Division IV - Atthakatha Kanda

In the Matika of Dhammasangani there are 22 tikas, 100 dukas and 42 Suttantika dukas. Of these, the Kusala Tika, meritorious triad, is shown in detail in the Cittuppada Kanda and the Rupa Kanda. The other tikas and dukas together with the Kusala Tika are dealt with in a summarised way in the Nikkhepa Kanda. Thus the treatment of tikas and dukas can be said to be Complete in the first three divisions.

But, merely indicating for instance as in the Nikkhepa Kanda, the meaning of tikas and dukas may not be sufficient for a full understanding of some tikas and dukas without enumeration in detail. The enumeration of mind, mental concomitants and Corporeality can be found in the Cittuppada Kanda and Rupa Kanda, but they are Spread throughout these divisions, Therefore it is not easy for the student to know the enumeration of the categories in each tika or duka. This enumeration is done for some of the important tikas and dukas in the Atthakatha Kanda.

For instance, in the Nikkhepa Kanda, Consciousness and mental concomitants in Vedana Tika are treated collectively by way of bhumis (field of occurrence) or by way of khandhas (aggregates). But in the Atthakatha Kanda, we find that mental factors associated with pleasure, mental factors associated with mental and physical, suffering, and mental factors associated with equanimity are shown in detailed enumeration.

In the same way the Nikkhepa Kanda deals with the mental factors of the Vitakka Tika collectively and they are explained by way of field of occurrence and by way of aggregates. In the Atthakatha Kanda, the Vitakka Tika is elucidated by detailed enumeration of the mental factors associated with vitakka (initial application of the mind) and vicara (sustained application of the mind), the mental factors not associated with vitakka but only associated with vicara, and the mental factors not associated with both vitakka and vicara.

The same may be said of the treatment of the Arammana Tika. The Nikkhepa Kanda provides only the bare definition for some of the categories contained in the classification of these tikas, without giving the elucidation and enumeration of the mental factors involved. The Atthakatha Kanda treats them more fully, giving an enumeration of the mental factors of Consciousness and mental concomitants that are involved in each case. For example, in dealing with the Parittarammana Tika, the mental factors involved in the categories of (a) Sensual things which are the objects of attention, (b) Sublime things which are the objects of attention, (c) Nibbana which is the object of attention are enumerated in the Atthakatha Kanda.

It may be stated that the Atthakatha Kanda serves as an indispensable guide to the understanding of the Dhammasangani.

A draft of this Introduction based largely on the introduction to the Myanmar version of Dhammasangani, was made by U Ko Lay, Retired Vice Chancellor of Mandalay University who was then a Senior Editor.

This draft has been revised and edited by the Editorial Committee.

The Editorial Committee
Translation Section
The Department for the
Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana

The Full Moon Day of
First Waso, 1355 M.E.
The Third Day of July, 1993.