[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Literature, language and dating](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature) › [A History of Indian Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927) › v2.c19.s5.34 # A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s5.34 A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s5.34 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c19.s5.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s5.34) A work which is probably as early as the earliest portions of the Milindapañha, and which also possibly dates far enough back to have been written in India, is the Netti-Pakaraṇa, also called Netti-Gandha, or simply Netti, "The Book of Guidance" (\*viz.\*, to the True Religion).¹ This is the earliest work which offers a connected treatment of the whole of the teaching of Buddha; it is possibly earlier than the last two books of the Abhidhammapiṭaka,² and is ascribed to no less a person than Mahākaccāna, the disciple of Buddha, who, as far back as in the Majjhimanikāya, was proclaimed to be the best expounder of the word of Buddha.³ The same Mahākaccāna is also said to have composed the Peṭakopadesa, "Instruction of the students of the Piṭakas,"⁴ a continuation of the Netti, and most likely not much later than this last-named work. A commentary on the Netti was written by Dhammapāla (probably in the fifth century A. D.). - [Previous: v2.c19.s5.33](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s5.33) - [Next: v2.c19.s5.35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s5.35) - [Up: v2.c19.s5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s5) ## Linked texts (4) - [Peṭakopadesa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.petakopadesa) — Mahākaccāna, Pāli - [Nettippakaraṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.nettippakarana) — Mahākaccāna, Pāli - [Majjhimanikāya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.majjhima) — Pāli - [Abhidhammapiṭaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.ap) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s5.34](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s5.34) · Pramāṇa