The second line is the accession number.
In the case of Pāli texts, the third line gives in bold roman type the standardized Pāli title as quoted in the Epilegomena of the Critical Pali Dictionary (CPD)[1] or the Handbook of Pāli Literature (v. Hinüber 1996),[2] followed by the transliteration in italics of the Burmese script title as shown in the manuscript as it stands, without any correction in spelling.
In the case of Burmese language texts, the third line gives the title in romanized Burmese bold italics type as shown in the manuscript, just transliterated[3] with references to catalogues of Burmese manuscripts in German collections (BM),[4] or Piṭakasamuiṅ (Pit-sm).[5]
We do not record the names of the authors of well known texts as they can be found easily in the references books under the numbers indicated. We give the names of the authors of nissaya only when stated in the manuscript itself.
The following lines give the original foliation in the alphanumerical system of the Burmese (or approximate number of leaves when they are found in disorder); the number of lines per page; whether or not the manuscript is complete;[6] dimensions; description of edges and covers, condition (only when poor or when there are damaged leaves), names of instigator, scribe, donor, owner, when stated; year date of the copying of the manuscript as shown in cullasakkarāj Burmese era (cs) with approximate[7] equivalent in Christian era (+ 638) CE in bold type. No capitals are used in the transliteration of Burmese titles and proper names, except in the index.
[1] A Critical Pāli Dictionary, begun by V. Trenckner, revised, continued, and edited by Dines Andersen, Helmer Smith, and Hans Hendriksen, vol. 1, Copenhagen 1924 [references are to the bibliography in Epilegomena to vol. 1 by Helmer Smith, Copenhagen 1948: 37V69].
[2] O. von Hinüber, A Handbook of Pāli Literature, Berlin, New York 1996.
[3] According to the system used by the Pali Text Society and in William Pruitt, Etude linguistique de nissaya birmans, traduction commentée de textes bouddhiques, PEFEO monographies nX174, Paris 1994: 8.
[4] H. Bechert, Daw Khin Khin Su, Daw Tin Tin Myint, Burmese Manuscripts Part I (VOHD, XXIII, 1 )Wiesbaden 1979; H. Braun, Daw Tin Tin Myint, Burmese Manuscripts Part II (VOHD, XXIII, 2) Wiesbaden, Stuttgart 1985; H. Braun, Anne Peters, H. Bechert, Burmese Manuscripts Part III (VOHD, XXIII, 3) Stuttgart 1996.
[5] A 19th century Burmese bibliography listing the manuscripts housed in the Royal Palace Library in Mandalay, Suddhammavati Press, Rangoon 1905. An English edition is being prepared by P. Nyunt.
[6] Note that we have not systematically checked the leaves in detail. We have considered as complete a manuscript or a text with the two first and the two last leaves written in the middle with large margins.
[7] We have not checked the exact day and month of the year.