Lost Sanskrit verses of Vajirabuddhiṭīkā Nidānavaṇṇanā

The Vajirabuddhiṭīkā is the oldest known Pāli sub-commentary on the Vinaya, believed to have been written between Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa eras. This sub-commentary is notable for its distinct linguistic features, which set it apart from other Vinaya sub-commentaries. The Most Venerable Sāriputta, the author of the Sāratthadīpanīṭīkā, criticized the author of the Vajirabuddhiṭīkā for incorporating non-Pāli linguistic elements. Some later scholars have also noted this characteristic, but no specific study has yet focused on the linguistic components of the Vajirabuddhiṭīkā. A comparative analysis of Sinhala-script palm-leaf manuscripts reveals the inclusion of Sanskrit verses and sentences, particularly in the Nidānavaṇṇanā section of the Vajirabuddhiṭīkā, which contains numerous Sanskrit verses. This study employs manuscript collation, comparative textual analysis, linguistic and grammatical examination, and contextual interpretation to produce a critical edition of the recovered Sanskrit verses. There are only two known published editions of the Vajirabuddhiṭīkā, namely the Burmese Chaṭṭha Saṅgāyanā edition and the Burmese word-by-word translation (Nissaya). Interestingly, both editions present the Sanskrit verses found in Sinhala-script as Pāli translation. Sinhala-script manuscripts preserve the original Sanskrit versions, albeit with textual variants. This study seeks to identify and critically refine the Sanskrit verses in the Nidānavaṇṇanā that do not appear in any extant printed editions. Based on a close examination of Sinhala-script manuscripts, ten Sanskrit verses have been identified and refined through rigorous grammatical and contextual analysis. This research enhances understanding a better understanding of the early Pāli commentarial tradition, illustrates the influence of Sanskrit on Pāli literature during the post-Anurādhapura era, and offers valuable insight into the linguistic dimensions of the Theravāda exegetical tradition. It also contributes to the critical editing and restoration of the early Pali Vajirabuddhiṭīkā.