<p>Radhakrishnan is not a wholly reliable guide to the Dhammapada. One must read him with care. The Pāḷi is</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>Kena padenāti yassa hi rāgapadādīsu ekapadampi atthi, taṃ tumhe tena
  padena nessatha. Buddhassa pana ekapadampi natthi, taṃ apadaṃ buddhaṃ tumhe kena padena nessatha.</em> Dhammapada Aṭṭhakathā, 3.196.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It's from Buddhaghosa's commentary on the Dhammapada (Dhammapada Aṭṭhakathā). This section comments on the words "by what pada" (<em>kena padena</em>). My rough translation is:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If he has even one from amongst the <em>padas</em> such as desire (<em>rāga</em>), then he can be led by that <em>pada</em>. But the Buddha has not even one of them, the Buddha is without a <em>pada</em>, there is no <em>pada</em> by which you can lead him.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The question then is what <em>pada</em> means here. If we read this along with Dhp 180 then it becomes clear that <em>pada</em> means desire etc (<em>rāgapadādi</em>). And it seems to me that "track" is a poor translation of <em>pada</em> here. It does not convey that in this context <em>pada</em> is referring to desire etc. I suggest that "sign" is somewhat better, but that even this is less than entirely satisfactory. Only the context can help us in this case. </p>

<p>In what sense craving is a "path" or a "track" or even a "sign" is moot. But then these verses are rather esoteric and a simple answer might be misleading anyway.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-15T10:48:21.180Z
2015-08-15T10:48:21.180Z
Jayarava
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhammapada_(Radhakrishnan_translation)" rel="nofollow">Radhakrishnan's edition of The Dhammapada</a> provides the following quotation from Buddhaghosa as a commentary on Verse 179 (Chapt, 14, 1 Buddhavagga) where the Buddha is described as <em>apadam</em> trackless/signless:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"The man who is possessed of even a single one of such conditions as
  <em>raga</em>, attachment, &amp;c., him ye can lead forward; but the Buddha has not even one condition or basis of renewed existence, and therefore by
  what track will you lead this unconditioned Buddha?"</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Could anyone tell me the source of this quotation and also provide me with the Pali?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-11T22:11:30.027Z
Does [this answer](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/1996/254), and the comments underneath it, answer this question?
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-14T17:15:35.207Z
No, I'm afraid that doesn't help. I'm really looking for the source of the Buddhaghosa quote. Also I think apadam here means signless rather than trackless
Adrian Hale
<pali-canon><reference-request><texts><dhammapada>
Source of quotation from Buddhaghosa about Buddha being trackless
# Source of quotation from Buddhaghosa about Buddha being trackless

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-08-11)

[Radhakrishnan's edition of The Dhammapada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhammapada_(Radhakrishnan_translation)) provides the following quotation from Buddhaghosa as a commentary on Verse 179 (Chapt, 14, 1 Buddhavagga) where the Buddha is described as *apadam* trackless/signless:

> "The man who is possessed of even a single one of such conditions as
> *raga*, attachment, &c., him ye can lead forward; but the Buddha has not even one condition or basis of renewed existence, and therefore by
> what track will you lead this unconditioned Buddha?"

Could anyone tell me the source of this quotation and also provide me with the Pali?

**Tags:** pali-canon, reference-request, texts, dhammapada

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Does [this answer](http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/1996/254), and the comments underneath it, answer this question?  
> **username_0**: No, I'm afraid that doesn't help. I'm really looking for the source of the Buddhaghosa quote. Also I think apadam here means signless rather than trackless  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-08-15. Score: 3

Radhakrishnan is not a wholly reliable guide to the Dhammapada. One must read him with care. The Pāḷi is

> *Kena padenāti yassa hi rāgapadādīsu ekapadampi atthi, taṃ tumhe tena
> padena nessatha. Buddhassa pana ekapadampi natthi, taṃ apadaṃ buddhaṃ tumhe kena padena nessatha.* Dhammapada Aṭṭhakathā, 3.196.

It's from Buddhaghosa's commentary on the Dhammapada (Dhammapada Aṭṭhakathā). This section comments on the words "by what pada" (*kena padena*). My rough translation is:

> If he has even one from amongst the *padas* such as desire (*rāga*), then he can be led by that *pada*. But the Buddha has not even one of them, the Buddha is without a *pada*, there is no *pada* by which you can lead him.

The question then is what *pada* means here. If we read this along with Dhp 180 then it becomes clear that *pada* means desire etc (*rāgapadādi*). And it seems to me that "track" is a poor translation of *pada* here. It does not convey that in this context *pada* is referring to desire etc. I suggest that "sign" is somewhat better, but that even this is less than entirely satisfactory. Only the context can help us in this case.

In what sense craving is a "path" or a "track" or even a "sign" is moot. But then these verses are rather esoteric and a simple answer might be misleading anyway.


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