Hello everybody,
This is my list of Commentaries translated to English. What is not “Commercial” should be included here - Pali Commentaries Atthakatha - English Translations Collection : The Great Atthakatha Masters and Translators : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive ready for download & study.
Updated on: September 25, 2024
This list is live, which means, that we can change it according to the replies in the discussion. I may not be alive forever and I may not be available always. But let me promise that I will update at least once a month if I get the notification of your suggestions.
So, here is the fifth attempt for a full list of Pali Commentaries. I will update the list according to your comments. (A disclaimer—I do not guarantee the quality of any of the translations in the list.) The list has three parts -
- Free: Free means you can download it. I have uploaded the “free” but I worry that some “free” may have a copyright restriction against my uploading. In that case, I want to remove them from the collection in the download link and here add just the link where it is available. I don’t understand copyright law and whenever I tried to learn it instead of understanding I actually had more questions than answers. Please, help me recognize what is commercial and free to upload and what not, I may be terribly wrong in my assessment. Free resources can be downoaded here.
- Commercial: Commercial means there is no way to download them for free. They include a link to buy.
- Theoretical or Planned: Theoretical are in the dream sphere (somebody said something and there it ended.) Planned means that somebody has already undertaken the translation of the particular text. (Please, note, that Conditional Relations by U Nārada is not Commentary, it is a translation of the main Abhidhamma Paṭṭhāna. The same thing is with Dhātukathā by U Nārada, and Puggalapaññatti by B.C. Law. Only the main texts are translated, not their Commentaries. MN translation of Raṭṭhapāla Sutta in Wheel 110 doesn’t contain the Commentary. Ven. Vimalaramsi’s essay on Ānāpānassati does not include a Commentary. C.E. Godakumbura’s Apadana is only a Pali transcript, not a translation.)
Please, help me update and improve this list, either by searching and revealing another’s translation or by your own translation. I will also try my best.
Because translations of Sub-Commentaries are extremely rare I include them inside this list and mark them as “B” in their number code. “A” is for Commentary if needed for distinguishment. 00 is for Vinaya Piṭaka, 01 is Dīgha Nikāya, 02 is Majjhima Nikāya, 03 is for Saṃyutta Nikāya, 04 is for Aṅguttara Nikāya, 05 is for Khuddaka Nikāya and the second number is for each book out of the 18 as decided by the Sixth Buddhist Council, 06 is for Abhidhamma, and 07 is for other Pali books numbered according to their position in Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyanā Tipiṭaka 4.0 Software.
List of Abbreviations
