Mūlapaṇṇāsa-Aṭṭhakathā (Paṭhamo Bhāgo)

1. Ganthārambhakathā Opening verses and introductory remarks. The section pays homage to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha, and states the purpose of explaining the meaning of the Majjhima Nikāya in accordance with the commentarial lineage. 2. Nidānakathā Introductory account of the preservation of the Buddha’s teaching, the Buddhist councils, the purification of Pāli texts, and the role of the Sixth Buddhist Council in maintaining the accuracy of the Tipiṭaka and Aṭṭhakathā. 3. Mūlapariyāyavagga Commentary on the first ten suttas, including Mūlapariyāya Sutta, Sabbāsava Sutta, Dhammadāyāda Sutta, Bhayabherava Sutta, Anaṅgaṇa Sutta, Ākaṅkheyya Sutta, Vattha Sutta, Sallekha Sutta, Sammādiṭṭhi Sutta, and Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta. Major themes include perception, taints, inheritance of Dhamma, moral purification, renunciation, right view, dependent origination, and the four foundations of mindfulness. 4. Sīhanādavagga Commentary on the next ten suttas, including Cūḷasīhanāda Sutta, Mahāsīhanāda Sutta, Mahādukkhakkhandha Sutta, Cūḷadukkhakkhandha Sutta, Anumāna Sutta, Cetokhila Sutta, Vanapatthapariyāya Sutta, Madhupiṇḍika Sutta, Dvedhāvitakka Sutta, and Vitakkasaṇṭhāna Sutta. The section explains the Buddha’s lion’s roar, doctrinal confidence, the mass of suffering, self-examination, mental obstructions, forest dwelling, conceptual proliferation, and methods for overcoming unwholesome thoughts.