Mahā Datta untranslated

Mahā Datta 01. A Thera of Ariyakoṭiya. He was once sitting at the foot of a tree to meditate, but because of the great power of his virtue, the children of the tree deity grew restless, and the deity tried to frighten him away but failed. She then appeared before the Thera, in disguise, and told him of her trouble. He asked her to take her family somewhere else for that day only as he did not wish it to be thought that she had scared him away. MN­a.i.131.

Mahā Datta 02. Mahā Datta Thera. An incumbent of Haṅkanaka who wrongly believed that he was an Arahant because of the inoperation of the corruptions. Vsm.634; Vibh-a.489.

Mahā Datta 03. An Elder of Moravāpi, an eminent commentator whose opinions are quoted in the Commentaries, e.g., Dhs-a. 230, 267, 284, 286; Paṭis-a.405.

Mahā Datta 04. A senāpati. He was a follower of the Brāhmaṇas, and at the moment of his death he saw before him a picture of hell. The Brahmins who were round him asked him what he saw, and he said that he saw a house blood red in colour. They assured him that that was the Brahma world, but after death he was born in hell. MN­a.ii.803.