Sabbamitta

1. Sabbamitta Thera. He belonged to a brahmin family of Sāvatthi, and entered the Order after seeing the Buddha's acceptance of Jetavana. He dwelt in the forest, meditating. Once, on his way to Sāvatthi to worship the Buddha, he saw a fawn caught in a trapper's net. The doe, though not in the net, remained near, out of love for her young, yet not daring to approach the snare. The Thera was much moved by the thought of all the suffering which was caused by love. Farther on he saw bandits wrapping in straw a man whom they had caught and were preparing to set on fire. The Thera was filled with anguish, and, developing insight, won arahantship. He uttered, in his anguish, the two verses included in Thag. 149 50. He preached to the bandits and they joined the Order under him.

In the time of Tissa Buddha, he was a hunter who lived on game. One day, the Buddha, out of compassion for him, left three of his footprints outside his hut. The hunter saw them, and, owing to good deeds done in the past, recognized them as the Buddha's, and offered to them koranda flowers. After death he was born in Tāvatimsa (ThagA.i.269f). His Apadāna verses are given in two places under the name of Korandapupphiya (q.v.). Ap.ii.383, 434; cf. Sugandha Thera.

2. Sabbamitta. An eminent teacher belonging to the udicca brāhmanakula. He was extremely learned, and was the second teacher employed by Suddhodana to teach the Buddha in his youth. Mil. p. 236.

3. Sabbamitta. The constant attendant of Kassapa Buddha. D.ii.7; Bu.xxv.39; J.i.43.

4. Sabbamitta. A king of Sāvatthi. See the Kumbha Jātaka (No. 512). He is identified with Ananda. J.v.20.

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