‘Narasiha’1
The term ‘narasiha’ signifies ‘the Buddha’ and the Abhidhanappadipika
Commentary explains its signification in three ways. ‘Narasiha’ is
1. the Nobler Man, that is, the Buddha
2. the Capable Man, that is, the Buddha
3. the Lion-like Man, that is, the Buddha
As for the first derivation, the Buddha is nobler than any other beings. So the
Buddha is duly referred to as the Narasiha, the Nobler Man.
Secondly, the Buddha was capable of defeating or criticizing other beliefs
which had appeared before Him. He then showed His followers the Right Way. Thus,
the Buddha came to be known as the Narasiha, the Capable Man.
In the third place, just as the lion, which is the king of beasts, conquered the
whole forest by its four mighty canines, so also the Buddha conquered the worlds by
His almighty virtue, wisdom, accumulated merit and power. In this respect, the
Buddha was like the lion and thus came to be called ‘Narasiha’, the Lion-like Man.
It is noteworthy that ‘Naravaha’ is another term to refer to the Buddha. The
signification of this term can also be derived in two ways.
‘Dipa’2
‘Dipa’ also denotes ‘Nibbana’. Concerning this meaning, the
Abhidhanappadipika Commentary gives three explanations, which are:
1. Nibbana is also called ‘Dipa’ because its nature resembles that of an island,3
2. It is so called because it is like a lamp,4 and
3. It is so called because it makes light to the wise eyes of the noble beings.5
Firstly, the term ‘dipa’ also signifies ‘island’. Nibbana and an island are
similar in that the former gives refuge or shelter to the drifting beings in the whirlpool
of Samsara (the cycle of rebirths) just as the latter is a refuge for the drifting victims
of a shipwreck in the ocean.
1
(1) nara (being, man) + siha (noble) D.A.III.5; S.A.III.242; Ap.A.II.181 (2) nara (being, man) + siha
(capable, brave) D.A.III.11; M.A.I.332; S.A.II.43 (3) nara (being, man) + siha (lion, lion-like)
Niti.pada.143 (4) A.II.107; Itv §277
2
dipa (masc/neut) √dip + a Dhatvattha §263; Padattha.474
3
Dhan.T.6; A.II.471 (‘patitthatthena dipam’ – S.A.III.149)
4
Dhan.T.6
5
Ibid.
Dhan.T.183; Dhan.T.316
1
Secondly, ‘dipa’ also denotes ‘lamp’. Just as a lamp shines through the
darkness, so also Nibbana shines in the enlightened mind of the noble beings.
Nibbana is therefore said to resemble a lamp.
Thirdly, Nibbana can only be penetrated or realized by the noble beings. The
worldlings cannot realize it, however. When we say that the noble beings see
Nibbana, we do not mean that they see it physically but that they realize it through
insight. In other words, Nibbana shines or manifests itself as if to make light to the
realizing insight. Nibbana is hence called ‘Dipa’; it enlightens or makes light to the
insight of the noble beings.
‘Dvipaduttama’1
The term ‘Dvipaduttama’ conjures up the meaning of the Buddha. The
Abhidhanappadipika Commentary explains this in the following two ways:
1. The Buddha is ‘Dvipaduttama’ because He is nobler than any other biped,
human or celestial or Brahmaic;2
2. The Buddha is ‘Dvipaduttama’ because He is the Noble One, that is, the
Noblest One among the bipeds, human or celestial or Brahmaic.3
The above-stated explanations given by the Commentary are consistent with
the Pitaka.4 The essence of these explanations is therefore worth noting.
The Abhayarama Sayadaw in his translation of the Abhidhanappadipika
makes the point that the Buddha is nobler than any other biped, let alone the legless
animals (‘apada’). The Sayadaw’s remark seems to have been based on the
Buddhavamsa Atthakatha, in which the following statement is found:
“Sammasambuddho pana apadanam catuppadanam bahuppadanam rupinam
arupinam sanninam asanninam uttamo va …”5
[The Buddha, on the other hand, is indeed the noblest among the legless, four-
legged, many-legged, material, or immaterial animals and those with or without
perception.]
1
dvipaduttama (masc.) dvi + pada + uttama
2
‘dvipadam uttamo dvipaduttamo’ – Dhan.T.1
3
‘dvipadesu uttamo dvipaduttamo’ – Ibid.
4
‘dvipaduttamo (Bv.301) ti dvipadanam uttamo dvipaduttamo’ – Bv.A.57; Sn.A.I.144
5
Bv.A.57
2
But it seems that the Buddha is referred to as ‘Dvipaduttama’ (the noblest
biped) just to show the superiority of bipeds over other animals – the high-rank noble
beings are only bipeds.
‘tirakkara’1
The term ‘tirakkara’ means ‘disrespect’. The Abhidhanappadipika
Commentary interprets it in three ways:
1. absence of respect,2
2. keeping out of sight from a respectable person,3 and
3. opposition to (rebellion against) a respectable person.4
(1) A disrespectful person never pays due respect bodily, verbally or mentally
to a respectable person. Since he neglects any kind of respect by body, speech or
thought. In him, the sense of ‘respect’ has disappeared or is absent.
(2) A disrespectful person does not
1
tiro (disappearance; absence) + kara (respect)
tiro (absence) + kara (doing, deed)
2
‘tira-saddo antaradhane vattamano sambajjhadhoti torodhanakaranam tirakkaro’ – Dhan.T.172
3
See the above note.
4
tiro (opposite) + kara (doing)
‘avamanam tirakkaro’ – Dhan.T.172
