19 KN Peta Vatthu.pdf

ඛුද්දකනිකායට අයත් පෙතවත්ථු පාලිය සඳහා භදන්තාචරිය ධම්මපාල මහා තෙරුන් විසින් රචිත ‘පරමත්ථ දීපනී’ නම් අටුවාව මෙහි අන්තර්ගත වේ. ප්‍රේත වස්තු හා සම්බන්ධ ගාථාවන්හි පද විවරණ සහ පසුබිම් කථා විස්තර මෙම අටුවාවෙන් විස්තර කෙරේ.

සයිමන් හේවාවිතාරණ මහා පරිත්‍යාගය (Simon Hewavitarne Bequest) යටතේ පළමු වරට ක්‍රි.ව. 1917 දී සිරි ධම්මාරාම තිස්ස නායක හිමි, මාපලගම චන්දජොති හිමි සහ මහගොඩ සිරි ඤාණිස්සර නායක ස්ථවිරයන්ගේ සංස්කරණයෙන් මුද්‍රණය කෙරුණු මෙම ග්‍රන්ථය, සෝමාවතී හේවාවිතාරණ භාරකාර අරමුදල මඟින් 2002 වසරේදී තෙවන මුද්‍රණය ලෙස ප්‍රකාශයට පත් කරන ලද්දකි.

අභිනවපකාසක නිවෙදනං

භදන්තා’චරිය ධම්මපාලත්ථෙරවරෙන විරචිතා පරමත්ථදීපනී නාම පෙතවත්ථු අට්ඨකථා භගවතො සොගතෙන සයිමන් හේවාවිතාරණ මහාසයෙනා’ණත්තෙන චාර්ලස් අල්විස් හේවාවිතාරණා’භිධානෙන ආඪ්‍යලවෙජ්ජා’චරියෙන චෙ’ව සිරිනාථ කුමාරදාස මූනසිංහාභිධානෙන ච සම්බුද්ධ පරිනිබ්බානතො ද්විසහස්ස චතුසතාධික එකසට්ඨිමෙ වස්සෙ’ට්ඨා පන ක්‍රෛස්තවා’බ්දතො එකසහස්ස නවසතාධික සත්තදසමෙ වස්සෙ ත්‍රිපිටක මුද්දණාලයෙ මුද්දාපිතා එවච පාකටී කතා ච.

සා පනෙ’සා අට්ඨකථා’ධුනා උග්ගහණ ධාරණ පරිපුච්ඡාදි කාමානං සිස්සානඤ්චෙවා’චරියානඤ්ච සුදුල්ලභත්තා පරියෙසිතුං දුක්කරභාවං ගතා. ඉදැනි’පි තස්ස ගන්ථරතනස්ස සුලභභාවමිච්ඡන්තෙන සම්බුද්ධසාසන විරොචිනිං පඤ්ඤානෙතන වත්තමාන සිහලරජ්ජ පරික්ඛකාධිකාරී ධුරන්ධරෙන නීතිවෙදිනා නොයෙල් විජේනායක මහාසයෙන සහ තිස්සරත්නතුංග මහාසයෙන ච සද්ධිං නන්ද අමරසිංහ මහාසයස්ස සංවිධායකත්තා වසා සම්බුද්ධසාසනො’දයකාමාය පුඤ්ඤත්ථිකාය සාරා’සාර විනිච්ඡයකුසලාය සොමාවතී හේවාවිතාරණ අරියාය පතිට්ඨාපිත පරිවත්තමූල ධනමහා කතෙන ධනබ්බයෙන සම්බුද්ධ පරිනිබ්බානතො ද්විසහස්ස පඤ්චසතා’ධික අට්ඨාවීසතිමෙ වස්සෙ’ට්ඨ වා ක්‍රෛස්තවාබ්දතො එකසහස්ස නවසතා’ධික චතුරසීතිමෙ වසෙස තිලක මුද්දණාලයෙ මුද්දාපෙත්වා පුනපි පාකටීකතා’ති සබ්බෙහි සද්ධම්මරසිකෙහි විඤ්ඤාතබ්බන්ති අභිනවපකාසකානං නිවෙදනං.

