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When he, with his wisdom, saw the meaning that was hidden, As if revealed, both at that time and at other times, The Elders, united in the Buddha’s path, thought it A priceless gem, indeed very rare. 34. Knowing his form of wisdom, well-defined as a wish-fulfilling gem, In giving the desired meaning of Dhamma and Vinaya, The excellent Elder, the poet Saṅghapāla, Whose mind was determined in this matter, He appointed him for the welfare of the people. 35. “Although there are various treatises on practice, Some things are not in accordance with the Buddha’s view; And they are contrary to the times of the pure elders, Therefore, may he make a stainless treatise on practice.” 36. Like a forest of lotuses of loving-kindness and compassion on the earth of beings, It rains on the path to the noble way, the path of no path; For the sake of purification, “May he fulfill the elder’s desired wish,” Thus he made the Visuddhimagga. 37. With his wisdom, joined with the mindfulness of the heroes’ compassion, Having grasped and taken all the commentaries and scriptures, He, without neglecting the essence, even with effort, What he did, who among the wise would not approve of it here? 38. The states of being mentioned here are supreme, and the inherent phenomena, And the objects are pleasant and joyful to experience, and impermanent; This is full of all methods of practice, And shines like a forest in full bloom. 39. Seeing this, and conceiving it as a jewel-essence, Desiring to attain purity; Those who are eager to take that essence quickly, Seeing a priceless jewel, would they not take it? 40. The lovely lines of words here are in accordance with the scriptures, The rows of methods, most excellent, are well-established and proven; And the meanings are for the attainment of peace, weighing them, Without this connection, what other practice is there? 41. This shines, being in the midst of the four Agamas of the Teacher, He illuminates the meanings here like the sun in many substances; This is a deed that generates joy in the wise— His knowledge extends even to the poets of the past. 42. His sharp intellect is seen through the accomplishment of this Visuddhimagga, By those who have attained the state of the wise; Therefore, his ability to elucidate the meaning of the Buddha’s words Is known by those who know the scriptures. 43. The fame attained by poets, bringing honor, Of the elder named Buddhassiri, of pure mind; Taking up the declared aspiration for the welfare of the world, And for the welfare of people with a humble heart. 44. By this one, known for his Buddhahood, The commentary on the Vinaya, called Samantapāsādikā, was composed; As if by the rising sun, those bewildered by the meaning of the Vinaya They become deluded, having attained the path of the Conqueror's policy. 45. Lanka, adorned by the Great Mahinda Thera, and the Vinaya commentaries brought there, that; Being spoken in the lovely Sinhala language, The sages of old were exceedingly delighted. 46. And other commentaries, named Paccari, Kurundi, and so on, Which were like lamps for the island in the Vinaya; Having gathered all their meanings and the Thera- -vāda, like pearls on a single string. 47. And that very text, endowed with the Sinhala idiom, Having made it charming and then extensive; The path, in a concise manner, so that the entire World might honor it, made it revered. 48. With pure syntax, free from error, and of the pure Thera- -vāda, with pure Vinaya texts, revered teachings; They made it pure, unlike other doctrines, Thus, this was the origin declared here. 49. In which the lovely lines of words are beautiful and easy to understand, And the meanings bring forth joy and wonder; Varied, born of diverse thoughts, like swans in the poets' minds, Therefore, it delights those who follow its meaning. 50. Diverse meanings and methods, like an unfathomable ocean, Were present in the ancient Vinaya commentaries; To make their desired lines into a Suttanta, What could any mighty hero do? 51. Because of his effort, imbued with compassion, Accompanied by wisdom, strong and firm; Having obtained that which is delightful to the entire world, It shines forth, fitting for the wise. 52. By the wise, it is considered "having crossed the ocean of Vinaya," Esteemed as "a good crossing, swift-flowing"; Thus, it shone with esteemed qualities until today, What is firm, quickly perishes, hard to overcome. 