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APRIL, 1890.)
BUDDHAGHOSA.
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bhumiye, he composed the Turnpittike also, and employed himself in teaching the doctrine of Budhu; while the king Aniniddha Maha Raja propagated the same persuasion in the country Arunardenepureje." A much fuller variation of the Ceylonese legendes appeared four years later in the Hon. George Tarnour's translation of a portion of the Mahavarisa, made from a totally different recension of that work from that which had been used by the earlier translators :"A Brahman youth, born in the neighbourhood of the terrace of the great Bo-tree (in Magadha), accomplished in the wijja and sippa; who had achieved the knowledge of the three wedos, and possessed great aptitude in attaining acquirements, indefatigable as a schismatic disputant, and himself a schismatic wanderer over Jambudipo, 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 maha thero, 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 P' The Brahman replied to him, Thou canst define, then, the meaning conveyed in the bray of asses' On the thero rejoining, I can define it,' he, the Brahman exhibited 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 propounded to him a passage from the Abhidhammo of the Pitakattaya. He, the Brah. man, could not divide the signification of that passage, and inquired, Whose manto is this?
It is Baddho's manto.' On his exclaiming, 'Impart it to me,' the thero replied, 'Enter the sacerdotal order. He who was desirous of acquiring the knowledge of the Pitakattaya, 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 Buddhaghoso (the voice of Buddho); and throughout the world he became ag renowned as Buddho. Having there, in Jambndipo, composed an original work called Nanodayan, he, at the same time, wrote the chapter called Atthasálini, on the Dhammasangini, one of the commentaries on the Abhidhammo. Rewato-thero then observing that he was desirous of undertaking the compilation of a Parittatthaluathan, a general commentary on the Pitakattaya, thus addressed him ; The text alone of the Pițakattaya lias been preserved in this land : the Atthakatha are not extant here; nor is there any version to be found of the wádá schisms, complete. The Sinhalese Atthakatha are genuine. They were composed in the Singhalese language by the inspired and profoundly wise Mahindo, who had previously consulted the discourses of Buddho, authenticated at the three convocations, and the dissertations aod arguments of Sariputto and others, and they are extant among the Singhalese. Repairing thither, and studying the same, translate them according to the rules of the grammar of tbe Magadhas. It will be an act conducive to the welfare of the whole world.' Having beer thus advised, this eminently wise personage rejoicing therein departed from thence and visited this island in the reign of this monarch (Mahanamo). On reaching the Mahawihiro at Anuradhapura, he entered the Mahapa chino hall, the most splendid of the apartments in the wihéro, and listened to the Singhalese Atthakathi and the Therawadá from the beginning to the end propounded by the thero Sanghapâli; and became thoroughly convinced that they conveyed the true meaning of the doctrines of the lord of Dhanmo. Thereapon, paying reverential respect to the priesthood, be thus petitioned; I am desirous of translating the Atthakathú. give me access to all your books. The priesthood, for the purpose of testing his qualifications, gave only two gátlá, saying, Hence prove thy qualification; having satisfied ourselves on this point we will then let thee have all our books." From these, taking these gáthá for his text, and consulting the Pitakattaya, together with the Atthakathá, and condensing them into un abridged form, he composed the commentary called the Wisuddhimaggur. Thereupon having assembled the priesthood who had acquired a thorough, knowledge of the doctrines of
* Turnouz'Mahajuri.ca, p. 250.
