Dear Nina and friends,

thanks. You are right that this verse is difficult. Thanks for
spotting the mistake, I got gama as gamma. From PED, -gama = (adj)
going. From Buddhadatta, pubba'ngama (adj.) going at the head;
preceding. How do I proceed from here to manopubba'ngamaa?

As for vahant, indeed, it is not an ox. I use 'ox' as it is used in
many translations. But "the one who carries" is right. I think the
use of 'ox' is probably due to the word 'wheel', and it sort of
implies an animal (for illustration). What do you think?

metta,
Yong Peng.

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, nina van gorkom wrote:
Just about Manopubba'ngamaa, I do not think here of the gerund gamma,
because there is the form gama. Buddhadatta has: pubba"ngama:
adjective: going at the head, preceding. An adjective has been formed
of pubba.

> 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.

N: Jim has explained in his Palistudy forum about se.t.tha, how it is
derived from pasatttha, praised, as given in the ancient
Kaccaayanavyaakara.na. We learn here about substitutes (aadesa).

> 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).
>
> va (enclitic) like, as if.
> vahant (m.) one who carries, bears.

N: Looking at vahato: this is the genitive of vahant, the foot of the
one who carries.
Va: from eva.m: so, even, thus. Or, as you translate: like...
However, I find the construction here rather difficult with the va.