At the end of the Saama~n~naphala Sutta (DN 2) King Ajaatasattu tells
the Buddha that he has killed his father. (PTS D i.85) The buddha
accepts his "confession" - according to Rhys Davids and Walsh. Only,
when I look at the Pali there is no word that can be construed as
meaning confession.
The king : accaya.m accayo disvaa
- sees his trangression as a transgression, and he
yathaadhamma.m pa.tikarosi
- makes amends according to the dhamma.
Dhamma can be interpreted in various ways but the context suggests
that it simply in this case means whatever rules apply - ie the local
morality.
It seems as though both RD and Walsh are reading pa.tikaroti as
meaning "confession" but PED suggests: to redress, repair, make amends
for a sin [sic, but presumably meaning accayo], expiate. Buddhadatta
agrees.
Thanissaro follows PED and reads it as "making amends". Did Rhys
Davids and Walsh just get this wrong do you think?