Dear friends,

lost in translation?

I maintain a list of vocabulary for a quick look-up before I consult a dictionary. This list is always available online if anyone is interested. My definition of 'abhivaadeti' as 'salutes' and 'bows down' both comes from Ven. Buddhadatta's texts. These definitions are from different parts of the texts.

salutes (The New Pali Course Part 2, page 15):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pali/message/11528

bows down (The New Pali Course Part 2, page 134):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pali/message/12247

I do not know either, how the venerable author derived "bows down" for 'abhivaadeti'. However, I used "paid respect" because it is synonymous with "salutes" and "bows down". (To argue my point, "paying respect" can also be done verbally, i.e. vadati. But, I do not want to take this further, language study does not require much creativity and imagination. So, it isn't my intention to invent meanings for Pali words.)

I have checked PTS PED:

abhivaadeti - to salute, greet, welcome, honour

Hence,

upasa`nkamitvaa bhagavanta.m abhivaadetvaa ekamanta.m nisiidi.
having approached / Blessed One / having honoured / on one side / sat
and upon arrival, revered the Blessed One and sat on one side.

metta,
Yong Peng.

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, DC Wijeratna wrote:

> upasa`nkamitvaa bhagavanta.m abhivaadetvaa ekamanta.m nisiidi.
> having approached / Blessed One / having bowed down / on one side / sat
> and upon arrival, paid respect to the Blessed One and sat on one side.
>
> abhivaadeti (v) salutes, bows down.

abhivaadeti is given the meanings: salutes bows down, paid respect. However, the abhivaadeti comes from vadati--to say speak.

It is not at all clear how the above is derived.