349378 Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal, no. 20, pp.

. 349378 (2007) Taipei: Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies ISSN: 1017-7132

349

The Theravda Tradition and Modern Pli Scholarship:

A Case of Lost Manuscripts Mentioned in Old Pli Bibliographical Sources

Primoz Pecenko
Director, Center for Buddhist Studes University of Queensland

Abstract
In this article I will discuss my research of the Pli subcommentaries (k) on the first four nikyas and show that there exist two sets of such subcommentaries and not just a single set which we have in printed form (Chahasagyana edition). The works of modern Pli scholarship, which in this case agree with the Theravda tradition, also usually mention only one set of the subcommentaries. However, according to some Pli bibliographic sources and catalogues of Pli manuscripts held in various libraries in Burma and Sri Lanka, there seem to exists another set of the subcommentaries on the four nikyas which has been ignored/omitted by the Theravda tradition and also considered either lost or non-existent by modern Pli scholarship. My recent discovery of a Pli manuscript of one of the lost subcommentaries in Burma gives a completely new perspective on the historical development of the two sets of the subcommentaries and, in a wider sense, also on our understanding of the available information about the history of Pli literature. I will attempt to discuss the following important issues which resulted from this discovery: The existence of the lost manuscript proves that the information in some older Pli bibliographic sourceswhere both sets are mentionedis correct and that both the Theravda tradition as well as modern Pli scholarship ignored the lost texts and the bibliographic information about them. Why? The analysis of the available printed editions and catalogued manuscripts also indicates that the information on the subcommentaries given in the works of modern Pali scholarship seems to be influenced by the traditional Theravda scholarship (both mention only one set)although the information on the lost texts was easily available. My discovery of the above mentioned manuscript, which is listed in the oldest

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Pli bibliographic text (Saddhammasagaha), also proves that this bibliographic textoften considered less reliable by modern Pli scholarshipseems to be much more reliable than the later bibliographic sources (e.g. Ssanavasa) which have been used as main sources for modern history of Pli literature. Therefore the sources for the available history of Pli literature need to be re-examined in the light of the information given in the older bibliographic texts, catalogues of Pli manuscripts, inscriptions, and the texts whichalthough existing in manuscript formhave not been researched yet. Considering all this, our understanding of the traditional Theravda transmission of Pli texts will have to be re-examined as well. Key words: 1. Theravda Buddhism2. Pli Subcommentaries 3. Pli Bibliographies4. Textual Transmission 5. Pli Manuscripts

Contents
Part 1: The Ahakaths and ks on the Four Nikyas Part 2: The ks in Pli Bibliographic Sources 2.1. Saddhammasagaha 2.2. The Pagan inscription 2.3. Gandhavasa 2.4. Ssanavasa 2.5. Ssanavasadpa 2.6. Piakat samui 2.7. Critical Pli Dictionary Part 3: Printed Editions and Manuscripts of the ks Conclusions Abbreviations

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In this article I will discuss my research of the Pli subcommentaries (k)1 on the first four nikyas and show that there exist two sets of such subcommentaries and not just a single set which we have in printed form (Chahasagyana edition). The works of modern Pli scholarship,2 which in this case agree with the Theravda tradition, also usually mention only one set of the subcommentaries. However, according to some Pli bibliographic sources and catalogues of Pli manuscripts3 held in various libraries in Burma and Sri Lanka, there seem to exists another set of the subcommentaries on the four nikyas which has been ignored/omitted by the Theravda tradition and also considered either lost or non-existent by modern Pli scholarship. My recent discovery of a Pli manuscript of one of the lost subcommentaries in Burma4 gives a completely new perspective on the historical development of the two sets of the subcommentaries and, in a wider sense, also on our understanding of the available information about the history of Pli literature. I will attempt to discuss the following important issues which resulted from this discovery: The existence of the lost manuscript proves that the information in some older Pli bibliographic sourceswhere both sets are mentionedis correct and

For the etymology of the word k see M. Mayrhofer, Etymologisches Wrterbuch des Altindoarischen (Heidelberg: Carl Winter, 1986) s.v. See also PLC, pp. 19293; K.R. Norman, Pli Literature (Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1983), pp. 14851 [from now on: K.R. Norman, PL]; W.B. Bolle, Die Stellung der Vinayaks in der Pli-Literatur, ZDMG, Suppl. 1, 17 (1969), pp. 82435; Oskar von Hinber, A Handbook of Pli Literature (Berlin/New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1996), pp. 100101 [from now on: O.v. Hinber, HPL]. For example, O.v. Hinber, HPL. Bibliographic sources: Saddhammasagaha (Saddhamma-s; edited by Nedimle Saddhnanda, JPTS 1890, pp. 2190 = Ne 1961); Pagan inscription (edition: G. H. Luce and Tin Htway, A 15th Century Inscription and Library at Pagan, Burma in Malalasekera Commemoration Volume [Colombo: The Malalasekera Commemoration Volume Editorial Committee, 1976], pp. 203217); Gandhavasa (Gv; edited by I.P. Minayeff, JPTS, 1886, pp. 5479); Ssanavasa (Ss Ne; edited by C.S. Upasak, Nland: Nava Nland Mahvihra, 1961); Ssanavasadpa (Ss-dip Ce; edited by Vimalasrathera, Colombo: Satthloka Press, 1880); Piakat samui (Pi-sm; edition: Rangoon: Tipiakanikya Ssan Pru Aphvai, 1989); Critical Pli Dictionary (CPD; edited by V. Trenckner et al., Copenhagen: Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, 1924); catalogues: K.D. Smadsa, Lakv puskoa pot nmvaliya, Vols. IIII (Colombo: Department of Cultural Affairs, 195964); Piakat samui3 (Rangoon: Tipiakanikya Ssan Pru Aphvai1, 1989). Pi-sm is both a bibliographic source and a catalogue (see Part 2, 2.6. and Part 3 below). The manuscript is described in detail in Primoz Pecenko, Lnatthapaksin and Sratthamajs: The Puraks and the ks on the Four Nikyas, JPTS 27 (2002), pp. 8285.

2 3

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that both the Theravda tradition as well as modern Pli scholarship ignored the lost texts and the bibliographic information about them. Why? The analysis of the available printed editions and catalogued manuscripts also indicates that the information on the subcommentaries given in the works of modern Pali scholarship seems to be influenced by the traditional Theravda scholarship (both mention only one set)although the information on the lost texts was easily available. My discovery of the above mentioned manuscript, which is listed in the oldest Pli bibliographic text (Saddhammasagaha), also proves that this bibliographic textoften considered less reliable by modern Pli scholarshipseems to be much more reliable than the later bibliographic sources (e.g. Ssanavasa) which have been used as main sources for modern history of Pli literature. Therefore the sources for the available history of Pli literature need to be re-examined in the light of the information given in the older bibliographic texts, catalogues of Pli manuscripts, inscriptions, and the texts whichalthough existing in manuscript formhave not been researched yet. Considering all this, our understanding of the traditional Theravda transmission of Pli texts will have to be re-examined as well.

Part 1: The Ahakaths and ks on the Four Nikyas

Each of the four nikyas has a commentary (ahakath) compiled by Buddhaghosa in the fifth century CE in Sri Lanka (see Table 1.1. below), and the four commentaries have two sets of subcommentaries, the older ones (purak), collectively called Lnatthapaksin (see Table 1.2. below), and the later ones (k), collectively called Sratthamajs (see Table 1.3. below).
Table 1.1. Commentaries (ahakath) on the four nikyas

Pli canon (four nikyas) Dghanikya (DN) Majjhimanikya (MN) Sayuttanikya (SN) Aguttaranikya (AN)

First written down 1st cent. BCE in Sri Lanka

Commentaries (ahakath) Sumagalavilsin (Sv) Papacasdan (Ps) Sratthapaksin (Spk) Manorathapra (Mp)

Compiled 5th cent. CE by Buddhaghosa

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Table 1.2. The old subcommentaries (purak) on the four nikyas

Nikya / Ahakath Dghanikya / Sumagalavilsin Majjhimanikya / Papacasdan Sayuttanikya / Sratthapaksin Aguttaranikya / Manorathapra

Old subcommentaries (purak=p)

