Dear Yong Peng,
op 20-11-2005 13:12 schreef Ong Yong Peng op yongpeng.ong@...:

>
> A`nguttara Nikaya: Ekaka Nipaata
> Etadagga Vagga
> Cha.t.tha Vagga

>
> 1. "Etadagga.m, bhikkhave, mama saavakaana.m upaasakaana.m pa.thama.m
> sara.na.m gacchantaana.m yadida.m tapussabhallikaa vaa.nijaa."

> "This is the most eminent, monks, among those of the upasakas, my
> disciples, going to the first refuge: it is the merchants Tapussa and
> Bhallika.

------
N: PTS has: who first took refuge. (see end).
---------

> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 4. ... Catuuhi sa`ngahavatthuuhi parisa.m sa`nga.nhantaana.m yadida.m
> hatthako aa.lavako.

> Among those drawing a following with the four attributes of kindness:
> it is Hatthaka Alavaka.

-------
N: sa`ngahavatthu: bases of popularity (or sympathy). See D III, 232:
liberality, kindly speech, justice, impartiality.
-------

>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 8. ... Aveccappasannaana.m yadida.m suuramba.t.tho.
> of the perfectly pious ones / that is / Surambattha
> Among the perfectly pious ones: it is Surambattha.

------
Other option: avecca passado: perfect confidence.
PTS: unwavering loyalty.
He was tempted by Mara who claimed that the Buddha had said that the
khandhas are permanent. But he did not give in.
---------

> 9. ... Puggalappasannaana.m yadida.m jiivako komaarabhacco.
> of the ones adored by people / that is / Jivaka / Komarabhacca
> Among those adored by people: it is Jivaka Komarabhacca.

--------
N: PTS: liked by people. pasanna: they have confidence in him. Adore seems
too strong.
Pasanna is shiny, but it also has the meaning of saddhaa, confidence.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 10. ... Vissaasakaana.m yadida.m nakulapitaa gahapatiiti.
> of the affectionate ones / that is / Nakulapita / householder
> Among the affectionate ones: it is the householder Nakulapita.

-------

> vissaasaka (adj) intimate.

--------
N: or trustworthy. The word affectionate does not explain much.

>
>

YP: For the case of Tapussa and Bhallika, I have translated pa.thama.m

> sara.na.m as the first refuge, i.e. the Buddha.

--------
N: See Pali Proper Names, under Bhallika: <They accepted the Buddha and the
Dhamma as their refuge.> There was not yet a sangha. So I would think: the
first to take refuge. The first laydisciples. They took two refuges.
Nina.