this week, the word dhamma usually refers to the Buddha's teachings,
one of Tiratana - Triple Gems: Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha. For general
use, the word can means several things, including truth, doctrine and
nature.
Dhammaa is the plural nominative case for dhamma.
Dhammapada 1
Manopubba'ngamaa dhammaa, manose.t.thaa manomayaa;
preceded by mind / mental states / headed by mind / shaped by mind
Preceded by the mind are all mental states, headed and shaped by the
mind.
manas (m.) mind. [See Warder Lesson 20: Declension of nouns in -as]
pubba (adj.) before, former.
gamma (gerund of gacchati) having gone.
dhamma (n.) mental state.
mano-pubba'n-gamma = mind having gone before; (one) preceded by the
mind.
se.t.tha (adj.) foremost, excellent.
mano-se.t.tha = mind is foremost; headed by the mind.
maya (adj.) shaped by, made of, consisting of.
mano-maya = shaped by the mind.
manasaa ce padu.t.thena, bhaasati vaa karoti vaa;
with mind / if / wicked / speaks / or / acts / or
If with a wicked mind, (one) speaks or acts,
ce (ind. enclitic) if
padu.t.tha (adj.) wicked, corrupt.
bhaasati (v.) speaks.
vaa (ind.) or.
karoti (v.) acts.
tato na.m dukkham-anveti, cakka.m-va vahato pada.m.
then / him / suffering-follows / wheel-like / bearer's / foot
then suffering follows him like the wheel (follows) the foot of an ox
(pulling a cart).
tato (ind.) then, from there.
na.m (dem. pronoun, acc. sing.) him.
dukkha (n.) suffering.
anveti (v.) follows.
cakka (n.) wheel.
va (enclitic) like, as if.
vahant (m.) one who carries, bears.
pada (m.) foot.