Compiled 6th9th century CE by Dhammapla

Sumagalavilsinpurak (Sv-p), Paham Lnatthapaksin [I] Papacasdanpurak (Ps-p), Dutiy Lnatthapaksin [II] Sratthapaksinpurak (Spk-p), Tatiy Lnatthapaksin [III] Manorathaprapurak (Mp-p), Catutth Lnatthapaksin [IV]

Table 1.3. The (later) subcommentaries (k) on the four nikyas

Nikya / Ahakath Dghanikya / Sumagalavilsin Majjhimanikya / Papacasdan Sayuttanikya / Sratthapaksin Aguttaranikya / Manorathapra

(Later) subcommentaries (k = )
Compiled 12th century CE by Sriputta

Sumagalavilsink (Sv-), Paham Sratthamajs [I] Papacasdank (Ps-), Dutiy Sratthamajs [II] Sratthapaksink (Spk-), Tatiy Sratthamajs [III] Manorathaprak (Mp-), Catutth Sratthamajs [IV]

The authorship of the puraks (Lnatthapaksin) is usually ascribed to Dhammapla5 and that of the later ks (Sratthamajs) is ascribed to Sriputta
5

On the date(s) and works of Dhammapla(s) see O.v. Hinber, HPL, pp. 167170; A.P. Buddhadatta, The Second Great Commentator in Corrections to Geiger Mahvasa etc. (Ambalangoda: Ananda Book Company, 1957), pp. 18997; Bhratya Bauddhcryay (Colombo: K.M. Ratnasiri, 1949), pp. 6368; Theravd Bauddhcryay (Ambalangoda: S.K. Candratilaka, 1960), pp. 5455; H. Dhammaratana Thera, Buddhism in South India, The Wheel Publication No. 124/125 (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1968), pp. 4041; Lily de Silva, Introduction in Sv-p, pp. xlilv; Supaphan Na Bangchang, Introduction in A Critical Edition of the Mlapariyyavagga of Majjhimanikya-ahakathk (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Peradeniya, 1981), pp. xxivxxxix; H. Saddhatissa, Introduction in Ups, pp. 28 foll.; L.S. Cousins, Dhammapla and the k literature [review of Sv-p, ed. by Lily de Silva], Religion 2, pt. 1 (1972): pp. 15965; A. Peiris, The Colophon to the Paramatthamajs and the Discussion on the Date of cariya Dhammapla in Buddhism in Ceylon and Studies on Religious Syncretism in Buddhist Countries, ed. by H. Bechert (Gttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1978), pp. 6177; EncBuddh, vol. 4, fasc. 4, pp. 501504; A.K. Warder, Some Problems of the Later Pali Literature, JPTS 9 (1981), pp. 198207; P. Jackson, A Note on Dhammapla(s), JPTS 15 (1990), pp. 209211.

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of Poonnaruva.6 Although according to some catalogues7 of Pli manuscripts held in various libraries in Burma and Sri Lanka, both sets of ks exist in manuscript form, only the ks belonging to the single combined set (see Table 1.4 below) have been published and the remaining ones (see Tables 1.56 below) have not been investigated at all. The two sets of subcommentaries on the first four nikyas are mentioned in Pli bibliographical sources (see p. 1, n. 3 above) in the following three ways: First, as a single set consisting of the first three ks from the old set, called Lnatthapaksin, and the fourth k from the later set, called Sratthamajs:
Table 1.4. One combined set of subcommentaries.

Pli Canon
Four nikyas

Commentaries Sumagalavilsin Papacasdan Sratthapaksin Manorathapra

Old subcomment.
(purak = p)

(Later) subcomment.
(k = )

Dghanikya Majjhimanikya Sayuttanikya Aguttaranikya

Lnatthapaksin I Lnatthapaksin II Lnatthapaksin III Sratthamajs IV

The set in Table 1.4 above was approved and published by the Sixth Council (Chahasagyana).

Second, as one complete set of the old ks with an additional later k on Aguttara-nikya:

On Sriputta of Poonnaruva see P. Pecenko, Sriputta and his works, JPTS 23 (1997), pp. 159179; O.v. Hinber, HPL, pp. 172173. Here I mean the following two catalogues: 1) K.D. Smadsa, Lakv puskoa pot nmvaliya, Vols. I-III (Colombo: Department of Cultural Affairs, 195964), and 2) a very important Burmese bibliographic work which also refers to the manuscripts held in the National Library, Rangoon: Piakat samui (Rangoon: Tipiakanikya Ssan Pru Aphvai, 1989). Of course, these two catalogues, although sufficient for the topic of this article, do not list all the Pli manuscripts that have not been investigated yet. Further research of old inscriptions and Pli manuscripts is needed here and some work has already been done, see for example: U Than Tun, An original inscription dated 10 September 1223 that king Badon copied on 27 October 1785, tudes birmanes (Paris: EFEO, 1998), pp. 3755; Anne M. Blackburn, Notes on Sri Lankan temple manuscripts collections, JPTS 27 (2002), pp. 160; Oskar von Hinber, Chips from Buddhist workshops: Scribes and manuscripts from Northern Thailand, JPTS 22 (1996), pp. 3557; Oskar von Hinber, Remarks on list of books sent to Ceylon from Siam in the 18th century, JPTS 12 (1988), pp. 17583.

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Table 1.5. A complete set of old subcommentaries with a later subcommentary

Pli Canon
Four nikyas

Commentaries

Old subcomment.
(purak = p)

[Later] subcomment.
(k = )

Dghanikya Majjhimanikya Sayuttanikya Aguttaranikya

Sumagalavilsin Papacasdan Sratthapaksin Manorathapra

Lnatthapaksin I Lnatthapaksin II Lnatthapaksin III Lnatthapaksin IV Sratthamajs IV

Here Lnatthapaksin IV, the old subcommentary on Aguttaranikya, a manuscript of which was found in 1999 in Burma,8 is added to the Sixth Councils set.

Third, as two completely different sets:

Table 1.6. The two complete sets of subcommentaries on four nikyas

Pli Canon
Four nikyas

Commentaries

Old subcomment.
(purak = p)

[Later] subcomment.
(k = )

Dghanikya Majjhimanikya Sayuttanikya

Sumagalavilsin Papacasdan Sratthapaksin

Lnatthapaksin I Lnatthapaksin II Lnatthapaksin III Lnatthapaksin IV

Sratthamajs I Sratthamajs II Sratthamajs III Sratthamajs IV

Aguttaranikya Manorathapra

Here three later subcommentaries on Dghanikya, Majjhimanikya and Sayuttanikya (Sratthamanjs IIII), which are still in manuscript form, are added and thus we have two complete sets, a very different situation from the single set approved by the Sixth Council (see Table 1.4. above). In the next two sections (Part 2 and Part 3 below) I will analyse in detail the Pli bibliographic sources and catalogues which mention the subcommentaries given in the Tables above.

At present I am working on a critical edition of this manuscript which will be published by the Pali Text Society. Three selected chapters from the manuscript were published in Primoz Pecenko, (2002), pp. 8385.

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Part 2: The ks in Pli Bibliographic Sources

2.1. Saddhammasagaha In Saddhamma-s two sets of ks on the four nikyas are mentioned: Lnatthapaksin and Sratthamajs. The Lnatthapaksin was written by the poras10 and was a subcommentary (atthavaan) on the atthakaths of the entire tipiaka.11The second set of ks on the first four nikyas was called Sratthamajs and was compiledas a part of the new compilation of ks on the entire canonduring the reign of Parakkamabhu I (115386) by the convocation of elders (ther bhikkh)12 presided over by Dibulgala Mahkassapatthera, who was the first sagharja in Ceylon and the most senior monk from Udumbaragirivihra.13 The entire compilation was accomplished within one year.14

