Dear John and friends,

other than #12 and #22, I'm also puzzled with the answers of:

Translate into English: 13, 16, 21, 22, 25
Translate into Pali: 1, 4, 5, 6, 21, 22

My problem is of a different nature.

16. Naraa gaamamhaa nikkhamitvaa nagare vasitu.m icchanti.
Ans: Men wish to leave the village and dwell in the city.

My initial answer was 'Men, having left the village, wish to live in
the city.'

The reason is because 'nikkhamitvaa' (=having left, as we learned in
chpt. 9) is a gerund/absolutive. And according to Warder, the gerund
is used to express an action preceding the action of the main verb of
a sentence. [Introduction to Pali 3rd Edition, PTS, p48] In our case,
the main verb is 'icchanti' (=wish). It was in this light that I came
out with my initial answer.

However, according to Perniola, there are cases in which some gerunds
indicates actions that follow that of the main verb. [Pali Grammar,
PTS, p375] This is the way the answer in Pali Primer is given.

Furthermore, by translating 'nikkhamitvaa' as 'to leave' turns it
into an infinitive from a gerund? Does the sentence, in strict
grammar terms, have one or two meanings? Is there a convention to
follow?

I would also be very thankful if someone can help me with this
problem.

Thank you,
Yong Peng.


--- John Kelly wrote:

> Then on #12
> Udaka.m otaritvaa vatthaani dhovitu.m rajako putta.m
> pakkosati.
> Ans: The washerman calls his son to step into the
> water and wash clothes.
> Why not alternatively?: Having stepped into the water
> to wash clothes, the washerman calls his son.
>
> This is really a question of does the absolutive
> (otaritvaa) apply to the subject (rajako) or the
> object (putta.m) of the sentence? Is there any
> quiding rule in Pali, or is it just a matter of
> interpretation?
>
> Similarly, on #22.
> Pupphaani sa.mharitvaa udakena aasi~ncitu.m upaasako
> kumaare ovadati.
> Ans: The lay devotee advises the boys to collect
> flowers and sprinkle them with water.
> Why not alternatively?: The lay devotee, having
> collected flowers, advises the boys to sprinkle them
> with water.
>
> Same question as above - does the absolutive
> (sa.mharitvaa) apply to the subject (upaasako) or the
> object( kumaare)?
>
> I would appreciate some thoughts on this from those
> more knowledgable in Pali.
>
> Thanks,
> John