Vinaya
- Vin-a: Samantapasadika Bahiranidana, Inception of Discipline and Vinaya Nidana—N.A. Jayawickrama (Sacred Books of the Buddhists Vol.21) London-1962 (272p).pdf
- Vin-a: Vinaya Commentary, Samantapasadika, Shan-Chien-P’i-P’o-Sha, Sanghabhadra’s Chinese Samantapasadika–tr. by Prof. P.V. Bapat and Prof. A. Hirakawa, Tokyo, 1970 (652p).pdf
Dīgha Nikāya
- DN-a 1: Brahmajāla Sutta, The Discourse All Embracing Net of Views—Bhikkhu Bodhi, Kandy, 2007 (372p)
- DN-a 2: Sāmaññaphala Sutta and its Commentaries, The Fruits of Recluseship—Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, Kandy, 2008(1989) (197p).pdf
- DN-a 15: Mahānidāna Sutta Commentary, The Great Discourse on Causation—Bhikkhu Bodhi, 2007 (82p).pdf
- DN-a 16: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta Commentary, The Mission Accomplished—Pategama Gnanarama Phd, 1997 (236p).pdf
- DN-a 28: Sampasādanīya Sutta Commentary Sampasādanīyasuttavaṇṇanā—Jnan Nanda for PhD at the University of Hong Kong, 2019 (284p).pdf
Commercial
- DN-a 16: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta Commentary, The Buddha’s Last Days—Yan-Gyu An, PTS, 2003 (278p).pdf
Majjhima Nikāya
- MN-a 1: Mūlapariyāya Sutta Commentary, Discourse on Root of existence—Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 1980 (106p).pdf
- MN-a 1: Mūlapariyāya Sutta Commentary, Discourse on Root of existence (2nd Ed.)—Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 2006 (109p).pdf
- MN-a 1,2,3 .Papañcasūdanī, Commentary to the Majjhima Nikāya —N.A. Jayawikrama, Toshiichi Endo, HongKong-2022 (212p).pdf
- MN-a 4: The Bhayabheravasuttavaṇṇanā of the Majjhima Nikāya, An annotated translation and study—Sree D.R. Sraman for PhD University Hong Kong, 2018 (323p).pdf
- MN-a 9: Sammādhiṭṭhi Sutta with Commentary (Wheels 377-9)—Bhikkhu Nyanamoli, Bhikkhu Bodhi, 1991 (37p).pdf
- MN-t 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta with Commentaries and Sub-Commentaries—Soma Thera, 2010(1998) (179p).pdf
- MN-a 20: Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta Commentary, The Removal of Distracting Thoughts—Soma Thera, 1981(1960) (17p).pdf
- MN-a 33: Mahāgopālaka Sutta Commentary (from Majjhima Nikāya Anthology, The Five Nikāyas—An Anthology) Myanmar Pali-EN Translation 1978 (25p).pdf
- MN-t 100: Saṅgārava Sutta Commentaries and Sub-Commentaries (Pali, English, Czech translation by Ashin Saraṇa) version 2017 (94p).pdf
- MN-a 118: [Ānāpānassati Sutta Commentary, Mindfulness of Breathing—Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, BPS-2010(1952) (142p).pdf]
- MN-a 122: Mahāsuññata Sutta Commentary, The Greater Discourse on Voidness—Ñāṇamoli Thera, wheel 087 BPS-1982(1965) (47p).pdf]
Saṃyutta Nikāya
- SN-a 18,22,26 anthology: SNA 18.11, 22.5,9,12,23,24,26,28,33,58,59,63,71,78,95,102, 56.1,7,21,27,28,31,33,35,42,44,47,48— Son Tu, 2023 (105p).pdf
- SN-a and SN-ṭ 22.1: Affliction without Affliction, A Translation of the Nakulapitāsutta and its Commentaries—Giuliano Giustarini, Cardiff University Press, 2018 (29p).pdf