9 10

Cf. Primoz Pecenko (2002), pp. 6366. On poras see Adikaram, EHBC, pp. 1618; F. Lottermoser, Quoted Verse Passages in the Works of Buddhaghosa: Contributions towards the Study of the Lost Shaatthakath Literature (Ph. D. diss., Univ. of Gttingen, 1982), pp. 20913. Saddhamma-s 58, 2829: piakattayahakathya lnatthappaksanattha atthavaana purehi kata. Although in this reference the ks on the first four nikyas are not listed explicitly it seems probable that they were called Lnatthappaksin. H. Saddhatissa (Introduction in Ups, p. 47, n. 154) explains: The Lnatthavaan is also called Lnatthappaksin. . . . The Saddhammasagaha has freely used the word atthavaan for k and further amplified it as the atthavaan for the purpose of elucidating the hidden meanings (Lnatthappaksanattha atthavaana). Cf. the title of Sv-p, ed. by Lily de Silva: Dghanikyahakathk Lnatthavaan. Cf. Saddhamma-s 59, 1418: atha kho ther bhikkh . . . atthavaana hapesu; 62, 13: piakattayak ca kcariyehi bhsit [v. 7]. The date of the assembly is tentatively fixed at AD 1165 (V. Panditha, Buddhism During the Polonnaruva Period in The Polonnaruva Period (Dehiwala: Tisara Prakasakayo, 1973), p. 137). See also Mhv LXXII 2 foll.; LXXVIII 130; W. Geiger, Introduction in Mhv Trsl., pp. 2829; Geiger, 31 (literature), n. 4. Saddhamma-s 59, 7: Mahkassapattherapamukha bhikkhusagha; on Mahkassapatthera of Udumbaragirivihra see also P. Pecenko, Notes in Aguttaranikyak (Mp- Ee), vol. I, pp. 106107, n. 1,5; PLC, pp. 17677, 19294; DPPN s.v. 2. Mah Kassapa; A.P. Buddhadatta, Theravd Bauddhcryay (Ambalamgoda: S.K. Candratilaka, 1960), pp. 7577; H. Bechert, Buddhismus, Staat und Gesellschaft (Frankfurt: Alfred Metzner Verlag, 1966), vol. 1, p. 265. Saddhamma-s 60, 2527: aya piakahakathya atthavaan ekasavaccharen eva nihita.

11

12

13

14

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While the individual ks of the first set are not explicitly mentioned, Saddhamma-s lists the four ks of the second set as follows:
tadanantaram suttantapiake Dghanikyahakathya Sumagalavilsiniy atthavaana rabhitv mlabhsya Mgadhikya niruttiy pahamaSratthamajs nma atthavaanam hapesu. tath Majjhimanikyahakathya Papacasdany . . . dutiya-Sratthamajs nma atthavaanam hapesu. tath Sayuttanikyahakathya Sratthappaksaniy . . . tatiya-Sratthamajs nma atthavaanam hapesu. tath Aguttaranikyahakathya Manorathapraiy . . . catuttha-Sratthamajs nma atthavaanam hapesu.15
Table 2.1. Two complete sets in Saddhammasagaha (14th cent.)

Canon (4 nikyas) Commentaries

First written in the 1st century BCE 5th century CE

Old sub-comment. Later subcomment. (purak = p) (k = )

6th9th century CE Authorship: poras 12th century CE Authorship: theras

Dghanikya Majjhimanikya Sayuttanikya Aguttaranikya

Sumagalavilsin Lnatthapaksin Papacasdan Sratthapaksin Manorathapra Lnatthapaksin Lnatthapaksin Lnatthapaksin

Sratthamajs I Sratthamajs II Sratthamajs III Sratthamajs IV

Saddhamma-s explains that the second set of ks (Sratthamajs) was written because the existing set (Lnatthapaksin) did not serve the purpose of bhikkhus residing in different countries,16 the reason being that many Gahipadas (explanatory works which dealt with difficult expressions and passages) that belonged to the old set were written in the Sinhala language and what was written in Mgadh had been mixed and confused with (Pli) translations (bhsantara)

15

Saddhamma-s 59, 2335; cf. Saddhamma-s 61, 2123: piakattayavaan ca lnatthassa paksan, Sratthadpan nma Sratthamajs pi ca [v. 18], Paramatthappaksani mahtherehi bhsit, sattna sabbabhsna s ahosi hitvah [v. 19]. Saddhamma-s 58, 3031: ta sabba desantarvsna bhikkhnam attha na sdheti; translation B.C. Law, A Manual of Buddhist Historical Traditions (Calcutta: University of Calcutta, 1941), p. 84. Cf. Saddhamma-s 61, 910: piakahakathyha lnatthassa paksana, na ta sabbattha bhikkhna attha sdheti sabbaso [v. 12]; also O.v. Hinber, HPL, pp. 172173, 374: . . . older works no longer served the purpose of the monks in the 12th century.

16

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of the Gahipadas.17 The Lnatthapaksin set was nevertheless used as a basis for the new complete and clear attha-vaan,18 the mistakes ( (bhsantara: versions, translations) in the old ks were removed but their essence was kept in its entirety.19 2.2. The Pagan inscription 20 The second important source of information about the ks on the four nikyas is the Pagan inscription of 1442 (804 BE), inscribed in the beginning of the rule of Narapati (144268),21 less than three centuries after Parakkamabhu I (11531186).
17

Saddhamma-s 58, 3159, 2: kattha ci anekesu gahipadesu Shalabhsya niruttiy likhita ca kattha ci mlabhsya Mgadhikya bhsantarena sammissa kula ca katv likhita ca. B.C. Laws translation in A Manual of Buddhist Historical Traditions (Calcutta: University of Calcutta, 1941), p. 84: Some were written in many terse expressions [gathipada] according to the grammar of the Sinhala language, some were written in the dialect of Magadha, which is the basic language, but they have been confused and twisted by translation; cf. O.v. Hinber, HPL, p. 173, 374: Particularly the Gaipadas written in Sinhalese are difficult to understand (Sp- [Be 1960] I 2, 58) and [were] therefore summarized in Pli. On Gahipadas, see Lily de Silva, General Introduction in Sv-p, pp. xxxiixxxviii; O.v. Hinber, HPL, p. 170171, 36771. See also Saddhamma-s 61, 920 where the state of the Lnatthapaksin set is described in more detail. These two passages from Saddhamma-s (14th cent.), especially Saddhamma-s 61, 920, are most probably based on a very similar passage from Sp- Be 1960 I 2, 516 ascribed to Sriputta of Polonnaruva who lived about two centuries earlierat the time of the compilation of the Sratthamajs set. Saddhamma-s 59, 23: mayam bhsantara apanetv paripua ankula atthavaana kareyym ti. Saddhamma-s 61, 1920 = Sp- Be 1960 I 2, 1516: bhsantara tato hitv sra dya sabbaso, ankula karissmi paripuavinicchaya. The introductory passages in the existing printed editions of Sv-p Ee, Ps-p Be 1961, Spk-p Be 1961 and in the recently discovered manuscript of Mp-p (see Part 3, Table 3.2. below), which all belong to the old Lnatthapaksin set, are, with the exception of minor orthographic differences, practically identical. The introduction in Mp- Ee 1996, which is the fourth (catutth) k of the later Sratthamajs set, is considerably different from Sv-p Ee, Ps-p Be 1961, Spk-p Be 1961 and the text in the manuscript of Mp-p is much closer to Sp- Be 1960 and Sv-n Be 1961. See P. Pecenko, Table of Parallel Passages in Mp- I; also H. Saddhatissa, Introduction in Ups, p. 47, n. 154. Cf. Primoz Pecenko (2002), pp. 6768. G.H. Luce and Tin Htway, A 15th Century Inscription and Library at Pagan, Burma in Malalasekera Commemoration Volume (Colombo: The Malalasekera Commemoration Volume Editorial Committee, 1976), pp. 203217; PLB, p. 41. Cf. also U Than Tun, An original inscription dated 10 September 1223 that king Badon copied on 27 October 1785, tudes birmanes (Paris: EFEO, 1998), pp. 3755.

18

19

20 21

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The inscription gives a list of 299 manuscripts,22 amongst which the ks on the four nikyas are also mentioned. The titles of the ks given in this inscription are very similar to the titles given in Piakat samui3 (Pi-sm) (see 2.6. below),23 which in turn are also very similar to the titles of the Chahasagyana editions of these ks. In the section on AN (List 934b45) two different ks are listed: g aguttuiw kr [mah] (no. 75)24 which is translated by G. H. Luce and Tin Htway: Greater Aguttara sub-commentary and further identified as Sratthamajs, and g aguttuiw ay [culla] (no. 76)25 which is translated: Lesser Aguttara subcommentary. The names of the two sets of ks (Lnatthapaksin and Sratthamajs) are not mentioned in the inscription.

