Mahā Panthaka Thera untranslated

Mahā Panthaka Thera. The elder brother of Cūḷa Panthaka (q.v.) and grandson of Dhana seṭṭhi of Rājagaha. He went with his grandfather to hear the Buddha preach, won faith, and entered the Saṅgha. He became skilled in the Dhamma, and, in due course, received higher ordination and became an Arahant, with special proficiency in the four arūpajhānas. Later, he was declared pre-eminent among those skilled in the evolution of perception (saññāvivaṭṭakusalānaṁ) (AN.i.24).

His resolve to win such eminence was made in the time of Padumuttara Buddha when he heard a monk similarly honoured by the Buddha. Thag­a.i.490f.; AN­a.i.118f; details about Mahā Panthaka are given, see Cūḷa Panthaka. They are to be found in Ja.i.114ff.; Dhp­a.i.241ff.

A set of verses uttered by him in the joy of attainment is included in the Theragāthā. Thag.vss.510-17.