Khuddakapāṭha
- Kp-a: Khuddakapāṭha Commentary, Minor Readings and Illustrator–Bhikkhu Nanamoli, PTS, 2005(1960) (384p).pdf
- Kp-a: Khuddakapāṭha Tirokuṭṭa Sutta Commentary (extracted from Khuddaka Nikāya Anthology, The Five Nikāyas) MM Pali-EN 1978 (16p).pdf
Dhammapada
- Best e-copy found here
- Dhp-a: Dhammapada Commentary (Buddhist Legends) vol.1,2,3 - E.W.Burlingame, ven. Khemaratana, Anandajoti Bhikkhu, 2020(1917) (1030p).pdf
- Dhp-a: Dhammapada Stories—Gambiro Bhikkhu (126p).pdf
- Dhp-a: Dhammapada, Treasury of Truth—Weragoda Sarada Thero (with pictures), 1993 (1250p).pdf
Commercial
- Dhp-a: Dhammapada Commentary—“The Dhammapada”—John Ross Carter and Mahinda Palihawadana, 1987
Udāna
Commercial
- Ud-a: Udāna Commentary Paramatthadīpanī (or here) —ven. Dhammapala, En tr. P. Masefield Vol.1, 2001 (581p).pdf
- Ud-a: Udāna Commentary Paramatthadīpanī (or here)—ven. Dhammapala, En tr. P. Masefield Vol.2 (611p).pdf
Itivuttaka
Commercial
- Iti-a: Itivuttaka Commentary Paramatthadīpanī (or here)—En tr. P. Masefield vol. 1, 2008 (456p).pdf
- Iti-a: Itivuttaka Commentary Paramatthadīpanī (or here)—En tr. P. Masefield vol. 2, 2009 (407p).pdf
Suttanipāta
- Snp-a: Suttanipāta Commentary Paramatthajotikā (only introductions to each sutta’s Commentary)—Burma Pitaka Association, edited by Bhikkhu Pesala, 2018 (48p).pdf
Commercial
- Snp-a: Suttanipāta Commentary, The Suttanipāta – An Ancient Collection of the Buddha’s Discourses Together with Its Commentaries (The Teachings of the Buddha)—Bhikkhu Bodhi, 2017 (1083p).pdf
Vimānavatthu
Commercial
- Vv-a: Vimānavatthu Commentary Paramatthadīpanī, Intrinsic Meaning (or here)—En. tr. P Masefield (PTS), 2007 (619p).pdf
Petavatthu
Commercial
- Pv-a: Petavatthu Commentary Paramatthadīpanī (or here)—U Ba Kyaw (Eng), 1981, (336p).pdf
Therīgāthā
- Thig-a: Therīgāthā—Canda Therī Commentary (Eng.), U Thein Zan, 1971(or later) (5p).pdf
Therīgatha
Commercial
- Thig-a: Therīgatha Atthakatha Paramatthadīpanī (or here)—Acariya Dhammapala, En tr. W. Pruitt, 1999 (458p).pdf
Apadāna
- Apad-a: Apadāna Commentary - U Lu Pe Win (Eng.), 2020 (1118p).pdf
Commercial
- Apad-a: Apadāna Commentary Visuddhajanavilāsinī—Daya Gunasekara, part 2, 2011 (309p).pdf
- Apad-a: Apadāna Commentary Visuddhajanavilāsinī—Daya Gunasekara, part 2, 2011 (309p).pdf
Not available through any online means. However, I have it. So it exists. On April 11 2022, I called on the phone +94-11-2734256 to contact Buddhist Cultural Center, 125, Anderson Road, Nedimala, Dehiwala, Sri Lanka. They confirmed they have the book in the shop.
Buddhavaṃsa
- Bv-a: Madhuratthavilāsinī—Commentary on Buddhavamsa (PTS), 2008 (510p).pdf
Jātaka
- Best e-copy found here
- Ja-a: Jātaka Commentary Jātakaṭṭhakathā, only Nidānakathā, The Story of Gotama Buddha, vol.1—N.A. Jayawickrama, 2006 (294p).pdf
- Ja-a: Jātakas—Jātaka Tales of the Buddha 1 (Prince Goodspeaker)—ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa, T. Anderson, BuddhaNet, 1994 (265p).pdf
