Dhammapada-aṭṭhakathā

The Commentary on the Dhammapada, containing stories similar to those of the Jātakas and explaining the occasions on which the Dhammapada-stanzas were uttered.

A considerable number of these stories are found in the Four Nikāyas and the Vinaya, and more than fifty are either directly derived from the Jātaka Commentary or are closely parallel to them.

The work is usually ascribed to Buddhaghosa, and in the prelude to the book it is stated that he translated the work from Sinhalese at the request of a monk named Kumārakassapa. For a discussion see P.L.C., pp.95ff; and Law: Pāli Lit., pp.449ff.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from

Dhammapada-aṭṭhakathā

The commentary on the Dhammapada, a text containing stories similar to those of the Jātakas and explaining the occasions on which the verses contained in the Dhammapada were uttered. A considerable number of these stories are found in various parts of the Pāli Canon and several are either directly derived from the Jātaka commentary or are closely parallel to them. The work, by an anonymous author, is usually ascribed to Buddhaghoṣa. It was apparently compiled in Sri Lanka, as stated in the book, and its date is unknown.

A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)