Cariyāpiṭaka untranslated

Cariyāpiṭaka. One of the fifteen books of the Khuddakanikāya, generally placed last in the list. It contains tales in metrical verse of the Buddha’s previous births, chiefly setting forth the ten pāramī, by which he attained Awakening. Each story is called a Cariyā. The stories told here in verse are parallel to the corresponding Jātaka stories in prose, and presuppose a familiar acquaintance with all the incidents of the prose tales. The first two pāramī are illustrated by ten stories each, while the remaining pāramī have only fifteen stories between them.

The Dīghabhāṇakas refused to include the Cariyāpiṭaka in their canonical books, but it was accepted by the Majjhimabhāṇakas (DN­a.i.15, 23).

There exists a Commentary on the Cariyāpiṭaka which is ascribed to Dhammapāla and which forms a part of the Paramathadīpanī (published in the Hewavitarane Bequest Series, vol.xxvi.; 1929).

According to the Commentary (Cp-a.1, 2), the Cariyāpiṭaka was preached by Gotama Buddha at the Nigrodhārāma, after the conclusion of the Buddhavaṁsa and at the request of Sāriputta.

It was preached by Mahinda at the Nandanavana in Anurādhapura, soon after his arrival in Ceylon (Dpv.xiv.45; but see Mhv.xv.179).