53. "Which is pervasive in all methods and easy to understand, A constant stage of Dhamma served by listeners; Bringing forth qualities for the welfare of the world, May it stand!" — Thus, the ancient commentary perished. 54. Impelled by compassion for the people's welfare, Cutting off the weariness of the good in the Vinaya; Then, in the arrangement of the commentaries of the Agamas, To take up the burden You are indeed a wise one. 55. Like a lotus, fully bloomed and beautiful, Having attained full bloom, your thought is supreme; By the great elephant of wisdom, firm and intelligent, It was desired, and for its purpose, it succeeded. 56. For the long-standing meanings, with all mental effort, Having attained the essence, it is a great blessing, Which, like a charming lady following a name, A description arose for the welfare of the world. 57. Even in the profound and wise teachings, The intellect was made very pure; Many people understood the Buddha's intention, For the wisdom of the great ones accomplishes other things. 58. That which is pleasing to the eyes of the learned, Always shines in the assembly of the Dhamma in the beloved teaching; Therefore, I think you have been concealed, What swift path is there other than the one that goes to knowledge? 59. Having reached the great sky, like a cloud, The mind, which accomplishes the world's welfare, is of great intention; Therefore, its commentaries, in succession, Were new and new, for the bestowal of wisdom. 60. Aiming at the Buddha and other noble ones, firm and excellent, The description was a dispeller of proliferation; "May good people find joy in the essence of all, in the Middle Teachings of the Conqueror." 61. That which arose as "Sāratthappakāsinī," It was as Jotipāla desired; Illuminating the world with its named essence, It shone as a giver of the right path. 62. By which the desire was fulfilled, The explanation of the meaning of the Aṅguttara Nikāya; That name, and the good person Jīvaka, And that Jotipāla, praised for his wisdom. 63. That which he made with skill, In showing the good path to be served by the Buddha and others; It was like a garden of Dhamma flowers, Always frequented by the assembly of the learned. 64. By which good people abandon their own views, And in the difficult-to-understand Dhamma, revealing its nature; May they understand, thus it was an ocean of Abhidhamma, Making entry there easy. 65. Its delightful wisdom was eightfold, And that which is called "Sammohavinodanī" (Dispeller of Delusion), These, named after Buddhaghosa, Arose to accomplish the welfare of good people. 66. And five other commentaries relating to Abhidhamma, placing here the states as they are in the suttas; penetrating wisdom in profound meanings, accomplishing, illuminating the Teacher's peerlessness. 67. In response to the request of the Elder named Soṇa, by which monks overcome doubts; which is in the Pātimokkha, and its related (rules), that best of the wise made an explanation. 68. Delighting the entire world of beings, the commentary on the Dhammapada made by him; dedicated to Thera Kumārakassapa, by which the minds of the good blossomed with joy. 69. Other (works) of his, which are the Suttanipāta, Khuddakapāṭha, giving meaning, illuminating the ultimate truth; commentaries adorning the Jātaka texts, these are illuminating for the welfare of the world. 70. The desire for propagation in the entire world, of the commentaries that came to Lanka; which fulfilled the Theravādins, obtained through the power and glory of the foremost Elder Buddhaghosa. 71. His auspicious name and delightful qualities, they follow the path of unity; indeed, those who are always brave and resolute, they go about making the world joyful. 72. The illuminating power of the excellent Buddhaghosa, starting from the manifestation of the steadfast leader; indeed, the entire world in the Theravāda, increased respect, unparalleled. 73. As long as the name "Buddha" is in the world, so too will Buddhaghosa's (name) be, not less; indeed, great help was received by the good, like precious treasures from him. 74. His praise would not be exhausted even if extracted, indeed, his many qualities are endless; who could extract all the water from the ocean? Yet, let the wise always think so. Published by the Sangha Committee for the completion of the Sixth Council's task, this Introduction to the Visuddhimagga is finished.