ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research was to study the Pali language of Theravada Buddhist Scriptures, the background, the body of knowledge in the Dhammapadatthakatha, grammatical characters and terminological using in this scripture.
In the research, it was found that Pali is relative to the Bhudevata, the native language of the Sakya clans in Ancient India. The both languages were used only spoken language. Pali was pronounced phonetically as Barlie (Baly) in Thailand since the reign of King Narayana, the Great. Pali is as expression of an artificial language which use as the Buddhist literary language. It was adopted by the Theravadins as the language in which to preserve the memorized teachings of the Buddha. It came to be regarded as a synonym of Brahmacariya, Dhammavinaya, Navanga-satthusâsana, Buddhavacana, Tipitaka, Tanti, Pâvacana and Pariyattidhamma.
The Dhammapadatthakathã or The Dhammapadha commentary gives a description of every Gathâ (verse) of the Dhammapadha in the Khuddhakanikâya. The version of this commentary which is used to study the Pali in Thailand was written by Culla-Buddhaghosa, who obtained his materials from the same source as the Sinhalese Saddhammaratanâvalî written by Mahathera Dhammasena in the thirteenth century in Lanka. The contents of this scripture cover the Buddhadhamma. These are eminent in the Pali grammar and showing the knowledge of history, archaeology and philosophy etc.
The Dhammapadatthakathã is historical relative to the Tipitaka firmly. Remarkable, the author of this commentary gave the significance of a comprehension of the Pali grammar. One who is not sure in his the Pali grammar, he cannot understand the language and its meanings. The Dhammapadatthakathã contains metaphor and simile, including illustrations. The compiler explans from an abstract to concrete by poems and bring the Buddha’s sayings at the end of each content. The Pali grammar is up to the standard of the Pali grammarians. So, the Dhammapadatthakathã is used as the classical textbook of the Pali grammarians in Thailand on the subject of syntax, translation into Thai and translation into Pali (Magadha).
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