Dear Yong Peng and Nina,

> 1. subordinate clause:
> akusala~nca hida.m pahiina.m ahitaaya dukkhaaya sa.mvatteyya
>
> subject: akusala.m (neuter singular)
> main verb: sa.mvatteyya (Optative Parassapada 3rd person singular)

I would suggest "ida.m" as the subject of the verb "sa.mvatteyya" and
"akusala.m" as the subject of an implied verb "abhavissa" from the earlier
clause beginning with "no ceda.m" with the conditional verb "abhavissa".

My translation of "akusala~nca hida.m pahiina.m ahitaaya dukkhaaya
sa.mvatteyya, naaha.m eva.m vadeyya. . ." would go like this:

And (if) akusala (were to be) abandoned, that it (ida.m) should lead to
harm, to unhappiness; I would not say thus: . . .

I think "ida.m" may be referring to a hypothetical situation in which
akusala is abandoned.

I would translate "ca" in "Yasmaa ca. . ." as "but" (= pana), hence "But
because. . ."

Best wishes,
Jim