Buddhavaṁsa untranslated

Buddhavaṁsa. The fourteenth book of the Khuddakanikāya (DN­a.i.17). The Dīghabhāṇakas excluded it from the canon, but it was accepted by the Majjhimabhāṇakas (DN­a.i.17).

It contains, in verse, the lives of the twenty-five Buddhas, of whom Gotama was the last. The name of the Bodhisatta under each Buddha is also given. The last chapter deals with the distribution of Gotama’s relics.

It is said (Bv.i.74) that the Buddhavaṁsa was preached, at Sāriputta’s request, at the Nigrodhārāma in Kapilavatthu, after the Buddha had performed the miracle of the Ratanacaṅkama. The Commentary on the Buddhavaṁsa is known as the Madhuraṭṭhavilāsinī (q.v.).

The Gandhavaṁsa (p.61) speaks of a Buddhavaṁsa written by an author named Kassapa. This is probably not the same work. Mention is also made (Gv.60) of a Ṭīkā to the Buddhavaṁsa, Paramatthadīpanī by name.