Dear John,

PED has given various usages of the suffix -jaata. Here, in sense, I
think -jaata
refers of something like "generation or type". The suffix could also be
rendered as
"true", that is "of all true trees" but I think it is a little
stretched. The sense
I think is a reference to "all trees".

I think this is Pali idiom. It can be left untranslated without any loss
of sense in
the English.

The "issa" of "issa,phandana" is a very interesting word. By itself it
has different
meanings (see Cone). But see CPD "issa-phandanaa" where it the
expression seems to
be found only in Jaataka 475 "The Lion and the Phandana tree" (where WHD
Rouse
translates phandana as "Plassey tree" = palaa.sa. Butea frondosa (J
475). I am
unable to trace any references to "the antelope (or the bear) and the
phandana"
(which could be a story in the Pancatantra if we follow DhA 1.4/1:50
where the
variant reading accha,phandana for issa,phandana appears). I do not have
the
Pancatantra (though I have read some of the stories in children's
books.)

Sukhi

Piya

John Kelly wrote:

> Dear friends,
> In my occasional spare time, I'm doing some
> translating of the Anguttara Nikaya, and am working my
> way through the Book of Ones. I have some questions
> abut the following passaage - #1.5.7:
>
> Seyyathaapi bhikkhave yaani kaanici rukkhajaataana.m
> phandano tesa.m aggamakkhaayati, yadida.m mudutaaya
> ceva kammaññataaya ca. Evameva kho aha.m bhikkhave na
> añña.m ekadhammampi samanupassaami, ya.m eva.m
> bhaavita.m bahuliikata.m mudu ca hoti kammaññañca
> yathayida.m citta.m. Citta.m bhikkhave bhaavita.m
> bahuliikata.m mudu ca hoti kammaññañcaati.
>
> I've currently translated this as:
> Just as, monks, of all the trees that grow(?) the
> phandana(?) is declared to be the softest and most
> pliable; in the same way, monks, no other thing do I
> know that is so soft and pliable as a developed and
> cultivated mind. A developed and cultivated mind is
> truly soft and pliable.
>
> My questions are - is "trees that grow" a suitable
> translation for "rukkhajaata", and what is a good
> translation for "phandana"? I couldn't find this word
> in the PED. Also, I would appreciate any other
> suggested improvements for the whole passage, if the
> knowledgable Pali experts on this list see any.
>
> Thank you.
> With metta,
> John
>
>
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