vamsatthappakasini nitthità. Mr. Rhys Davids translates this:
The commentary on this Padyapadânuvamsa, which (latter work) was made in the same order and arrangement, and retaining the sense, but rejecting the dialect, of the Sinhalese commentary formerly expressed in the Sinhalese tongue) by the elder who bore the name of Mahânâma, which he had
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