Phra Maha Nimitr on verse 1

Phra Mahaa Nimitr:

The words _saddatthabhedavaadiina.m pavara.m_, "the Foremost
of speakers of the analysis of sadda and attha", is a term
that identifies the Buddha by one of his qualities. Even
though the Buddha was the foremost in every way among devas
and men, nevertheless the author chose to refer to the Buddha's
superiority among grammarians, this being an appropriate
thing to mention in a treatise on the subject of grammar. As
the Saddatthabhedacintaadiipanii explains:

jinavarassa niravasesadevamanussaana.m pavarabhaave satipi
attanaa abhidheyyamaanapakara.naanuruupa.m bhagavato
thomana.m kattukaamo saddatthabhedavaadiina.m pavara.m
varavaadina.m abhivaadiya
saddatthabhedacintaa'bhidhiiyatety'ettha
_saddatthabhedavaadiina.m pavaran_ tyaaha.

"Even though the excellent Conqueror has the foremost state
among all devas and men, (the author), wishing to pay a
tribute to the Blessed One that would be fitting for the
treatise to be delivered by himself, spoke the words
_saddatthabhedavaadiina.m pavara.m_ here [in the verse:
saddatthabhedavaadiina.m pavara.m varavaadina.m /
abhivaadiya saddatthabhedacintaa'bhidhiiyate]."

Dhammanando:

Thanks to Jim and Ven. Pandita for your renderings of the
above. I have preferred "wishing to pay tribute" for
"thomana.m kattukaamo", rather than "wishing to do salutation".

In the Abhidhaanappadiipikaa "thomana" is listed in verses
118-9 which cover words connected with praise. I think
"salute" and its derivatives would be better for words like
namakkaara and vandanaa given in verses 426-7.

Best wishes,

Dhammanando