A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s5.117

v2.c19.s5.117

The commentaries on the Peta-Vatthu and the Vimāna-Vatthu² follow a similar arrangement to that of the Jātaka commentary and the commentary on the Dhammapada,³ elucidating and enlarging on verses by circumstantial prose narratives. There are several valuable legends among them. We find a few interesting Consolatory Stories in the commentary on the Peta-Vatthu.⁴ In some cases the stories in the commentary on the Vimāna-Vatthu are even of greater value than those in the Vimāna-Vatthu itself. As regards Dhammapāla as an exegetist, what has been said of Buddhaghosa might be applied to him also.⁵