22

Catalogue in G.H. Luce and Tin Htway, Op. cit., pp. 218248. The ks in this article are quoted according to their numbers in the Catalogue with the same transliteration of their titles. Cf. PLB, pp. 102109; Niharranjan Ray, An Introduction to the Study of Theravda Buddhism in Burma (Calcutta: University of Calcutta, 1946), pp. 193195. Also Piakat to2 samuin3 or Piakat su3 pu c tam. I consulted the edition published by Tipiakanikya Ssan Pru Aphvai in Rangoon, 1989. The title written on the first folio of the Ms. of Mp- held in the British Library (Or 2089) is very similar: k ekkanipt agutra kr. Cf. Pi-sm 202212: Ekaguttaraksac, Dukaguttaraksac, . . . , Dasaguttaraksac, Ekdasaguttaraksac; Mp- Be 1961 I-III: Sratthamajs nma Aguttarak. In Burmese sac means new, revised, ksac therefore means the new k, i.e. Mp-, Catutth Sratthamajs. In Pi-sm 202 it is also called Mahk. (All the Burmese words and sentences from Pi-sm which I quote here were translated into English by Elisabeth Lawrence, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University.) Cf. Pi-sm 199: Ekaguttarakho3, 200: Dukaguttarakho3, 201: Tikaguttarakho3. ho3 in Burmese means old, ancient; kho3 therefore means the old k, i.e., Mp-p, Catutth Lnatthapaksin.

23

24

25

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Table 2.2. The ks in the Pagan Inscription (1442 CE)

Canon (4 nikyas) Commentaries

First written in the 1st century BCE 5th century CE

Old sub-comment. (purak = p)

6th9th century CE Authorship:

Later subcomment. (k = )

12th century CE Authorship: theras

Dghanikya

[Lnatthapaksin I]: 1. g slakkhandhav lakkhandhav dghaniky, 2. g mahv dghaSumagala-vilsin niky, 3. g pdheyyav dghaniky Papaca-sdan [Lnatthapaksin II]: 1. k mlapasa, 2. k majhimapasa, 3. g uparipasa [Lnatthapaksin III]: 1. g sagthav sayut, 2. g khandhavaggdi sayut [Sratthamajs IV]: g aguttuiw kr [mah]

Majjhimanikya

Sayuttanikya

Srattha-paksin

Aguttaranikya

[Lnatthapaksin IV]: Manoratha-pra g aguttuiw ay [culla]

2.3. Gandhavasa26 The Gandhavasa (Gv), a much later work written probably in the 17th century,27 lists both Lnatthapaksin and Sratthamajs. The first one is mentioned as Dghanikyhakathdna catunna ahakathna Lnatthapaksin nma

26

Cf. Primoz Pecenko, Lnatthapaksin and Sratthamajs: The Puraks and the ks on the Four Nikyas, JPTS 27 (2002), pp. 6869. PLB, p. x. According to Oskar von Hinber this is a later systematic survey of unknown date (O.v. Hinber, HPL, p. 3). See also Winternitz, HIL, vol. 2, p. 176, n. 4; A.P. Buddhadatta, Plishityaya (Ambalamgoda: nanda Potsamgama, 1962), vol. 2, pp. 41011; K.R. Norman, PL, pp. 18081; K.L. Hazra, The Buddhist Annals and Chronicles of South-East Asia (New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1986), pp. 8991.

27

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k,28 and was according to Gv written by Dhammaplcariya.29 Sratthamajs is mentioned only as Aguttarahakathya Sratthamajs nma k,30 a work written by Sriputta.31 Further on this work of Sriputta, which was written at the request of Parakkamabhu, king of Lak, is also referred to as Aguttarahakathya nav kgandho.32 According to Gv, the Lnatthapaksin set consisted of the ks on all the four nikyas and Sratthamajs was the name of the k on AN only. To distinguish it from the older k on AN (Catutth Lnatthapaksin), Sratthamajs was also classified as a new subcommentary (nav k).
Table 2.3. The ks in Gandhavasa (17th century)

Canon (4 nikyas)

Commentaries
5th century CE

First written in the 1st century BCE

Old sub-comment. (purak = p)

6th9th century CE Author: Dhammapla

Later subcomment. (k = )
12th century CE Author: Sriputta

Dghanikya Majjhimanikya Sayuttanikya Aguttaranikya

Sumagalavilsin Lnatthapaksin Papacasdan Lnatthapaksin Sratthamajs nav kgandho

Sratthapa-ksin Lnatthapaksin -ksin ksin Manoratha-pra Lnatthapaksin -pra pra

2.4. Ssanavasa33 The Ssanavasa (Ss), a work written in Burma in 1861 by Pasmi, tutor of King Min-dn-min who held the fifth council a few years later,34 does not give the
28 29

Gv 60, 1112. Gv 69, 3034: Dighanikyahakathdna catunna ahakathna kgandho attano matiy Dhammaplcariyena kat. Gv 61, 3233. Gv 61, 30. Cf. H. Saddhatissa, Introduction in Ups, p. 47, n. 154. Gv 71, 1014: Sratthadpan nma Aguttarahakathya nav kgandho ti ime cattro gandh Parakkamabhunmena Lakdpissarena ra ycitena Sriputtcariyena kat. Cf. Pi-sm 202 where the later k on Mp (Mp-) is mentioned as new greater k (k sac kr). Cf. Primoz Pecenko (2002), pp. 6970. K.R. Norman, PL, pp. 18182. King Min-dn (18521877), also called the Convener of the Fifth Council, held the council in Mandalay in 186871 (PLB, pp. 9294). On Ss see also A.P. Buddhadatta, Plishityaya (Ambalamgoda: nanda Potasamgama, 1962), vol. 2, pp. 407409; V.B. Lieberman, A new look at the Ssana-vasa, BSOAS 39 (1976): pp. 13749; K.L. Hazra,

30 31 32

33 34

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names of the two sets of ks (Lnatthapaksin and Sratthamajs); it simply states that Dghanikyahakathya k, Majjhima-nikyahakathya k and Sayutta-nikyahakathya k were written by cariya Dhammapla,35 and Aguttara-nikyak was written by Sriputta thera at the request of the king Parakkamabhu.36
Table 2.4. The ks in Ssanavasa (1861)

Canon (4 nikyas)

Commentaries
5th century CE

First written in the 1st century BCE

Old sub-comment. (purak = p)

6th9th century CE Author: Dhammapla

Later subcomment. (k = )
12th century CE Author: Sriputta

Dghanikya

Sumagalavilsin

[Lnatthapaksin] Dghanikyahakathya k [Lnatthapaksin] Majjhimanikyahakathya k [Lnatthapaksin] Sayuttanikyahakathya k [Sratthamajs] Aguttaranikya-k

Majjhimanikya

Papacasdan

Sayuttanikya

Sratthapaksin

Aguttaranikya Manorathapra

The distinction between the two sets of ks mentioned in Saddhamma-s, and in the case of AN also in the Pagan inscription and Gv, is not made in Ss. The two authors are nevertheless clearly stated and this indicates that in the year 1861, when Ss was compiled, the only known set of ks on the four nikyas consisted of two kinds of ksthe older three on DN, MN and SN written by Dhammapla, and the later one on AN written by Sriputta.

The Buddhist Annals and Chronicles of South-East Asia (New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1986), pp. 9194.
35

Ss Ne 1961 31, 1012: Visuddhimaggassa mahk, Dghanikyahakathya k, Majjhimanikyahakathya k, Sayuttanikyahakathya k s ti imyo cariya-Dhammaplathero aksi. Ss Ne 1961 31, 1314: Sratthadpani nma ka, Aguttaranikyatka ca Parakkamabhura ycito Sriputtathero aksi.

