Commentary on Biography of thera Nāgasamala

Stanzas starting with Āpāṭalim aham puppham constitute the biography of the venerable thera nāgasamālaka. This one also, having done devoted service toward former Buddhas, accumulating meritorious deeds conducive towards escape from rounds of rebirths (vaṭṭa) in this and that existence, was reborn in a family-house at the time of the Glorious One Sikhi; on having attained the age of intelligence, be set up a house-hold life properly but not gaining the society of suitable good people, did not do any such deed as seeing, hearing, making reverential offering to the Master while the latter was still alive, but on the demise of that Glorious One, he treasured the corporeal relics of that Glorious One, made his mind full of pious faith in the shrine set up, reverentially offered to it Pāṭali flowers, aroused his delightful mind, lived on as long as his lifespan lasted, died thence with that very pleasingly pious mind, enjoyed bliss in such six divine worlds as Tusita and so on, subsequently experienced human prosperity among human-beings, was reborn in a family-house when this Buddha arose; on having attained the age of intelligence he became the recipient of the name given by parents as nāgasamālo, because of the fact that his body resembles the tender leaves of the nāga tree having pleasingly pious faith in the Glorious One, he renounced the world and before long even, he became an arahat.

1. Later on, having recollected his own former deed, became delighted and uttered a stanza, starting with āpāṭalim aham puppham, in order to make manifest the deed done by him formerly. There, āpāṭalim, as far as Pāṭali flower, abhiropesim (I had it distinctly mounted) from all sides, or with respect, taking the Pāṭali flower, I reverentially offered it at the shrine; thus, is the meaning. Ujjhitam sumahāpathe (laid upon the good high-way) for the purpose of paying homage and making reverential offering of all the residents of the city the high-way in the middle of the city, the road had been raised and paved, finished with the work of laying bricks; thus, is the meaning. The rest is but easily comprehensible because of the aforesaid method as well as because of the meaning being clear.

The Commentary on the biography of the thera Nāgasamāla has ended.