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Commentary on the Chapter on Persons
53. In the first discourse of the Second Fifty, because it is taken together with a universal monarch, "out of compassion for the world" was not said. And here, by the arising of a universal monarch, two successes are obtained; by the arising of Buddhas, three as well.
54. In the second, "marvellous human beings" means habitual human beings, wonderful human beings.
55. In the third, "causes distress to many people" means it produces anguish for the public. Therein, the death of a universal monarch produces anguish for gods and humans in a single world-system, while the death of the Truth-finder produces anguish in ten thousand world-systems.
56. In the fourth, "worthy of a monument" means proper for and befitting a monument. For by looking after a universal monarch's shrine, two successes are obtained; by looking after a Buddha's shrine, three as well.
57. In the fifth, "Buddhas" means those who have awakened to the four truths through their own power.
58. In the sixth, "phalantiyā" means making a sound. "Na santasantī" means they do not fear. Therein, one who has eliminated the mental corruptions does not fear because of the abandonment of his identity view; a thoroughbred elephant because of the strength of identity view. In the seventh and eighth too, the same method applies.
61. In the ninth, "kimpurisas" means kinnaras. "Do not speak human speech" means they do not speak human talk. It is said that they brought one kinnara and showed it to Dhammāsoka. He said: "Make it speak, will you not?" The kinnara did not wish to speak. One man, saying "I will make it speak," having brought it down to the lower part of the mansion, having driven two stakes, placed a pot upon them. It falls from both sides. Having seen that, the kinnara said just this much: "Why is it not fitting to drive one other stake?" Again afterwards they brought two kinnaras and showed them. The king said: "Make them speak." They did not wish to speak. One man, saying "I will make them speak," having taken them, went to the market place. There one saw ripe mangoes and fish, and one saw wood-apple fruit and tamarind fruit. There the former said: "Humans eat great poison; how is it that they do not become lepers?" The other said: "How is it that these, in dependence on that, do not become lepers?" Thus, even though able to speak human speech, seeing two reasons, they do not speak.
62. In the tenth, "discontent" means without longing, without withdrawing.
63. In the eleventh, "living together of the wicked" means the living together of bad persons. "Should not speak" means should not speak by way of exhortation or instruction; the meaning is "let him not speak." "I should not speak to an elder" means I too should not speak to an elder monk by way of exhortation and instruction. "Wishing for my harm" means desiring harm. "Not wishing for my welfare" means not wishing for welfare. "I would say 'no' to him" means I would say to him "I will not carry out your word." "I would vex him" means I would vex him by not carrying out his word. "Even seeing, I would not make amends" means even seeing, even knowing, I would not carry out his word. By this method the meaning should be understood everywhere. In the bright side, however, "I would say 'good' to him" means delighting in his talk, saying "Good, excellent, well spoken by you" - I would say to him; this is the meaning.
64. In the twelfth, "verbal exchange on both sides" means speech circulating by way of mutual reviling and counter-reviling on both sides is verbal exchange. "Insolence of views" means insolence arising in dependence on views, having the characteristic of rivalry, is called insolence of views. "Mental resentment" means irritation. For it arises striking the mind. "Displeasure" means a state of dissatisfaction; the meaning is displeasure. "Dissatisfaction" means irritation itself. For it is called dissatisfaction by way of non-satisfaction. "Is internally not calmed" means all this is not calmed in one's own mind, reckoned as one's own internal, and in one's own assembly, reckoned as one's co-resident pupils and students. "Tasmetaṃ" means "in that, this." The remainder should be understood by the method already stated.
The Chapter on Persons is the first.