36

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2.5. Ssanavasadpa Ssanavasadpa (Ss-dip) was completed in 1879 by cariya Vimalasra Thera, published in 1880 in Colombo37 and covers the history of Buddhism in Ceylon down to the time of the introduction of the Burmese upasampad in AD 1802.38 The information about the ks on the four nikyas in Ss-dip is the same as in Ss. The names of the two sets of ks (Lnatthapaksin and Sratthamajs) given in Saddhamma-s and Gv are not mentioned at all. Only one set of ks is listed and it does not have any special name; the ks on DN, MN, and SN are ascribed to Dhammapla,39 and a k on AN is ascribed to Sriputta.40
Table 2.5. The ks in Ssanavasadpa (1880)

Canon (4 nikyas)

Commentaries
5th century CE

First written in the 1st century BCE

Old sub-comment. Later subcomment. (purak = p) (k = )

6th9th century CE Author: Dhammapla 12th century CE Author: Sriputta

Dghanikya Majjhimanikya

Sumagalavilsin Papacasdan

[Lnatthapaksin] Dghgamassa k [Lnatthapaksin] Majjhimahakathk [Lnatthapaksin] Sayuttahakathk [Sratthamajs] Aguttaranikyahakathk

Sayuttanikya

Sratthapaksin

Aguttaranikya Manorathapra

37

The book has two title pages: the first one in Sinhala letters and the second in Roman letters. The Sinhala title page reads: Sakyamunivasse 2423 [1879 CE]-Ssanavasadpo-cariyaVimalasrattherapdena viracito -- tassnumatiya Balansara Vrashmaccena c eva tadaehi ca budhikehi janehi Koambahnyasmi Satthlokayantaslya muddapito -- Saugate savacchare 2424 [1880 CE]; the second title page reads: The Sasanavansa dipo or The History of the Buddhist Church in Pali verse, compiled from Buddhist Holy Scriptures, Commentaries, Histories, & c., & c. by Acariya Vimalasara Thera. AB 2423. -- Colombo. Printed at the Satthaloka Press for Balatasara Virasinha Amacca and others -- AB 2424. K.R. Norman, PL, p. 182. Ss-dip Ce 1880, vv. 12311232: . . . k Dghgamassa ca, Majjhimahakathk Syuttahakathya ca, . . . Dhammaplena dhmat racit therapdena suttantanayadassin. Ss-dip Ce 1880, vv. 12011203: Aguttaranikyahakathk . . . therena Sriputtena kat.

38 39

40

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2.6. Piakat samui Piakat samui (Pi-sm)41 lists the same ks on the four nikyas as the Pagan inscription and Gv and, as already mentioned, the titles of the ks given in all three sources are very similar.42 The names of the two sets, Lnatthapaksin and Sratthamajs, and the two authors, Dhammapla and Sriputta, are mentioned as in Gv.43 Pi-sm lists two ks on AN: a k written by Dhammapla and a k written by Sriputta. The first k is listed as incomplete and has three entries: Ekaguttarak-ho, Dukaguttarakho and Tikaguttarakho. Although it is called the old (ho) k, the common name Lnatthapaksin is not mentioned at all.44 According to Pi-sm 199 the remaining 8 manuscripts of the old k, i.e., the k on Catukaguttara, Pacaguttara, . . . Ekdasaguttara, cannot be found anywhere in Burma.45 The second k on AN is mentioned as a new, revised k (sac) and it has the following eleven entries:46 Ekaguttaraksac, Dukaguttaraksac, Tikaguttaraksac, . . . Dasaguttaraksac, Ekdasaguttaraksac. Slakkhandhavaggak is listed as the old (ho3) k, i.e. Sv-p, Paham Lnatthapaksin, not to distinguish it from Sv-, Paham Sratthamajsa, but to distinguish it from Sdhujanavilsink (Sv-n) which is in Pi-sm 188 listed as the new (sac) k. Although Pi-sm gives essentially the same information about the ks on the four nikyas as the Pagan inscription and Gv, it is interesting to note that the old k on AN written by Dhammapla is not mentioned as a part of the Lnatthapaksin set. Pi-sm also does not list any of the first three ks of the Sratthamajs set (Sv-, Ps-, Spk-).

41 42 43

Cf. Primoz Pecenko (2002), pp. 7274. Cf. 2.2. and 2.3. above. The reference numbers of all the ks on the four nikyas listed in Pi-sm 187212 are marked with asterisks which means that, according to the 1989 edition of Pi-sm, the manuscripts of all these ks are held in the National Library, Rangoon. Pi-sm 199201. Pi-sm 199 (translated by Elisabeth Lawrence). Pi-sm 202212.

44 45 46

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Table 2.6. The ks in Piakat samui3 (1888)

Canon (4 nikyas)

First written in the 1st c. BCE

Commentaries Old sub-comment. 5th century CE (purak = p)

6th9th century CE Author: Dhammapla

Later subcomment. (k = )
12th century CE Author: Sriputta

Dghanikya

Sumagalavilsin

Lnatthapaksin: Sutslakkhank ho, Sutmahvk, Sutptheyyak (Pi-sm 187, 189190) Lnatthapaksin: Mlapasak, Majjhimapasa-k, Uparipasak (Pi-sm 191193) Lnatthapaksin: Sagthavaggasayutk, Nidnavagga- . . . Khandhavagga- . . . Sayatanavagga-. . . Mahvaggasayutk (Pi-sm 194198) Ekaguttarak-ho Dukaguttarak-ho Tikaguttarak-ho Sratthamajs: Ekaguttaraksac Dukaguttaraksac Tika- . . . Dasa- . . . Ekdasaguttaraksac

Majjhimanikya

Papacasdan

Sayuttanikya

Sratthapaksin

Aguttaranikya

Manorathapra

2.7. Critical Pli Dictionary 47 The last bibliographical source I would like to cite is the Critical Pli Dictionary (CPD), Epilegomena to vol. I, pp. 40*41*, which was published in 1948. Essentially it is very similar to the earliest bibliographical work, Saddhamma-s, because both sources mention two complete sets of ks, Lnatthapaksin and Sratthamajs. According to CPD the first set was written by Dhammapla, and the second one by Sriputta of Poonnaruva. The ks of the Lnatthapaksin set are also called praaks (p), while the ks of the Sratthamajs set are called just ks ().

47

Cf. Primoz Pecenko (2002), pp. 7475.

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Table 2.7. Two complete sets in the Critical Pli Dictionary (1948)

Canon (4 nikyas)

Commentaries
5th century CE

First written in the 1st c. BCE

Old sub-comment. Later subcomment. (purak = p) (k = )

6th9th century CE 12th century CE Author: Dhammapla Author: Sriputta

Dghanikya

Sumagalavilsin

Lnatthapaksin I praak

Sratthamajs I k

Majjhimanikya

Papacasdan

Lnatthapaksin II Sratthamajs II praak k Lnatthapaksin III Sratthamajs III praak k Lnatthapaksin IV Sratthamajs IV praak k

Sayuttanikya

Sratthapaksin

Aguttaranikya

Manorathapra

For the first three ks of the older set (Sv-p, Ps-p, Spk-p) and for the fourth k of the later set (Mp-) some references are given to existing published editions or manuscripts.48 For the first three ks of the later set (Sv-, Ps-, Spk-)49 no manuscripts or editions are mentioned, and the fourth k of the older set (Mp-p) is referred to Pi-sm 199201.50 This indicates that although in CPD both sets of ks are listed, only four ks were actually available to the editor of CPD: the first three of the Lnatthapaksin set and the fourth of the Sratthamajs set, i.e. the set published by the Chahasagyana.

48

In CPD, Epilegomena to vol. 1, pp. 40*41* the following sources are given: for Sv-p: Be 1924 IIII (2.1,11); for Ps-p and Spk-p: the transcripts (1934) from Burmese manuscripts of the National Library (former Bernard Free Library), Rangoon (2.2,11; 2.3,11; cf. Pi-sm 191198); for Mp-: Be 1910 III (2.4,12); for Sv-n: Be 191323 III (2.1,13). CPD, vol. III, p. iv mentions also Sv- as Slakkandhavaggak by Dhammapla, Be, Vol. III, (Buddhassanasamiti), Rangoon, 1961 which is a mistake; this could be either Sv-p Be 1961 I by Dhammapla, or Sv-n Be 1961 III by bhivasa. Other editions and manuscripts of these ks will be discussed below. CPD, Epilegomena to vol. 1, pp. 40*41*: 2.1,12; 2.2,12; 2.3,12. The manuscripts of these ks listed in Smadsas catalogue Lakv puskoa pot nmvaliya (LPP) will be discussed below. CPD, Epilegomena to vol. 1, pp. 41*: 2.4,11.

49

50

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The above analysis of the old and later subcommentaries (puraks and ks, see Tables 1.2 and 1.3. above) in bibliographical sources can be presented as follows:51
Table 2.8. The subcommentaries in the Pli bibliographic sources

MajjhimaSayuttaNikyas Dghanikya Bibl. nikya nikya sources Saddhamma old subcom./ old subcom./ old subcom./ sagaha later subcom. later subcom. later subcom. 14th century Pagan inscription 1442 Gandhavasa 17th century Ssanavasa 1861 Ssanavasadpa 1880 Piakat samui 1888 CPD 1948 old subcom. old subcom. old subcom.

