Grammatical Analysis
Madhuratthavilāsinī: [f.] The Illuminator of Sweet Meaning. Formed by madhura (sweet, pleasant) + attha (meaning) + vilāsinī (illuminating).
Orthodox Definition
The Madhuratthavilāsinī is the commentary on the Buddhavaṃsa (The Chronicle of Buddhas). It was authored by Venerable Buddhadatta, a contemporary of Buddhaghosa who famously met Buddhaghosa on a ship while traveling between India and Sri Lanka.
Because the canonical Buddhavaṃsa reads like a rigid, poetic ledger (simply listing the lifespan, tree, and disciples of the 24 previous Buddhas), Buddhadatta’s commentary is required to breathe life into the text. He heavily expands the narrative, providing dramatic descriptions of the Bodhisatta’s interactions with these ancient Buddhas. It is a foundational text for the study of Buddhology (the nature and attributes of a Buddha) in the Theravāda tradition.
Textual References
- Subject Matter: Commentary on the Buddhavaṃsa.
- Author Note: Written by Buddhadatta while residing at Kaveripattinam in South India.