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The Translators of the Tipitaka

Pali
the English Translators

Sinhala

Pali (1)

BJT Text

Pali (2)

New Text, Study + Metrical Commentary
(1) Upalavanna

(2) A.D. Jayasundere

(3) misc. & anon

(4) T. W. Rhys Davids

(5) Jhanananda

(6) Thanissaro

(7) Vajira/Story

(8) Piyadassi

(9) Narada

(10) Nyanaponika

(11) Ñanamoli

(12) Bodhi, Soma

(13) Horner

(14) Ñanananda

(15) Olendzki

(16) Woodward

(17) F. Max Müller

(18) Strong

(19) Buddharakkhita

(20) ânandajoti

(21) Amaravati

(22) Nyanasatta

(23) Ireland

(24) V. Fausböll

Main Translation 
from the
A. P Soyza series

Exposing Translator Bias

   Editor's Preface to the Pali (1) and (2) (Edited by Jhanananda)

Pàëi 1 is substantially a transliteration of the Sinhala version of the text as printed in the Buddha Jayanti Tripitaka Series, Volume XXIV. In preparing this edition the corrigenda (÷uddhi patraya) as printed on page xxvi of that volume have been taken into account. Other corrections, made by the present editor while preparing this edition of the text, have been noted in the appropriate place.

In the original edition there were many cases where BJT was inconsistent in its use of punctuation, layout, and entering of notes. Here an attempt has been made to present a more standardized version of the text in this regard, but as the matter is trivial on the one hand, and extremely numerous on the other, these sort of changes have not been noted.

Pàëi 2 is a new edition of the text prepared by the present writer which has been established through a comparison of the four main printed editions of the text as they appear in the standard Sinhala, European, Thai, & Burmese editions.

For this edition the abbreviations in BJT have been interpreted as follows:

Sã = Palm leaf book
Mu = Printed book
Mudditapàëã = Printed edition of the text
Mudditaññhakathà = Printed edition of the commentary
Aññhakathà = Commentary
Machasa = ChS (i.e. the Burmese Chaññha Saïgàyana edition)
Syà = Thai (i.e. the Royal Thai edition)
Saõgãtikàrakatherànaü gàthayo = Verses recited by the elders at the 1st council
Kesuci potthakesu = In some books
Katthaci = Seen somewhere
Sabbattha = Everywhere else
Iti pi pàñho = Is another reading
Pà = Reading noted in the commentary

As can be seen a number of the abbreviations are rather vague, no indication is given as to which palm leaf books have been consulted, for instance, or exactly which edition of the commentary (though here we may assume it to be the Simon Hewavitarne Bequest Series edition).

This work has been produced in order to assist in making known the teachings of the Buddha, please remember that many people have contributed their time and energy to this gift of the Dhamma. Anyone with similar aims who wishes to use the documents or their database is welcome to do so, provided that no fees are charged for its distribution or use. If you use these documents in any way please make an acknowledgement to the Sri Lanka Tipitaka Project.

ânandajoti Bhikkhu
February 2002

Since Venerable ânandajoti Bhikkhu's preface the GWV has acquired the work of the BJT and added to it the work of 24 different translators (please see above). Our endeavor is to first and foremost provide a full and complete translation of the Sutta Pitaka on the web. Our secondary goal is to provide a range of opinions on rendering the Discourses of the Buddha into English as expressed in the various translations. We hope that people will be inspired to not only read the Discourses of the Buddha, but engage in delving below the fog of translator bias and religious dogma to get at a clear understanding of the Buddha's teachings.


If only one is relieved of suffering by our efforts, then our work was well spent.

Sotapanna Jhanananda

Inyo National Forest, September 2005

Please send us an email with comments and suggestions

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[Pali & Buddhist Studies] [Tipitaka Index]  [Buddhist Timeline] [Pali-English Dictionary] [Glossary Key] [Sanskrit & Vedic Studies] [Ecstatic Meditation Archive]