ඉදං ලිඛිතමිදං මයා කුප්පියාවත්තේ ජයසේකරාරාමාධිපතිනා සාහිත්‍යසූරි සංඝපති රාජකීය පණ්ඩිතො’පාධිධාරිනා සිරි ලංකා බෞද්ධ සහ පාලි විශ්වවිද්‍යාලයානුබද්ධ පානදුර පින්වත්තේ සද්ධම්මාකර ආයතනාධිපතිනා, සිරිලංකා අමරපුර මහා සංඝසභාය සමලේඛකාධිකාරිනා, අමරපුර සිරි සද්ධම්මවංස මහානිකායෙ පධාන ලේඛකාධිකාරිනා තදෙව නිකායෙ පධානා’ධිකරණ නායක ධුරන්ධරෙන ච තලල්ලෙ ධම්මානන්දාභිධානෙන නායකත්ථෙරවරෙන සිරි සුගත තථාගත පරිනිබ්බානතො ද්විසහස්සපඤ්චසතාධික අට්ඨවීසතිමෙ වස්සෙ සාවනමාසෙ පුණ්ණමී දිනෙ සනිවාරෙ’ච, රුචිරවොහාරවසස්‍යමාණෙ වසා ක්‍රෛස්තවාබ්දතො එකසහස්ස නවසතාධික චතුරසීතිමෙ වසෙස අගෝස්තු මාසෙ එකාදසමෙ දිනෙ සනිවාරෙති.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

The late Mr. SIMON ALEXANDER HEWAVITARANA, who in his life time had begun to publish the TRIPITAKA, left a bequest for its completion after his death. He died suddenly on 17 th January 1913, and in accordance with his Trustees had published the Commentaries on the Text in 49 volumes. After seventy year these books are no longer readily available.

His widow Mrs SOMAWATHI HEWAVITARANE who passed away on 10 th January 1982 at the age of 94, had, prior to her death, created the SOMAWATHI HEWAVITARANE TRUST to carry on the good work started by her late husband and bequeathed her entire estate to this Trust.

We the Trustees of the Somawathi Hewavitarana Trust, having seen the need to re-print the Commentaries, have undertaken this task to help both the student and teacher of the Dhamma and in the hope that this act of ours will help to preserve the Noble Teachings of the Blessed One for the benefit of the future generations and thereby prolong the life of the Buddha Sasana by many more thousands of years.

May the fruits of this meritorious act help the late Simon Alexander Hewavitarane and Somawathi Hewavitarane Maha Upasikawa in Sansara and towards their final attainment of Nibbana.

Noel Wijenaike, Nanda Amerasinghe, Parinda Ranasinghe
11th August 1984, Somawati Hewavitarane Trust office, 130, Maligakanda Road, Colombo 10, SRI LANKA

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE.

The late Mr. Simon Alexander Hewavitarne who has left a bequest for the publishing of the Tripitaka Commentaries, and the Tripitaka was the third son of Mudliyar Don Carolis Hewavitarne Wijayagoonaratna, and a brother of the Anagarika H. Dharmapala. Born on the 20th March 1875, he was educated at the Royal College and after his school career joined as junior partner in his father’s business which is well known in the East as the firm of H. Don Carolis & Sons

From a very early age he came under the influence of his religion and took a leading part in all Buddhist educational and religious activities. He was also the Secretary of the Buddhist Theosophical Society, and for number of years of the Vidhyadhara Sabha which looks after the interests of the Vidyodaya Oriental College He was in constant touch with the late illustrious High Priest Hikkaduve Sri Sumangala and the Theras of the Vidyodaya Parivena. He was an earnest student of the Abhidhamma and in his private life was most loveable and kind hearted. He was married on the 18th November 1904 to Miss Somavatee Gunatilaka daughter of Mr. D. T W. Gunatilaka of Hallala. He left no issue.

He was a good business man, and helped very largely to extend his father’s business During his life he was unassuming in his charities and it was only after his death that the extent of his private charity was known.

