Paramatthadīpanī

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Grammatical Analysis

Paramatthadīpanī: [f.] The Elucidator of the Ultimate Meaning. Formed by paramattha (ultimate meaning) + dīpanī (elucidating, illustrating).

Orthodox Definition

The Paramatthadīpanī is not a single book, but a massive collection of commentaries authored by Venerable Dhammapāla, who resided at the Badaratittha Vihāra in South India shortly after Buddhaghosa’s era.

When Buddhaghosa completed his work on the major Nikāyas, several books in the Khuddaka Nikāya remained without Pali translations of their ancient Sinhalese commentaries. Dhammapāla stepped in to complete the project. His Paramatthadīpanī covers seven vital texts: the Udāna, Itivuttaka, Vimānavatthu, Petavatthu, Theragāthā, Therīgāthā, and Cariyāpiṭaka.

Dhammapāla’s style is heavily indebted to Buddhaghosa, but he relies even more explicitly on Abhidhamma terminology. His work is invaluable for preserving the life stories of the elder monks and nuns, and for systematically defining the parameters of the Bodhisatta’s Perfections (pāramī).

Quote

Porāṇakehi viññūhi, vaṇṇitā vaṇṇanā bahū;
Many commentaries, extolled by the wise of old,

Dissanti idha lokamhi, abhidhammatthasaṅgahe.
Are seen in this world concerning the Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha.

Na tāhi tuṭṭhiṃ vindanti, ye sāratthā bhimānino;
Those who delight in the essential meaning do not find satisfaction in them.

Te maṃ saṅgamma yācanti, paramatthassa dīpanaṃ.
They approach me and request an illumination of the ultimate meaning (Paramattha).

Mahaṇṇave ratanāni, uddharitvā dipavāsinaṃ;
Even if one were to extract jewels from the great ocean

Yathicchakaṃpi dajjeyyuṃ, na vattabbāva ūnatā.
And give them to the island dwellers as much as they desire, no scarcity would be spoken of.

Tathevettha vipulatthā, aṇṇave ratanūpamā;
Just so, in this Saṅgaha, the profound meanings are like jewels in the ocean;

Satakkhattuṃpi vaṇṇeyyuṃ, pariyādinnā na hessare.
Even if one were to explain them a hundred times, they would not be exhausted.

Tasmā tāsu vaṇṇanāsu, sāramādāya vaṇṇanaṃ;
Therefore, taking the essence from those commentaries, I shall compose a commentary

Nānāsārattha sampuṇṇaṃ, uttāna padabyañjanaṃ.
Full of various essential meanings, with clear words and phrases,

Nātisaṅkhepa vitthāraṃ, mandabuddhippabodhanaṃ;
Neither too concise nor too expansive, enlightening for those of dull intellect.

Karissaṃ taṃ paramatthesu, suṇantu pāṭavatthinoti.
May those who desire proficiency in ultimate realities listen to it!

— Paramatthadīpanī (Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha-ṭīkā)

Textual References

• Subject Matter: Seven books of the Khuddaka Nikāya.