Aguttaranikya old subcom./ later subcom. old subcom./ later subcom. old subcom./ later subcom. later subcom.

old subcom.

old subcom.

old subcom.

old subcom.

old subcom.

old subcom.

old subcom.

old subcom.

old subcom.

later subcom. old subcom./ later subcom. old subcom./ later subcom.

old subcom. old subcom./ later subcom.

old subcom.

old subcom.

old subcom./ old subcom./ later subcom. later subcom.

51

Cf. Primoz Pecenko (2002), p. 76 (Table I).

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Part 3: Printed Editions and Manuscripts of the ks

The subcommentaries discussed above can be divided into two groups: those which have been published in printed editions and those which have remained only in manuscript form.52 The printed editions are shown in the Table 3.1. below:
Table 3.1. Printed editions of the sub-commentaries

Nikyas Dghanikya/ Sumagalavilsin Two sets Old subcom.: Editions: LnatthaBurmese: 19046, paksin set 1912, 1915, 1924, 1961; Sinhala: 1967 Roman script: 1970 Indian: 1993 Later subcom.: Sratthamajs set

Majjhimanikya/ Papacasdan

Sayuttanikya/ Sratthapaksin

Aguttaranikya/ Manorathapra

Editions: Editions: Burmese: 1853, Burmese: 1961 1961 Indian: 1994 Indian: 1995

Editions: Burmese: 1910, 1961; Sinhala: 1907, 1930; Indian: 1966; Roman: 1996, 1997, 1999

The ks in Table 3.1. are listed in Ss and Ss-dip as the only existing set (Tables 2.4.2.5.); this set, which has been also approved by the Theravda tradition, consists of the three older ks (Sv-p, Ps-p, Spk-p) ascribed to Dhammapla and the fourth later k (Mp-) ascribed to Sriputta. Besides the Chahasagyana editions53

52 53

For details, see Primoz Pecenko (2002), pp. 7686. Sv-p Be 1961 IIII; Ps-p Be 1961 IIII; Spk-p Be 1961 III; Mp- Be 1961 IIII. The Chahasagyana editions of these ks were reprinted by Vipassana Research Institute, Igatpuri, India, (Sv-p Ne 1993 IIII; Ps-p Ne 1995 IIV; Spk-p Ne 1994 IIII; Mp- Ne 1996 IIII) and are available also on Chaha Sagyana CD-ROM (Versions: 1.1; 2.0; 3.0) published by Vipassana Research Institute (website: www.vri.dhamma.org).

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there exist several other editions54 and manuscripts of these ks.55 Because these

54

Sv-p: Ee 1970 IIII, ed. by Lily de Silva; Be 190406 IIII, ed. by U Hpye; Be 1912 IIII, ed. by Hsaya Tin of Nanmadaw; Be 1915 IIII, ed. by Hsayas Ky, Kyaw, Thein and Hba Kyaw (all the Be are called Lnatthappaksan, see T.C.H. Raper, M.J.C. O Keefe, eds., Catalogue of the Pli printed books in the India Office Library (London: The British Library, 1983), p. 34); Be 1924 I-III (see A.K. Warder, Indian Buddhism (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, 1980), p. 529); Ce 1967, ed. by H. Kalyasiri and H. Kalyadhamma, Somava Hvvitraa kganthaml (Colombo: Anula Press). Ps-p: Supaphan Na Bangchang mentions a very old Be published in 1853 (see Introduction in A Critical Edition of the Mlapariyyavagga of Majjhimanikya-ahakathk (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Peradeniya, 1981), p. xi). Spk-p: Besides the Chahasagyana edition (Spk-p Be 1961 I-II = Ne 1994 I-III) I am not aware of any other edition of Spk-p. Mp-: Ee I (1996), II (1998), III (1999)PTS edition by P. Pecenko, vols. IIII contain Ekaand Dukaniptak; Be 1910 III (see CPD, Epilegomena to vol. I, p. 41*); Ce 1907 (see W.A. de Silva, A List of Pali Books Printed in Ceylon in Sinhalese Characters, JPTS (191012), p. 150); Ce 1930 (see EncBuddh, vol. 1, fasc. 4, p. 629, s. v. Aguttara-nava-k). Mp- Ce 1907 and 1930 contain only Ekaniptak. For a detailed description of Ce 1907, Be 1910 and Ce 1930, see Primoz Pecenko, Introduction in Mp- Ee (1996) I, pp. xxxviixlii. Mss. of Sv-p are listed in: Lily de Silva, General Introduction in Sv-p Ee, pp. xixii (7 C Mss.; these Mss. are listed in LPP); LPP, vol. 1, p. 39 (16 C Mss.); V. Fausbll, Catalogue of the Mandalay MSS. in the India Office Library (Formerly Part of the Kings Library at Mandalay), JPTS (189496): p. 28 (1 B Ms.); H. Braun et al., Burmese Manuscripts (Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1985), pt. 2, pp. 12628 (1 B Ms.); T.W. Rhys Davids, List of Pli, Sinhalese, and Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Colombo Museum, JPTS (1882), p. 52 (1 C Ms.); Pi-sm 187, 18990 (1B Ms.). Mss. of Ps-p are listed in: Supaphan Na Bangchang, introduction, A Critical Edition of the Mlapariyyavagga of Majjhimanikya-ahakathk (Ph. D. diss., Univ. of Peradeniya, 1981), p. xi (1 K Ms., 4 C Mss.; these 4 C Mss. are listed in LPP); LPP, vol. 1, p. 71 (8 C Mss.), vol. 2, p. 53 (6 C Mss.); T.W. Rhys Davids, Op. cit., p. 51 (1 C Ms.); V. Fausbll, Op. cit., pp. 2829 (1 B Ms.); T.W. Rhys Davids, List of Pli Manuscripts in the Copenhagen Royal Library, JPTS (1883), p. 147 (1 B Ms.); Pi-sm 19193 (1 B Ms.). Mss. of Spk-p are listed in: LPP, vol. 1, p. 93 (1 B, 11 C Mss.), vol. 2, p. 71 (7 C Mss.); W. A. de Silva, Catalogue of Palm Leaf Manuscripts in the Library of the Colombo Museum (Colombo: Ceylon Government Press, 1938), vol. I, pp. 3637 (1 C Ms.); Pi-sm 194198 (1B Ms.). Mss. of Mp- are listed in: LPP, vol 1, p. 2 (5 C Mss.), vol. 2, p. 1 (7 C Mss.), vol. 3, p. 164 (1 B Ms. from British Museum, Or 2089); W.A. de Silva, Catalogue of Palm Leaf Manuscripts in the Library of the Colombo Museum (Colombo: Ceylon Government Press, 1938), vol. I, p. 37 (1 C Ms.); Pi-sm 202212 (1 B Ms.); Fragile Palm Leaves project, Thailand (4 B Mss; Ms ID Nos.: 906, 949, 983, 1645); National Library, Rangoon (3 B Mss; Acc. Nos.: 800, 1846, 1937); Universities Central Library, University of Rangoon (2 B Mss; Acc. Nos.: 7691, 9816/10095). This list is, of course, not exhaustive; it is possible that more manuscripts of the above mentioned ks can be found in Burma and perhaps also in Thailand.