- Ja-a: Jātakas—Jātaka Tales of the Buddha 2 (King Fruitful)—ven. Kurunegoda Piyatissa, T. Anderson, BuddhaNet, 1994 (193p).pdf
- Ja-a: Jātakas—Jātaka Tales Part 1-5 (BL135: 001,003,018,089; BL138: 078,083,092; BL142: 512,190,322,407; BL144: 077,194,400; BL158: 020,035,055,156)—Ken and Visaka Kawasaki (Bodhi Leaves), 2006 (63p).pdf
- Ja-a: Jātakas—Jātaka Tales, Selected and Edited with Introduction and Notes—H.T. Francis and E.J. Thomas, Cambridge-1916 (530p).pdf
- Ja-a: Jātakas—Jātakas—vocabulary and glossary—I.B. Horner, 2000 (21p).pdf
- Ja-a: Jātakas—The Jātaka Translation—T.W. Rhys Davids, R. Chalmers, H.T. Francis, W.H.D. Rouse, E.B. Cowell, revised Ānandajoti Bhikkhu, 2021(1880) (2964p).pdf
Commercial
- Ja-a: Jātakas—Jātaka Tales of the Buddha An Anthology (vol.1)—Ken and Visakha Kawasaki, PariyattiPress-2018 (488p).pdf
- Ja-a: Jātakas—Jātaka Tales of the Buddha An Anthology (vol.2)—Ken and Visakha Kawasaki, PariyattiPress-2018 (472p).pdf
- Ja-a: Jātakas—Jātaka Tales of the Buddha An Anthology (vol.3)—Ken and Visakha Kawasaki, PariyattiPress-2018 (469p).pdf
Paṭisambhidāmagga
- Pṭs-a: Paṭisambhidāmagga Commentary (only Yuganaddhavagga section)—Thiri Nyunt, 2011 (197p)
Milindapañha
- Mil-a: Milindapañhā Commentary (only section on bhikkhunīs) (“The Politics of Pali Commentary, Canon-making, Monastic Reform, and Religious Revival”)—Jetavana Mingun Sayadaw, Anthony Scott, 2023 (550p).pdf
Abhidhamma
- Ab-t: Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha (Manual of Abhidhamma)—Nārada Mahā Thera, 1979(1956) (486p).pdf
- Ab-t: Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha, A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma—Bhikkhu Bodhi, BPS, 2012(1993) (425p).pdf
Commercial
- Ds-a: Dhammasaṅgaṇī Commentary Aṭṭhasālinī, The Expositor (or here)—Pe Maung Tin vol.1,2 PTS, 1976(1920,1921) (576p)
- Vb-a: Vibhaṅga Commentary Sammohavinodanī, The Dispeller of Delusion (or here)- Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli vol. 1 PTS, 1996(1987) (373p)
- Vb-a: Vibhaṅga Commentary Sammohavinodanī, The Dispeller of Delusion (or here)- Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli vol. 2 PTS, 1996(1991) (392p)
- Kv-a: Kathāvatthu Commentary Kathāvatthuppakaraṇaṭṭhakathā, The Debates Commentary (or here)- B.C. Law, 1969(1940) (261p)
- Abs: Summary of the Topics of Abh. (Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha) and Exposition of the Topics of Abh. (Abhidhammatthavibhāvinī) - R.P. Wijeratne, R. Gethin, PTS, Lancaster-2007(2002)
Visuddhimagga
- Vism: Visuddhimagga—Samatha Advanced Lv 1—Mehm Tin Mon, 2004 (154p).pdf
- Vism: Visuddhimagga—Samatha Advanced Lv 2—Mehm Tin Mon, 2004 (176p).pdf
- Vism: Visuddhimagga explanation (rewritten from tapes)—Sayadaw U Silananda (475p).pdf
- Vism: Visuddhimagga, The Path of Purification—Bhikkhu Nanamoli, 2011 (853p).pdf
- Vism: Visuddhimagga, The Path of Purity—Maung Tin vol.1, 1923 (107p).pdf