Originally he had the intention of printing the complete text of the Tripitaka and was making arrangements to do so, when he was advised by Professor Lanman of Harvard University to bring out an edition of the Commentaries. Following this idea, he began in 1911 to publish the Commentary of the Samyutta Nikaya. When about ten forms of this had been printed he died suddenly on the 17th January, 1913.

In his Will dated 8th April 1912, he says “I give, devise, and bequeathe, all such moneys as may be found necessary for printing the Pali Text of the Commentaries which is being printed now, and all moneys needful for bringing out a neat edition of the Text of the Tripitaka.” He has left ample provisions to carry on a work which under ordinary circumstances can only be attempted under Royal patronage or by a powerful organization. Of him it may well be said “Rupam jirati maccànam nàma-gottam na jirati.” After his death a convocation of the Sangha was held at his residence “Glamis House” Kollupitiya, on the 16th March 1913 by his Executor, my brother the late Mr. Edmund Hewavitarne.

It was then decided to allocate the editing of the texts to different theras whose copies were to be finally submitted to a committee of learned Bhikkhus.

The carrying out of this idea was found impractiable and at a later convocation of the priests it was definitely decided to make each priest responsible for his own work. In 1914 Professor Dharmananda Kosambi of Ferguson College Poona was invited to Ceylon to further advise Mr. Edmund Hewavitarne on the matter. With him he visited the different temples and entrusted the following commentaries to the Theras mentioned below.

1. The Commentary of the Anguttara Nikaya (Manoratha Púrani) has been entrusted to Kirti Sri Dhammarama Nayaka Thero, High Priest of Colombo and Chilaw, Principal Vidyalankara Pirivena, Peliyagoda. This work is well in hand and about ten forms have been printed.

2. Digha Nikàya Aṭṭhakathá (Sumangala Vilàsini). Heyyantuduve Devamitta Thero, Chief High Priest Western Province and Director of Vidyodaya College. About fifty forms have been printed and will soon be issued.

3. Samyutta Aṭṭhakathà. Bedigama Sri Ratnapála Thero, High Priest and Principal Maha Mantinda Pirivena, Matara The MSS. have been received.

4. Udàna Aṭṭhakathà. Gonagala Siddartha Thero, Principal Saddharmodaya Pirivena, Bentota. In print.

5. Itivuttake Aṭṭhakathá. Lunupokune Dhammananda High Priest, Colombo District.

6. Thera Gáthà Aṭṭhakathà. Weboda Sangharatana Thero. The MSS. of this have been revised by Suriyagoda Sumangala Thero, and is nearly ready for publication.

7. Theri Gathà Aṭṭhakathà. Bihalpola Dewarakkhita Thero, Vice Principal Vidyodaya College. It is nearly completed.

8. Maha Niddesa Aṭṭhakathá. Boruggamuye Rewata Thero, about twenty forms are printed.

9. Visuddhi Magga. Kodagoda Upasena Thero, Principal Sri Saddharmodaya Pirivena, Walpola. It is being printed.

10. Dhammapada Aṭṭhakathà. Kahawe Ratanasara Thero. Vice Principal Vidyodaya College. It is being printed.

11. Vimàna Vatthu Aṭṭhakathà. Madugalle Siddhattha Thero. Principal Sangharaja Pirivena Mallwatta Kandy.

12. Jataka Aṭṭhakathà. Aruggoda Seelananda Maha Thero. Principal Paramadharmmachetiya Pirivena Ratmalana.

13. Culaniddesa Aṭṭhakathá. Mulleriyave Wipulasara Thero, Galwana Vihara Budgomuva. A portion of the MSS. received.

14. Patisambhida Magga Aṭṭhakathà. Madiwala Anomadassi Thero of Siri Perakumba Pirivena Cotta. Portion of MSS. received.

15. Apadana Aṭṭhakathá. Pinwatte Seelananda Nayaka Thero. Sadharmakara Pirivena. Pinwatta Panadure.

16. Buddhawansa Aṭṭhakathà. Yagirala Paññananda Thero. Sudharmakara Pirivena Gonagale Induruwe.

17. Cariya Pitaka Aṭṭhakathá Bentara Somalankara and Somarama Theras. Panditaratna Pirivena Wanawasa Vihare Bentota.

18. Nettippakarana Aṭṭhakathá. Vidurupola Piyatissa Nayaka Thero.

19. Khuddaka Aṭṭhakathà. Welipitiye Devananda Thero. Vidyodaya Pirivena Maligakanda.

After the Preliminary work of allocation, when the printing was about to be begun Ceylon was visited by a stupendous calamity.

