Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā (Paṭhamo bhāgo)

Ganthārambhakathā: Introductory verses explaining the purpose of the commentary and its relationship to the inherited explanatory tradition of the Dhammapada. 1. Yamakavagga: Explains paired verses on mind, intention, kamma, hatred, discipline, and moral causality through stories such as Cakkhupālatthera, Maṭṭhakuṇḍalī, Tissatthera, Kosambakavatthu, Devadatta, Sāriputta, Nanda, and others. 2. Appamādavagga: Focuses on heedfulness, vigilance, and spiritual urgency, including stories of Sāmāvatī, Kumbhaghosaka, Cūḷapanthaka, Mahākassapa, Magha, and Nigamavāsitissatthera. 3. Cittavagga: Explains the nature, instability, training, and purification of the mind through narratives such as Meghiyatthera, Cittahatthatthera, Pūtigattatissatthera, Nandagopālaka, and Soreyyatthera. 4. Pupphavagga: Uses floral imagery and related narratives to discuss discernment, impermanence, desire, merit, and spiritual fragrance, including accounts of Viṭaṭūbha, Visākhā, Ānanda’s question, Mahākassapa, and Godhikatthera. 5. Bālavagga: Presents the characteristics and consequences of foolishness, unwholesome conduct, wrong association, and karmic result, with stories including Suppabuddhakuṭṭhi, Sumanamālākāra, Uppalavaṇṇātherī, Jambukatthera, and Cittagahapati. 6. Paṇḍitavagga: Explains the qualities of the wise, right association, discipline, instruction, and spiritual maturity through stories of Rādhatthera, Channatthera, Mahākappina, Paṇḍitasāmaṇera, and other monks. 7. Arahantavagga: Discusses the liberated person and the qualities of arahants through narratives involving Jīvaka, Mahākassapa, Anuruddha, Mahākaccāyana, Sāriputta, and Khadiravaniyarevata. 8. Sahassavagga: Emphasizes the superiority of meaningful practice over mere quantity, including stories of Bāhiyadārucīriya, Kuṇḍalakesītherī, Sāriputta’s relatives, Saṃkiccasāmaṇera, Paṭācārātherī, Kisāgotamī, and Bahuputtikātherī.