Gatha | Sentence Translation | Sentence Structure |
Vocabulary&Grammar | Commentary | Pronunciation |
The one, who does not live contemplating pleasant things,
who is well restrained in senses,
Who does know moderation in food, who is trusting and
firm in effort,
Mara will not overcome him, as wind a rocky mountain.
a+subha+anupassij viharantaj
indriyesu su+sajvutaj
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neg. Adj. N.m.
N.m. N.n. pref.
N.m.
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List of Abbreviations
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bhojanamhi ca matta+bbuj
saddhaj araddha+viriyaj
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N.n.
conj. N.n. Adj.m. Adj.m.
Adj. N.n.
Loc.Sg. |
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List of Abbreviations
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taj
ve na
pasahati maro
vato
selaj
va pabbataj
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Pron.m. part. neg. V.act.pres.
N.m. N.m.
Adj.m. enc. N.m.
Acc.Sg. |
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Nom.Sg. Nom.Sg. Acc.Sg.
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List of Abbreviations
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asubh'anupassij:
asubh'anupassin-, N.m.: not contemplating
the pleasant [things] (or: contemplating the unpleasant [things]). A compound
of:
subha-, Adj.: pleasant
anupassin-, N.m.: contemplating,
viewing, observing. Derived from the verb pass-, to see
with the prefix anu-, on, at,
down on. anupassana- N.f.: observation,
contemplation. The
suffix -in is so called possessive
suffix (thus literally "having contemplation).
The compound is negated by the negative prefix a-.
Another way to see this compound (instead of a+subh'anupassij
- not contemplating the pleasant [things]) is asubha+anupassij
(contemplating the unpleasant things).
Acc.Sg. of the compound = asubh'anupassij.
List of Abbreviations
viharantaj: viharant-,
pr.p.: staying, dwelling, living. Derived from the verb har- (to
carry) with the prefix vi- (denoting separation). viharati:
V.: to live, to stay, to dwell.
AccSg.m. of the pr.p. = viharantaj.
indriyesu: indriya-, N.n.: sense faculty. Loc.Pl. = indriyesu.
susajvutaj:
susajvuta-, Adj.; well restrained, well
governed, well guarded. It is p.p. of the verb var- (to obstruct)
with the prefix saj- (together, completely),
with the prefix su-, meaning well, sufficiently.
Acc.Sg.m. = susajvutaj.
List of Abbreviations
bhojanamhi: bhojana-, N.n.: food. Loc.Sg.= bhojanamhi.
ca, conj.: and.
mattabbuj:
mattabbu-, N.m.: knowing the measure.
A compound of:
matta-, N.n.: measure.
-bu-,
Adj.suffix: knowing (derived from the verb ba-,
to know).
Acc.Sg.m. of the compound = mattabbuj.
saddhaj: saddha-, Adj.: trusting, having confidence. Acc.Sg.m.: saddhaj.
List of Abbreviations
araddhaviriyaj:
araddhaviriya-, Adj.: with firm effort.
A compound of:
araddha-,
Adj.: firm, resolved. It is a p.p. of the verb rabh- (to take hold
of, to grasp)
with the prefix a-
(here as an intensifying prefix).
viriya-, N.n. :energy, vigor,
effort.
Acc.Sg.m. of the compound = araddhaviriyaj.
taj: tad-, Pron.: it. Masculine form so-, he. Acc.Sg. = taj (him).
ve: affirmative particle, indeed, truly.
na, neg.: not.
List of Abbreviations
pasahati: to use force, to subdue, to overcome. The verb sah- (to conquer) with the emphasizing prefix pa-. 3.Sg.act.in.pres. = pasahati.
maro: mara-, N.m.: personified death, the Evil One, devil. Nom.Sg. = maro.
vato: vata-, N.m.: wind. Nom.Sg. = vato.
selaj: sela-, Adj.: rocky. Acc.Sg.m. = selaj.
va: enc.: as if, like.
pabbataj: pabbata-,
N.m.: mountain. Acc.Sg. = pabbataj.
List of Abbreviations
This verse is in its structure similar
to the previous one (see DhP 7) The subject stays the same (maro),
verb pasahati is negated by the negative na (not). The object
is also taj.
The five attributes to the object
also follow the same pattern, in first three cases they are just negated
attributes from the previous verse:
1) asubh'anupassij
viharantaj (instead
of subh'anupassij
viharantaj),
2) indriyesu susajvutaj
(instead of indriyesu asajvutaj),
3) bhojanamhi ca mattabbuj
(instead of bhojanamhi c'amattabbuj).
Fourth and fifth attributes are saddhaj
(trusting) and araddhaviriyaj
(firm in effort) respectively. They are both also in accusative singular.
The subordinate sentence also has
the same structure - the subject stays vato,
the verb is again pasahati (here negated by na) from the
main sentence and object is pabbataj
(mountain, accusative singular). The word selaj
(rocky) is an attribute to the object and it is also in accusative singular.
Again, the enclitic va connects this clause to the main sentence.
Here, on the other hand (in contrast
to DhP 7) is described the way, how to nourish the roots of meditative
life, how to destroy the bad tendencies, how to become immune to Mara,
to the evil part of our mind. We must not dwell with our minds only on
the pleasant things and indulge in enjoying pleasurable things (asubh'anupassij
viharantaj). Another way to understand
this phrase is that we should contemplate the unpleasant things, to understand
that there is really nothing to be attached to, that attachment to pleasant
things brings about the strength of "Mara", of our bad habits and tendencies.
We must also be well restrained (indriyesu
susajvutaj)
in senses and know moderation in food (bhojanamhi ca mattabbuj).
Thus, senses are guarded, we do not take everything in indiscriminately,
and we contemplate on what we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and think.
We are not attached to pleasant sense-impressions, we do not hate unpleasant
sense- impressions, and we are observant and concentrated and thus able
to bring meditation to everyday life.
Important part is also trust (saddhaj).
Trust in the way, that the Buddha taught us, trust in the methods that
are part of the way, trust in the goal that can be reached by following
this way. Without this basic trust (which is not blind faith, for it is
easily verified, as we go forward on the way) no progress is possible.
We must also be firm in effort (araddhaviriyaj).
Effort is of course a basic necessity. We must make an effort to put everything
that was said above into our daily lives. It is only by this constant effort,
that we are able to progress towards the goal.
If we practice in this way, the roots
of meditation will flourish, will become strong and invincible. Eventually,
the tree of our practice will bear its fruit, our mind will reach the peaceful
state of Nirvana. Mara, the dark side of our mind has no way to influence
us, no way to overcome us, just like the wind is not able to blow away
a rocky mountain.
Word pronunciation:
asubh'anupassij
viharantaj
indriyesu
susajvutaj
bhojanamhi
ca
mattabbuj
saddhaj
araddhaviriyaj
taj
ve
na
pasahati
maro
vato
selaj
va
pabbataj