Soon after the Wesak festival of 1915, a riot broke out at Kandy between the Mahomedans and the Buddhists. This soon spread to nearly every part of Ceylon and assumed a very threatening aspect. Martial Law was declared and in the aftermath that followed, my brother Mr. Edmund Hewavitarne was charged with treason and the looting of a shop known as the Crystal Palace in the Pettah, Colombo.

In a Court Martial held at Colombo he was judged guilty and condemned to Penal Servitude for life.

Representations were made to the then Governor, Sir Robert Chalmers about his innocence and he was to have been released when he died on the 19th of November 1915 at the Civil Hospital Jaffna through typhoid fever contracted in the Jaffna Gaol.

Since then His memory has been vindicated by His Excellency the Governor, Sir John Anderson whose letter to me I reproduce below.

QUEEN’S HOUSE, COLOMBO. 18th July, 1917. Sir,

I am directed by His Excellency to inform you that he has had occasion in connection with the case of your late brother to refer to the unpublished evidence given before the Police Enquiry Commission to see whether it had any bearing on the case.

In the evidence given in October 1915 before the Commission by two members of the Civil Service statements occur as to events in the Pettah on the 1st of June which incidentally tend to support the evidence given in your brother’s defence as to the time at which the looting of the Crystal Palace took place. One of the officers has since died and the other is serving with His Majesty’s Forces in Europe, and it is impossible therefore to refer further to them; but His Excellency thinks it highly probable that, if these state-ments had been before the Court Martial, it would have given your brother the benefit of the doubt and acquitted him

It is unnecessary to add that the fact that these officers were in the Pettah on that morning and might give relevant evidence was not realised at the time of your brother’s trial.

In the circumstances I am desired to convey to you and the other members of the late Mr. Hewavitarne’s family an expression of His Excellency’s sincere sympathy and regret.

I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, R. H. WHITEHORN, Private Secretary to the Governor.

DR. C. A. HEWAVITARNE, “Srinagar”, Colpetty Road, Colombo.

After the lamented death of my brother Edmund the duty of carrying on the work devolved on me. The work was started about the end of 1916 and it is my duty to announce the first fruits of the great idea originated by my brother Simon Hewavitarne. A Committee has been formed and the work of subediting has been entrusted to Boruggamuve Revata Thero, Suriyagoda Sumangala Thero and Mapalagama Chandajoti Thero, supervised by Mahagoda Siri Nanissara Thero, Pradhana Nayaka of Sabaragamuva Province and Principal Vidyodaya Oriental College.

The present work was originally entrusted to Sri Sugata Vansalankara Dhammarama Tissa and has been revised and brought more in accordance with textual criticism by Candajoti Thero, with the help of several other copies.

I have to acknowledge my deep indebtedness to Sri Sugata Sasana Vansalankara Dhammarama Tissa Thero and to Chandajoti Thero who undertook to edit the Peta Vatthu. Their indebtedness to the Pali Text Societys’ publication which has been of great use in the producing of the work has been referred to in the preface.

Though there is a Sinhalese translation of the Peta Vatthu printed and published in Colombo, the Pali Commentary itself is not much used among the Sangha with the result that copies of this book are difficult to obtain. The books further are full of errors.

In this edition also there may be errors, but for all such errors and any short-comings and mistakes that have been made we crave the indulgence of the learned Public.

C. A. Hewavitarne.
15th October, 1917. “Srinagar”, Colpetty Road, Colombo.