- Vism: Visuddhimagga, The Path of Purity—Maung Tin vol.2, 1929 (415p).pdf
- Vism-t: Visuddhimagga Ṭīkā—A Study in Paramatthamañjūsā With Special Reference to Paññā—Cha Myang Hee, 2001 (581p).pdf
- Vism-t: Visuddhimagga Ṭīkā (Paramatthamañjūsā), Ch XIV Study (DRAFT)—Nina Van Gorkom, 2023 (458p).pdf
Sāsanavaṁsa
- 07.5.02 Sāsanavaṃsa—The History of the Buddha’s Religion—B. C. Law, 1952 (200p).pdf
Mahāvaṁsa
- Mhvs: Mahāvaṃsa—The Hon. George Tourner, 1836 (383p).pdf
- Mhvs: Mahāvaṃsa Extended (chapters 5, 12-15, 18-20), Asoka and the Missions—Ānandajoti Bhikkhu, 2012(1937) (86p).pdf
- Mhvs: Mahāvaṃsa or the Great Chronicle of Ceylon—Wilhelm Geiger (380p).pdf
Moggallānabyākaraṇa
- 07.6.01 Moggallānabyākaraṇa—hand-written notes of ven. Paññādhika, 2016 (47p).pdf
Kaccāyanabyākaraṇa
- 07.6.02 Kaccāyanabyākaraṇa—En tr. U Nandisena, 2009 (250p).pdf
Lokanīti
- 07.7.05 Lokanīti, LawKaNiTeat—TatToe (Myanmar and English, Pali is omitted), 2009 (199p).pdf
Thūpavaṁsa
- 07.9.02 Thūpavaṃsa, The Legend of the Topes—B.C. Law, 1945 (113p).pdf
- 07.9.02 Thūpavaṃsa (Introduction), Emotions and Ethics in Buddhist History The Sinhala Thūpavaṃsa and the Work of Virtue—S.C. Berkwitz, 2001 (19p).pdf
Commercial
- 07.9.02 Thūpavaṃsa, The Legend of the Topes (2nd Ed.)—B.C. Law, 1986(1945) (113p).pdf
Theoretical or Planned
- MNA and DNA full translation is planned by Ashin Saraṇa (any helping hand & brain will be most appreciated)
- 05.12. Paṭisambhidāmagga Commentary is reportedly now being translated to English by Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi.
Need
- 00 Vinaya Piṭaka original Samantapāsādikā (what we have is not a strict translation of the Theravāda version)
- 01 DN 3-14, 17-27, 29-34
- 02 MN Commentary 5-8, 11-19, 21-32, 34-99, 101-117, 119-121,123-152
- 03 SN Commentary all
- 04 AN Commentary all
- 05.08 Theragāthā Commentary
- 05.11 Niddesa Commentary
- 05.15 Cariyāpiṭaka Commentary
- 05.16 Nettippakaraṇa Commentary
- 05.17 Peṭakopadesa Commentary
- 06 Dhātukathā, Puggalapaññatti, Yamaka, and Paṭṭhāna Commentaries
- 07.2 Saṃgāyana Pucchā Vissajjanā
- 07.3 Leḍī Sayāḍo—Nirutti, Paramattha, Anudīpanī, and Paṭṭhānuddesadīpanī
- 07.4 Buddhavandanāganthasaṅgaho – Namakkāraṭīkā, Mahāpanāma, Lakkhaṇāto Buddhathomanāgathā, Sutavandanā, Jinālaṅkāra, Kamalāñjali, Pajjamadhu, Buddhaguṇagāthāvalī
- 07.5.1 Cūḷaganthavaṃsa
- 07.6 Saddanīti, Padarūpasiddhi, Moggallānapañcikā, Payogasiddhi, Vuttodaya, Abhidhānappadīpikā, Subodhālaṅkāra, Bālāvatāra Gaṇṭhipadatthavinicchayasāra
- 07.7. Nītiganthasaṅgaho—Kavidappananīti, Nītimanjarī, Dhammanīti, Mahārahanīti, Suttantanīti, Sūrassatinīti, Cāṇakyanīti, Naradakkhadīpanī, Caturārakkhadīpanī
- 07.8. Pakiṇṇakaganthasaṅgaho—Rasavāhinī, Sīmavisodhanīpāṭha, Vessantaragīti
- 07.9. Moggallāna Vuttivivaraṇapañcikā, Dāṭhāvaṃsa, Dhātupāṭhavilāsiniyā, Dhātuvaṃsa, Hatthavanagallavihāravaṅsa, Jinacaritaya, Jinavaṃsadīpaṃ, Telakaṭāhagāthā, Milidaṭīkā, Padamañjarī, Padasādhanaṃ, Saddabindupakaraṇaṃ, Kaccāyanadhātumañjūsā, Samantakūṭavaṇṇanā
)