Dear Ven. Dhammanando and friends,

thanks. I have a few questions:

1. Should mahesii (chief queen) be mahesi (great sage)?

2. As given on pg 114 of the book, lokahito is a Tappurisa:
lokahito = lokassa+hito, beneficial to the world

3. The subject of the first pair is hence:
naatho lokahito mahesi: the Great Sage, the Protector,
one who benefits the world.

Therefore, the sentence would be:
"Attha.m hi naatho sara.na.m avoca."
"The meaning (is) truly the refuge," spoke the Protector.

What do you think?


metta,
Yong Peng.

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Dhammanando Bhikkhu wrote:

> "Attha.m hi naatho sara.na.m avoca."
> meaning / indeed / lord / guide / spoke
> "Meaning indeed (is) guide", spoke the Lord.

The passage comes from the Ka`nkhaavitara.nii, Buddhaghosa's
atthakathaa to the two Paatimokkhas. Its meaning will be
clearer when the whole verse is given:

attha.m hi naatho sara.na.m avoca
na bya~njana.m lokahito mahesii

"The meaning, not the letter, is truly the
protector, the refuge, and the welfare of the
world," said the Great Sage.


tasmaa akatvaa ratimakkharesu
atthe niveseyya mati.m mutiimaa ti

Therefore, not delighting in the letters, the
prudent man should apply his mind to the
meaning.

The first two lines might also be rendered:

"The meaning, not the letter, is truly the
refuge and welfare of the world," said the
the Lord, the Great Sage.