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
!. the Capable Man that is the Buddha
". the #ion$li%e Man that is the Buddha
&s for the first deri'ation the Buddha is nobler than any other beings. (o the
Buddha is duly referred to as the Narasiha the Nobler Man.
(econdly the Buddha was capable of defeating or critici)ing other beliefs
which had appeared before *im. *e then showed *is followers the +ight ,ay. Thus
the Buddha came to be %nown as the Narasiha the Capable Man.
-n the third place .ust as the lion which is the %ing of beasts con/uered the
whole forest by its four mighty canines so also the Buddha con/uered the worlds by
*is almighty 'irtue wisdom accumulated merit and power. -n this respect the
Buddha was li%e the lion and thus came to be called Narasiha the #ion$li%e Man.
-t is noteworthy that Nara'aha is another term to refer to the Buddha. The
signification of this term can also be deri'ed in two ways.
Dipa
2
Dipa also denotes Nibbana. Concerning this meaning the
Abhidhanappadipika Commentary gi'es three explanations which are0
1. Nibbana is also called Dipa because its nature resembles that of an island
"
!. -t is so called because it is li%e a lamp
1
and
". -t is so called because it ma%es light to the wise eyes of the noble beings.
2

3irstly the term dipa also signifies island. Nibbana and an island are
similar in that the former gi'es refuge or shelter to the drifting beings in the whirlpool
of (amsara 4the cycle of rebirths5 .ust as the latter is a refuge for the drifting 'ictims
of a shipwrec% in the ocean.
1
415 nara 4being man5 6 siha 4noble5 7.&.---.28 (.&.---.!1!8 &p.&.--.191 4!5 nara 4being man5 6 siha
4capable bra'e5 7.&.---.118 M.&.-.""!8 (.&.--.1" 4"5 nara 4being man5 6 siha 4lion lion$li%e5
Niti.pada.11" 415 &.--.1:;8 -t' <!;;
!
dipa 4masc=neut5 >dip 6 a 7hat'attha <!?"8 @adattha.1;1
"
7han.T.?8 &.--.1;1 4patitthatthena dipam A (.&.---.11B5
1
7han.T.?
2
-bid.
7han.T.19"8 7han.T."1?
1
(econdly dipa also denotes lamp. Cust as a lamp shines through the
dar%ness so also Nibbana shines in the enlightened mind of the noble beings.
Nibbana is therefore said to resemble a lamp.
Thirdly Nibbana can only be penetrated or reali)ed by the noble beings. The
worldlings cannot reali)e it howe'er. ,hen we say that the noble beings see
Nibbana we do not mean that they see it physically but that they reali)e it through
insight. -n other words Nibbana shines or manifests itself as if to ma%e light to the
reali)ing insight. Nibbana is hence called Dipa8 it enlightens or ma%es light to the
insight of the noble beings.
Dvipaduttama
1
The term Dvipaduttama con.ures up the meaning of the Buddha. The
Abhidhanappadipika Commentary explains this in the following two ways0
1. The Buddha is Dvipaduttama because *e is nobler than any other biped
human or celestial or Brahmaic8
!
!. The Buddha is Dvipaduttama because *e is the Noble Dne that is the
Noblest Dne among the bipeds human or celestial or Brahmaic.
"
The abo'e$stated explanations gi'en by the Commentary are consistent with
the Pitaka.
1
The essence of these explanations is therefore worth noting.
The &bhayarama (ayadaw in his translation of the &bhidhanappadipi%a
ma%es the point that the Buddha is nobler than any other biped let alone the legless
animals 4apada5. The (ayadaws remar% seems to ha'e been based on the
Buddha'amsa &ttha%atha in which the following statement is found0
ESammasambuddho pana apadanam catuppadanam bahuppadanam rupinam
arupinam sanninam asanninam uttamo va F
2
GThe Buddha on the other hand is indeed the noblest among the legless four$
legged many$legged material or immaterial animals and those with or without
perception.H
1
d'ipaduttama 4masc.5 d'i 6 pada 6 uttama
!
d'ipadam uttamo d'ipaduttamo A 7han.T.1
"
d'ipadesu uttamo d'ipaduttamo A -bid.
1
d'ipaduttamo 4B'.":15 ti d'ipadanam uttamo d'ipaduttamo A B'.&.2;8 (n.&.-.111
2
B'.&.2;
!
But it seems that the Buddha is referred to as Dvipaduttama 4the noblest
biped5 .ust to show the superiority of bipeds o'er other animals A the high$ran% noble
beings are only bipeds.
tirakkara
1
The term tirakkara means disrespect. The Abhidhanappadipika
Commentary interprets it in three ways0
1. absence of respect
!
!. %eeping out of sight from a respectable person
"
and
". opposition to 4rebellion against5 a respectable person.
1
415 & disrespectful person ne'er pays due respect bodily 'erbally or mentally
to a respectable person. (ince he neglects any %ind of respect by body speech or
thought. -n him the sense of respect has disappeared or is absent.
4!5 & disrespectful person does not
1
tiro 4disappearance8 absence5 6 %ara 4respect5
tiro 4absence5 6 %ara 4doing deed5
!
tira$saddo antaradhane 'attamano samba..hadhoti torodhana%aranam tira%%aro A 7han.T.1;!
"
(ee the abo'e note.
1
tiro 4opposite5 6 %ara 4doing5
a'amanam tira%%aro A 7han.T.1;!
"