A Dictionary of Pali Language

The exsting Pali Literature is one of great extent and importance ; it is valuable alike to the philologist, the historian, the student of folklore and the student of comparative religion. A considerable portion of it is known to us as in outline, but only the merest fraction has yet been published textually. It may broadly be classed under three heads : first the Buddhist Scriptures, which are the oldest Buddhist writings extant ; secondly the Commentaries of Buddhaghosha, which date only from the fifth century A.D. but are based upon recordsof great antiquity ; and thirdly historical, grammatical and other works, varying in date from the second or third century to the present day.