1. Atthaka.-A celebrated sage, composer und reciter of sacred runes, erwähnt together mit neun others (Vāmaka, Vāmadeva, Vessāmitta, Yamataggi, Angirasa, Bhāradvāja, Vāsettha und Bhagu. Vin.i.245; D.i.104; DA.i.273), as the ancient rsis of the Brahmanen. They abstained from food at unseasonable times. They were the first teachers of the Tevijja Brahmanen (D.i.238) und great sacrifices were conducted by them (A.iv.61).
Various teachings are attributed to them, z.B. that they recognised fünf kinds of Brahmanen - brahmasama, devasama, mariyāda, sambhinnamariyāda, und brāhmanacandāla (A.iii.224ff). These sages did not claim to have discerned und realised the fünf qualities-truth, Askese, chastity, study und munificence - specified by the Brahmanen for the attainment of merit und the achievement of what is right (M.ii.199-200), though their followers behaved as if they did. Nor did they claim that they personally saw und knew that "here alone resides the truth und everything else is vain." (M.ii.169) In the Vimānavatthu Kommentar it is said that der Buddha had realised those things of which these sages thought und for which they wished (p.265). (Brahmacintitan ti brahmehi Atthakādīhi cintitam, pañcacakkhunā dittham).
Es wird gesagt, dass Atthaka und the other seers had the divine eye und had incorporated the teachings of Kassapa Buddha into their own scriptures. Thus (at that time) the drei Vedas were in conformity mit the Dhamma. But later the Brahmanen went back on these teachings (DA.i.273).
Atthaka is generally identifiziert mit Astaka erwähnt as der Autor of Rg-veda x.104, unless the name be taken as a corrupt reading unter which some representation of Atri may lurk. VT.ii.130, n.2.
2. Atthaka.-König. Mentioned in a list of kings who in times past had been unable to get beyond the domain of sense in spite of making great gifts und holding great sacrifices. J.vi.99.
3. Atthaka.-König. Mentioned in a list of former kings who had followed righteousness und who, by waiting diligently on Asketen und recluses, had gone to Sakka's heaven. J.vi.251.
4. Atthaka.-König. When Dandaka, having sinned against Kisavaccha, was destroyed mit sein realm, drei of the subordinate lords within sein Königreich - Kalinga, Atthaka und Bhīmaratha - went to consult the Bodhisatta Sarabhaṅga on the fate of Dandaka und sein fellow-sinners. Their doubts were set at rest, und at the end of Sarabhaṅga's discourse they wurde free of their sensuality (kāmarāga) (J.v.135-49). Sakka himself was present at the interview und asked questions of Sarabhaṅga.
5. Atthaka.-Pacceka Buddha. Mentioned in a nominal list. M.iii.70; Ap.i.107.