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. -- maṇḍaŋ 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 (˚ŋ idaŋ brahmacariyaŋ).