55

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are the only subcommentaries on the four nikyas that have printed editions they have been often considered to be the only existing ks on the four nikyas.56 In my earlier research I have also investigated the ks on the four nikyas which have never been published in a book form; these texts are listed in some catalogues of Pli manuscripts and are held in various libraries in Burma and Sri Lanka. According to my research a number of these manuscripts still exist (see Table 3.2. below) and one of themthe old k on Aguttaranikyawas recently discovered in Burma.57 This discovery shows that the bibliographic information in earlier texts like Saddhammasagaha is very reliable and needs further investigation.
Table 3.2. The sub-commentaries existing in manuscript form

Nikyas Dghanikya/ Sumagalavilsin Two sets Lnatthapaksin set

Majjhimanikya/ Papacasdan

Sayuttanikya/ Sratthapaksin

SratthaManuscripts: majs set Sinhala script: 7

Manuscripts: Burm. script: 1 Sinh. script: 7

Manuscripts: Burm. script: 1 Sinh. script: 2

Aguttaranikya/ Manorathapra Manuscripts: Burm. script: 3 (1 ms. microfilmed, Burma 1999)

The information given in Table 3.2. above also agrees with some bibliographical texts. In the Pagan inscription, Gv and Pi-sm (Tables 2.2., 2.3., 2.6.) an additional knot mentioned in Ss and Ss-dipis mentioned: the old k on AN (Mpp), called Catutth Lnatthapaksin. Saddhamma-s and CPD (Tables 2.1. and 2.7.) mention two complete sets of ks, Lnatthapaksin set (Sv-p, Ps-p, Spk-p, Mp-p) and Sratthamajs set (Sv-, Ps-, Spk-, Mp-). Here three later ksnot mentioned in any other bibliographic workare added: a k on DN (Sv-) called Paham Sratthamajs,58 a k on MN (Ps-) called Dutiy Sratthamajs
56 57

See e.g. O.v. Hinber, HPL, pp. 167, 173. Primoz Pecenko (2002), pp. 7886 (the Burmese Ms. is described on pp. 8285). Another manuscript of the later k on DN (Sv-) with the title Dgha-nikya Dvtiya k held in Sagharja Pansala in Malvatu Vihraya is mentioned in Anne M. Blackburn, Notes on Sri Lankan temple manuscripts collections, JPTS 27 (2002), p. 22 (Ms. No. 21).

58

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and a k on SN (Spk-) called Tatiy Sratthamajs. If we combine Tables 3.1. and 3.2. above we get Table 3.3. below in which it is clearly evident that two different sets of nikyaks were in fact compiled: the older set called Lnatthapaksin and the later set called Sratthamajs. This leads to important conclusions which will be discussed below.
Table 3.3. Manuscripts and editions of the two sets of subcommentaries

Nikyas Dghanikya/ Sumagalavilsin Two sets Old subcom.: Editions: Lnatthapak- Burmese: sin set 1904-6, 1912, (6th9th cent. 1915, 1924, CE) 1961; Sinhala: 1967 Roman script: 1970 Indian: 1993 Later subcom.: Manuscripts: SratthaSinhala script: majs set 7 (12th cent. CE)

Majjhimanikya/ Papacasdan Editions: Burmese: 1853, 1961 Indian: 1995

Sayutta-nikya/ AguttaraSratthapanikya/ ksin Manorathapra Editions: Manuscripts: Burmese: 1961 Burmese script: 3 Indian: 1994 (1 ms. discovered and microfilmed in Burma 1999)

Manuscripts: Manuscripts: Editions: Burmese Burmese script: 1 Burmese: 1910, script: 1 Sinhala script: 2 1961; Sinhala Sinhala: 1907, script: 7 1930; Indian: 1966; Roman: 1996, 1997, 1999

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Conclusions
From the above analysis of the nikyaks, their manuscripts and printed editions we can conclude, that it is most probable that two different sets of nikyaks were in fact compiled: the older set called Lnatthapaksin (Sv-p, Ps-p, Spk-p, Mp-p) and the later set called Sratthamajs (Sv-, Ps-, Spk-, Mp-). Although the two complete sets are mentioned only in Saddhamma-s (and in the much later CPD, see Tables 2.1. and 2.7. above), all the eight ks from the two sets seem to still exist either in printed editions or in manuscript form (see Table 3.3. above). Here it is very interesting to note that the manuscripts in Table 3.2. have never been properly investigated and it also seems that they have been neglected by both the Theravda tradition59 as well as modern Pli scholarship.60 My recent discovery of a manuscript of the old Aguttarak, Catutth Lnattha-paksin, further proves the existence of two sets of ks and also throws new light on the development of the nikyaks and their Pli bibliographic

59

It is not made explicit why certain ks (Sv-, Ps-, Spk-, Mp-p) were ignored by the Theravda tradition (see e.g. Chahasagyana editions) and only some (i.e. Sv-p, Ps-p, Spk-p, Mp-) were publishedin spite of the fact that the manuscripts of the unpublished ks are held in different libraries in Burma and Sri Lanka and according to the introduction in the Chahasagyana editions all the existing ks were recited. In the Nidnakath of Mp- Be 1961 (p. ca) it is clearly stated that all the existing ks in Burma and outside Burma were edited and published: Eva sagtim ropitassa pana tepiakassa buddhavacanassa attha-savaanbht y ca ahakathyo savijjanti y ca tsa atthappaksanavasena pavatt kyo savijjanti manoramya tantinaynucchavikya bhsya cariy nanda-cariya-Dhammapldhi theravarehi kat, tsam pi ahakathkna sadesyamlehi c eva videsyamlehi ca sasanditv tepiakassa viya buddhavacanassa visodhanapaivisodhanavasena mahther pvacanadassino savaan-kovid phasodhanam akasu, icc evam ahakathkyo pamdakhalitdhikap aribhahaphna nirkaraavasena visodhit c eva paivisodhit ca hutv Buddhassanam uddaayantlaye samappit suhu muddpaya. This contradicts the information about the manuscripts of the nikyaks discussed above (see Table 3.3. above). If the Chahasagyana edited all the existing ks (y ca tsa attha-ppaksanavasena pavatt kyo savijjanti) originating from Burma and from outside (sadesyamlehi c eva videsyamlehi ca sasanditv), why were the manuscripts of Sv-, Ps-, Spk- and Mp-p omitted? Further research is needed here. Modern Pli scholarship seems to agree to a great extent with the Theravda tradition (i.e. the Chahasatgyana editions) that most probably only one set of nikyaks (i.e. Sv-p, Ps-p, Spkp and Mp-) still exists at present. Cf. Table 1.4. above; O.v. Hinber, HPL, p. 167, 357; p. 173, 375376; A.P. Buddhadatta, Pishityaya (Ambalamgoda: nanda Potsamgama, 1956), vol. 1, pp. 25962; C.E. Godakumbura, Catalogue of Ceylonese Manuscripts (Copenhagen: The Royal Library, 1980), p. xxvii, n. 1.

60

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information. According to Saddhamma-s (see 2.1. above) the old nikyaks, called Lnatthapaksin, were incomplete (aparipua) and had to be replaced by the later set of ks, called Sratthamajs, which were comprehensive (paripua) and clear, not confused (ankula). My comparative research of three parallel chapters from the older (Mp-p) and later (Mp-) Aguttaraks published in the Journal of Pali Text Society61 indicates that the description of these two Aguttaraks in Saddhamma-s is very accurate. This is a further indication that the information about the two different sets of nikyaks in Saddhamma-s (see 2.1. above) is most probably correct. In the light of the above discussion we can further conclude that the information about the nikyaks in Saddhamma-s, the oldest Pli bibliographical text, is more accurate than in all the other later Pli bibliographic sources. Although some of these sources (Pagan inscription, Gv, Pi-sm) mention the old Aguttarak (Mp-p), none of them mentions two complete sets of nikyaks (cf. Table 2.8.). Saddhamma-s seems therefore the most accuratealthough it has been usually considered to be one of the least reliable sources. The information about the ks on the four nikyas in modern Pli scholarship is mostly based on the Pli bibliographical works, on the existing printed editions, and rarely also on the catalogues62 of Pli manuscripts. Since we have, as shown above, printed editions of only one combined set of nikyaks (i.e. Sv-p, Ps-p, Spk-p, Mp-; see Table 1.4. above), it is often assumed that only one set of nikyaks exists at present and that only one complete set was also most probably composed. This approach is sometimes also supported by references from the later bibliographic works (e.g. Ss), which are sometimes considered more reliable than the earlier ones (e.g. Saddhamma-s). It also seems clear that it has beenperhaps subconsciouslyinfluenced by the Theravda tradition and its Sixth Council (the Chaha-sagyana) which published exactly the same combined set of ks. In the case of the two sets of nikyaks discussed aboveespecially considering Sv-, Ps-, Spk- and Mp-p which are, although still existing in manuscript form (see Table 3.2.), usually mentioned as lost or a fictionthe information in the oldest bibliographic source (Saddhamma-s) appears to be the most reliable of all (cf. Table 2.1.). To illustrate this, let me conclude with an example of the treatment of the ks

61 62

Primoz Pecenko (2002), pp. 7879, 82105. For example, in Geiger 31 (literature), nn. 56, Fausblls Catalogue of the Madalay MSS. in the India Office Library, JPTS 189496, is cited.

