A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s5.66

v2.c19.s5.66

There is scarcely any doubt that Buddhaghosa is also the author of the commentaries on the Abhidhammapiṭaka, or at least of the Atthasālinī (commentary on the Dhamma-Saṅgaṇi), the Sammoha-vinodanī (commentary on the Vibhaṅga) and the commentary on the Paṭṭhāna-Pakaraṇa, and most likely of the Kaṅkhāvitaraṇī and the Paramattha-Jotikā (commentaries on the Khuddaka-Pāṭha and the Suttanipāta).¹ On the other hand, the commentaries on the Jātaka and the Dhammapada are so very different in language and style from Buddhaghosa's commentaries, that he cannot possibly have written them.² As far as these two works are concerned, the designation "commentary" is, as a matter of fact, just as unsuitable as the expression "author." For, in both works, the actual commentary, *i.e.*, the grammatical and lexical explanation of the verses, occupies only a very small space, whilst narratives, or, to be more exact, sermons in the form of narratives,³ constitute the major part. It will be more correct to speak of compilers or editors, who collected and edited these sermons or narratives.