Dear Gunnar,

> By the way: if "ku.ti", in the following line, means a
> simple hut, and if "Dhaniya" has the meaning of "rich
> man" or something similar (and if he was as rich as
> especially the commentaries say - "gopa" must mean
> "cattle owner" rather than "cowherd" in this sutta),
> isn't it a strange kind of lodging for him? Especially
> since, when the text begins, he doesn't seem to be
> very humble. Might the word have had a wider meaning,
> or is it an expression of false and/or ironic modesty?

The Dhaniya Sutta is a pastoral ballad (says NA Jayawickrama--he is Sinhalese,
probably safer than Normans). See Jayawickrama's article on the Sutta in the
University of Ceylon Review VIII,2:88-92. (I will be glad and grateful if anyone has
a digital copy of this and email it to me.)

The Dhaniya Sutta is one of the most beautiful poems in the Canon. Dhaniya is
celebrating his wealth like any spoilt and self-satisfied rich man or nouveau riche
might do.

The Buddha answers Dhaniya verse for verse, often punning. Apparently a few of the
verses are lost (I shall keep my source secret for his own safety):

Sn 21 does not seem to reply Sn 20, indicating that probably two verses have been
lost, one an original reply to Sn 20. The present Sn 21 apparently includes both the
speaker's statements, "which probably means that half of the original verse by
Dhaniya and half of the verse of the Buddha have been combined into one verse." (Sn:N
137 n18-34)

Gopa of course means both cattle owner and cowherd, since they are prestigious then:
I think cattle is a measure of wealth then, too.

"Ku.ti" means "hut, shelter", here clearly referring to a small one that herdsmen
would use when away in the field tending their herd and flock (I think this is common
in Switzerland, too). Not sure what they call it there.

Yes, you are right, there is a pun on ku.ti. Commentary says it also refers to his
"personality" (attabhaavo) (SnA 31: see for long explanation).

Dhaniya Sutta belongs to the first chapter of Sn, the Uraga Vagga, and I am working
on its annotated translation forming Sutta Discovery, volume 12 (out in 2006).

Sukhi

Piya