ධම්මපදට්ඨකථා (Dhammapada Commentary — Sri Lankan Palm-Leaf MS)

[Top Leaf / Folio 14]

Having practiced vipashana insight meditation for ten days, he reached the state of a Once-Returner sakadagami. After four months had passed from that time, he reached the state of a Non-Returner anagami. After another four months had passed, he reached the state of Arhatship, was freed from the cycle of existence, and on the eleventh day of the seventh month, in the afternoon, he approached the Teacher the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. The Teacher, preaching the Dhamma to that monk, said, "Monks, one should exert effort to be freed from such suffering of existence and to see Nirvana."

At that time, the Teacher, having rejoiced with that monk, brought forth and showed the Jataka story from the past. In the past, when King Brahmadatta was ruling in the city of Varanasi, our Great Bodhisattva was born into a certain family and was growing up...

[Bottom Leaf]

...Thus, the Great Bodhisattva, seeking omniscience and exerting effort while fulfilling the perfections paramitas, one day while living in the forest, saw a certain ascetic, approached him, and stood after paying homage. At that time, that ascetic, seeing the Bodhisattva, was pleased and, with great compassion, preached the Dhamma.

Having heard the great Dhamma teachings twenty-seven times, the Bodhisattva was extremely joyful for the sake of realizing the path to Nirvana. Thus, wandering in the cycle of existence until the birth in which he would see Nirvana through this noble merit...