Dighanikaya 1.3

1.3

Sambahulānanti bahukānaṃ. Tattha vinayapariyāyena tayo janā ‘‘sambahulā’’ti vuccanti. Tato paraṃ saṅgho. Suttantapariyāyena pana tayo tayova tato paṭṭhāya sambahulā. Idha suttantapariyāyena ‘‘sambahulā’’ti veditabbā. Maṇḍalamāḷeti katthaci dve kaṇṇikā gahetvā haṃsavaṭṭakacchannena katā kūṭāgārasālāpi ‘‘maṇḍalamāḷo’’ti vuccati, katthaci ekaṃ kaṇṇikaṃ gahetvā thambhapantiṃ parikkhipitvā katā upaṭṭhānasālāpi ‘‘maṇḍalamāḷo’’ti vuccati. Idha pana nisīdanasālā ‘‘maṇḍalamāḷo’’ti veditabbo. Sannisinnānanti nisajjanavasena. Sannipatitānanti samodhānavasena. Ayaṃ saṅkhiyadhammoti saṅkhiyā vuccati kathā, kathādhammoti attho. Udapādīti uppanno. Katamo pana soti? Acchariyaṃ āvusoti evamādi. Tattha andhassa pabbatārohaṇaṃ viya niccaṃ na hotīti acchariyaṃ. Ayaṃ tāva saddanayo. Ayaṃ pana aṭṭhakathānayo – accharāyogganti acchariyaṃ. Accharaṃ paharituṃ yuttanti attho. Abhūtapubbaṃ bhūtanti abbhutaṃ. Ubhayaṃ petaṃ vimhayassevādhivacanaṃ. Yāvañcidanti yāva ca idaṃ tena suppaṭividitatāya appameyyattaṃ dasseti.

“Of many” means of a great number. There, according to the Vinaya method, three persons are called “many”; beyond that is a Saṅgha. But according to the Suttanta method, groups of three and upwards from that are “many.” Here, it should be understood as “many” according to the Suttanta method. “In the circular pavilion”: in some places, a peaked-roof hall made with two roof-peaks and a goose-round roof is called a “circular pavilion”; in some places, an attendance hall made with a single roof-peak, surrounded by a colonnade of pillars, is called a “circular pavilion.” But here, “circular pavilion” should be understood as a seating hall. “Of those seated together” refers to their sitting down. “Of those assembled” refers to their gathering. “This topic of conversation”: saṅkhiyā means talk; the meaning is “topic of talk.” “Arose” means came to be. But which was that? “It is wonderful, friends,” and so forth. In that regard, “wonderful” means that which does not occur constantly, like a blind person climbing a mountain. This, first, is the grammatical method. But this is the commentarial method: “wonderful” is worthy of a finger-snap; the meaning is fit for snapping the fingers. “Marvelous” means that which has become what had never been before. Both of these are synonyms for amazement. “How much” shows its immeasurability because it is so well penetrated by him.