Gatha | Sentence Translation | Sentence Structure |
Vocabulary&Grammar | Commentary | Pronunciation |
By exertion, conscientiousness, self-control and moderation,
a wise should make an island, that a flood can not overwhelm.
utthanena
a+ppamadena sajyamena
damena ca
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N.n. neg.
N.m. N.m.
N.n. conj.
Ins.Sg. |
Ins.Sg. Ins.Sg.
Ins.Sg. |
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List of Abbreviations
dipaj
kayiratha medhavi
yaj
ogho na abhikirati
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N.m. V.med.
N.m. Rel.Pron. N.m.
neg. V.act.in.
Acc.Sg. 3.Sg.opt. Nom.Sg. Acc.Sg.
Nom.Sg. | 3.Sg.pres.
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utthanena: utthana-, N.n.: exertion, zeal, energy (derived from the verb tha-,to stand, with the prefix ud-, up). Ins.Sg. = utthanena.
appamadena: appamada-, N.m.: conscientiousness, non-negligence. A negated (by the negative prefix a-) word pamada-, N.m.: negligence. Doubled p is due to the euphonic combination (a + pamada = appamada). Ins.Sg. = appamadena.
sajyamena: sajyama-, N.m.: restraint, self-control. Derived from the verb yam- (to restrain, to become tranquil) with the prefix sam- (together). Ins.Sg. = sajyamena.
damena: dama-, N.n.: moderation, self-command. Derived from the verb dam- (to tame). Ins.Sg. = damena.
ca, conj.: and
List of Abbreviations
dipaj: dipa-, N.m.: island. Acc.Sg. = dipaj.
kayiratha, V.: let do. The verb kar- (to do). 3.Sg.med.opt. = kayiratha.
medhavi: medhavin-, N.m.: intelligent person, wise one.Nom.Sg. = medhavi.
yaj: yat-, Rel.Pron.: that, which. Acc.Sg.m.: yaj.
ogho: ogha-, N.m.: flood. Nom.Sg. = ogho.
na, neg.: not.
abhikirati, V.: to cover over, to overwhelm. The proper form of the verb is abhikirati (the form found in this verse is due to metric requirements). The verb kir- (to scatter) with the prefix abhi- (all over). 3.Sg.act.in.pres. = abhikirati (or, as here, abhikirati).
List of Abbreviations
The subject of this sentence is the
word medhavi
(wise ones, nominative singular). The verb is kayiratha
(you should do, 3rd person singular, medium, optative). The
object is the word dipaj
(island, accusative singular).
The verb has four attributes, all
of which are in instrumental singular. They are: utthanena
(by exertion), appamadena (by conscientiousness),
sajyamena (by self-control) and damena
(by moderation). The conjunction ca (and) connects them all together.
There is a subordinated clause, introduced
by a relative pronoun, yaj (that, which,
accusative singular). This refers to the object of the sentence, the word
dipaj.
The subject in the clause is the word ogho (flood, nominative singular)
and the verb abhikirati (covers, overwhelms,
3rd person, singular, active, indicative, present tense) negated
by the negative particle na (not).
With this verse is associated the famous
story of Culapanthaka. There were two brothers,
Mahapantkaha and Culapanthaka.
Both become monks, but Culapanthaka was not
very clever and he was not able to learn the Buddha's Teachings. Mahapantkaha
on the other hand was very bright and he soon became an arahant.
The Buddha once gave a clean piece
of cloth to Culapantkaha and told him to rub
it while repeating the words "taking on impurity". Culapanthaka
then did as instructed and soon the cloth became dirty. The Buddha then
told him, that our mind is very similar to that piece of cloth, becoming
dirty with the "dust of passion, hatred and delusion. Attaining of arahantship
is not very different from cleaning the piece of cloth - we have to "wash"
our minds of this dust diligently.
Culapanthaka
realized this and practiced meditation accordingly. Soon, he too became
an arahant, as his elder brother.
The Buddha then spoke this verse,
telling us that only by diligence, self-control and applying energy we
can make an island in ourselves which the flood of passion, hatred and
delusion will not be able to overwhelm.
Word pronunciation:
utthanena
appamadena
sajyamena
damena
ca
dipaj
kayiratha
medhavi
yaj
ogho
na
abhikirati