Pāli Dictionary

Chaddanta3

Person

The highest-ranked clan of elephants, into which the Bodhisatta was once born as king, said to possess the strength of ten thousand million men each.

A clan of elephants, of which clan the Bodhisatta was once born as king (see No.4). The Chaddantas and the Uposathas are the two highest classes of elephant (DhA.iii.248). The Chaddantakula sometimes provides the Elephant Treasure (hatthiratana) for a Cakkavatti, in which case it is the youngest of the clan who so functions (KhpA.172). Of the ten tribes of elephants enumerated in the books (e.g., UdA.403; VibhA.397) the Chaddanta is classed as the highest, and the Buddha possesses the strength of ten Chaddanta-elephants, each elephant having the strength of ten thousand million men (BuA.37). These elephants have the power of travelling through the air and are white in hue (J.v.37; Vism.650).

All entries named Chaddanta

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