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on the four nikyas in one of the most recent works on Pli literature, A Handbook of Pli Literature. Although A Handbook of Pli Literature mentions all the ks of the two sets, those which have printed editions (Sv-p, Ps-p, Spk-p, Mp-, see Table 1.4. above) are considered to be the only set that still exists and the others are either mentioned as lost or a fiction. The older set of ks on the four nikyas (Lnatthapaksin), ascribed to Dhammapla, which contains also the older k on Aguttaranikya (Mp-p, see Table 3.2. above), is mentioned as follows:
Dhammapla wrote subcommentaries, among them those on the commentaries by Buddhaghosa on the first four Nikyas according to Gv 60, 11 and Pi-sm no. 199201. However, Mp-p is not mentioned in Ss 33, 20 = Ne 31, 10 sq. and, if it ever existed, does not seem to survive.63

The later set of ks on the four Nikyas (Sratthamajs), ascribed to Sriputta, which contains also the first three later ks on Dghanikya, Majjhimanikya and Sayuttanikya (Sv-, Ps-, Spk-, see Table 3.2. above), is mentioned as follows:
Sriputta is sometimes credited with a complete set of Suttanta subcommentaries called Sratthamajs. Only the subcommentary on Mp seems to actually exist: Sratthamajs Aguttarak.

It seems that only this single Suttanta subcommentary was written by Sriputta. For the supposed Sratthamajs on Sv-p, Ps-p, Spk-p [?] seems to be a fiction: these subcommentaries, listed without reference to any source in CPD (Epil.), are neither mentioned in Ss 33, 22 = Ne 31, 13 nor in Pi-sm.64 All this contradicts the information about the manuscripts of Sv-, Ps-, Spk- and Mp-p discussed above (cf. Table 3.2. above). One of three manuscripts of the older k on Aguttaranikya (Mp-p)mentioned in A Handbook of Pli Literature as lost65was recently discovered in Universities Central Library, Rangoon,66 and the manuscripts of the three later ks on Dghanikya, Majjhimanikya and Sayuttanikyamentioned as a fiction67are according to Smadsas

63

O.v. Hinber, HPL, p. 167 ( 357), see also p. 173 ( 376; in 357 is a wrong reference to 375 where no Mp-p is mentioned). Ibid, p. 173 ( 375376). Ibid ( 376). For details, see Primoz Pecenko (2002), pp. 7879, 8285. O.v. Hinber, HPL, p. 173 ( 376).

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Lakv puskoa pot nmvaliya,68 held in the temple libraries in Sri Lanka. It is also interesting to note that although two sets are mentioned, only one combined setexactly the same as the one published by the Chahasagyanawas accepted as still available today. Here the Chahasagyanas influence seems very clear and it is also supported by properly chosen bibliographic text, the Ssanavasa (see Table 2.4. above). Why were the Saddhamma-sagaha and other bibliographic sourceswhich list also other ks (see Table 2.8.)ignored? The above analysis of the nikyaks and their manuscripts and printed editions clearly indicates that further research of Pli sub-commentaries and their bibliographic information needs to be done. It is possible that more manuscripts of the less known nikyaks (i.e. Sv-, Ps-, Spk-, Mp-p) are held in various temple libraries in the Theravda countries. These ks are an important link in Pli textual transmission and their further investigation may give usamong many other thingsnew information about the development of the k literature and about the editions/versions of the canonical and post-canonical Pli texts used at the time of their compilation.

68

For details, see Primoz Pecenko (2002), pp. 7982.

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Abbreviations
Abbreviations and the quotation system of Pli sources follow the Critical Pli Dictionary (Epilegomena to vol. 1, 1948, pp. 5*36*, and vol. 3, 1992, pp. IIVI) and H. Bechert, Abkrzungsverzeichnis zur buddhistischen Literatur in Indien und Sdostasien (Gttingen: Vanderhoeck & Ruprecht, 1990). The only exception are the PTS editions which will be citedunless required for emphasiswithout edition and date, e.g. Sv-p = Sv-p Ee 1970 IIII, edited by Lily de Silva. For transliteration of Burmese see Table of Transliteration in H. Bechert et al., Burmese Manuscripts, Verzeichnis der orientalischen Handschriften in Deutschland, vol. XXIII, 1 (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1979), p. xxi.
Adikaram, EHBC E.W. Adikaram, Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon. Colombo: M.D. Gunasena, 1953. AN B Be BE BSOAS C Ce CPD DN DPPN ed(s). Ee EFEO EncBuddh Geiger Gv JPTS K LPP Mhv MN Aguttaranikya (manuscript) text in Burmese script Burmese edition Burmese era, (Culla-)Sakkarj, beginning 638 CE Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies (manuscript) text in Sinhala script Ceylonese edition Critical Pli Dictionary. V. Trenckner et al., eds. Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, 1924. (see 2.7.) Dghanikya G.P. Malalasekera, Dictionary of Pli Proper Names edition(s) European (PTS) edition cole franaise d Extrme-Orient G.P. Malalasekera, ed., Encyclopaedia of Buddhism W. Geiger, Pli Literature and Language. Calcutta: Calcutta University Press, 1956. Gandhavasa of Nandapa. I.P. Minayeff, ed. JPTS, 1886, pp. 5479. (see 2.3.) Journal of the Pli Text Society (manuscript) text in Cambodian script K.D. Smadsa, Lakv puskoa pot nmvaliya, vols. IIII. Colombo, Department of Cultural Affairs, 195964. Mahvasa of Mahnma. W. Geiger, ed. London: PTS, 1958; and Cavamsa of Dhammakitti. W. Geiger, ed. London: PTS, 1980. Majjhimanikya

K.R. Norman, PL K.R. Norman, Pli Literature. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1983.

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Mp Mp-p Mp- Ms(s). Ne n

Manorathapra, Aguttaranikya-ahakath of Buddhaghosa Manorathaprapurak, Lnatthapaksin IV Manorathaprak, Sratthamajs IV of Sriputta of Poonnaruva manuscript(s) edition in Devangar print navak

O.v. Hinber, HPL Oskar von Hinber. A Handbook of Pli Literature. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1996. PED Pi-sm PLB PLC Ps Ps-p Ps- p PTS Saddhamma-s Ss Ss-dip Se SN Sp Sp- Spk Spk-p Spk- Sv Sv-n Be Sv-p Sv- Trsl. Ups Winternitz, HIL ZDMG The Pli Text Societys Pli-English Dictionary Piakat samui. Rangoon: Tipiakanikya Ssan Pru Aphvai, 1989. (see 2.6.) M.H. Bode, The Pli Literature of Burma. London, 1909. G.P. Malalasekera, The Pli Literature of Ceylon. Colombo: M.D. Gunasena, 1958. Papacasdan, Majjhimanikya-ahakath of Buddhaghosa Papacasdanpurak, Lnatthapaksin II of Dhammapla Papacasdank, Sratthamajs II purak Pli Text Society Saddhammasagaha of Dhammakitti. Nedimle Saddhnanda, ed. JPTS 1890, pp. 2190 = Ne 1961. (see 2.1.) Ssanavasa of Pasmi. C.S. Upasak, ed. Nland: Nava Nland Mahvihra, 1961 = Ee 1897. (see 2.4.) Ssanavasadpa of Vimalasrathera. Colombo: Satthloka Press 1880. (see 2.5.) edition in Siamese print Sayuttanikya Samantapsdik, Vinaya-ahakath of Buddhaghosa Sratthadpank of Sriputta of Poonnaruva Sratthapaksin, Sayuttanikya-ahakath of Buddhaghosa Sratthapaksinpurak, Lnatthapaksin III of Dhammapla Sratthapaksink, Sratthamajs III Sumagalavilsin, Dghanikya-ahakath of Buddhaghosa Sumagalavilsinnavak, Slakkhandhavagga-abhinavak, Sdhujanavilsin of bhivasa Sumagalavilsinpurak, Lnatthapaksin I of Dhammapla Sumagalavilsink, Sratthamajs I Translation k Upsakajanlakra. H. Saddhatissa, ed. London: PTS, 1965. M. Winternitz, A History of Indian Literature, 3 vols. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1981. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenlndischen Gesellschaft

 349378 Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal, no. 20, pp. 349378 (2007) Taipei: Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies ISSN: 1017-7132

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k ( ) Saddhammasagaha Ssanavasa 1. 2. 3. 4.5.