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Commentary 24 B
Relevant sutta passage:

metta.m raahulaa bhaavana.m bhaavehi.
develop loving kindness, Rahula.

Words:

kasmaa: why
aarabhati: to begin.
dassana.m: the seeing, explanation
kaara.na: the reason
akaara.na: with the absence of a reason, condition.
he.t.thaa`; below, before
taadibhaava: of such nature (of the arahat)
ucca: high, noble
kula: clan, family
pasuta: engaged in (belonging to)
bahussuto: who has heard much
laabhii: who has possessions
mahaamaato: minister
bhajati: associate with
homi, (from hoti): I am.
koci: whoever
desanaa: teaching, discourse.
dasseti: to show, explain
*****
Commentary text:

120. metta.m raahulaati kasmaa aarabhi? taadibhaavassa
kaara.nadassanattha.m.

As to the phrase, mettaa raahulaa, (develop loving kindness, Rahula) why did
he begin (with these words)? In order to explain the condition for ³such
nature² (of the arahat).

he.t.thaa hi taadibhaavalakkha.na.m dassita.m,

Before, the characteristic of ³such nature² was explained,

na ca sakkaa aha.m taadii homiiti akaara.naa bhavitu.m,

but it is not possible to develop ³such nature² when there are no conditions
for being so;

napi ``aha.m uccaakulappasuto bahussuto laabhii,

nor when one thinks, ³I am belonging to a noble family, I have heard much
and I am wealthy,

ma.m raajaraajamahaamattaadayo bhajanti, aha.m taadii homii''ti
the king , his ministers and so on associate with me²,


imehi kaara.nehi koci taadii naama hoti,
someone cannot be called ³of such nature² because of these reasons.

mettaadibhaavanaaya pana hotiiti

However, one can be ³of such nature² by the development of loving-kindness
and so on.

taadibhaavassa kaara.nadassanattha.m ima.m desana.m aarabhi.

Therefore, the Buddha began this teaching (of mettå) in order to explain the
condition for being of ³such nature².

English:
As to the phrase, mettaa raahulaa, (develop loving kindness, Rahula) why did
he begin (with these words)?
In order to explain the condition for ³I am of such nature² (of the arahat).
Before, the characteristic of ³such nature² was explained,
but it is not possible to develop ³such nature² when there are no conditions
for being so;
nor when one thinks, ³I am belonging to a noble family, I have heard much
and I am wealthy,the king , his ministers and so on associate with me²,
someone cannot be called ³of such nature² because of these reasons.
However, one can be ³of such nature² by the development of loving-kindness
and so on.
Therefore, the Buddha began this teaching (of mettå) in order to explain the
condition for being of ³such nature².
*********
Nina.