Maṇḍa
					
					Maṇḍa,[later Sk.maṇḍa,perhaps dial.from *mranda,cp.Sk.vi-mradati to soften.Attempts at etym.see Walde,Lat.Wtb.s.v.mollis.Cp.also mattikā] the top part,best part of milk or butter,etc.i.e.cream,scum; fig.essence of,the pick of,finest part of anything.parisā° the cream of a gathering,the pick of the congregation,excellent congregation A.I,72 (or for °maṇḍala?); bodhi° essence of enlightenment,highest state of enlightenment; in later literature objectively “the best place of enlightenment,the Throne of Enlightenment or of the Buddha” (does it stand for °maṇḍala in this meaning?) J.IV,233 (cp.puthavi-maṇḍa ibid.& puthavi-maṇḍala Sn.990); DhA.I,86; II,69; IV,72.sappi° “cream of butter,” the finest ghee (cp.AvŚ I.1513 sarpimaṇḍa) D.I,201; A.II,95; Pug.70; Miln.322.--maṇḍaṁ karoti to put into the best condition,to make pleasant SnA 81.--manda at DhsA.100 is to be read baddha (v.l.BB).Cp.Expos.132n.
  --khetta best soil,fertile ground Miln.255.--peyya to be drunk like cream,i.e.of the finest quality,first-class S.II,20 (°ṁ idaṁ brahmacariyaṁ).(Page 516)