Dear Bryan
How are you?
You wrote:
“The PTS and Burmese commentary on this part both read
tattha viññātabbanti viññāṇaṃ nibbānassetaṃ nāmaṃ
viññātabbaṃ is the gerundive (future passive participle) of vijānāti meaning "to be understood, to be recognized, to be known." So the commentary seems to be saying, "Here viññāṇaṃ means 'to be known.' This is a name for nibbāna."”
According to you, ‘viññātabbaṃ’ is the gerundive, the future passive participle of vijānāti.
Is that all? Where did you learn the above from?
The last time I studied Pali grammar textbook written in English was in 1984 while I was doing my Pali honours course at the university in Canberra, Australia, which I finished with a distinction. After that, I withdrew from the Buddhist Studies.
But, I continue Pali studies on my own, and moved on to studying and consulting Monastic Pali grammar texts, which include Kaccāyana, Padarūpasiddhi and Saddanīti as well as their Nissaya texts, which are the instruction manuals on those Pāli grammar texts. I also collect different versions of those instruction manuals in use at the Monastic universities in Myanmar. Thus, I have 4 versions of Nissaya texts on Kaccāyana and 3 versions of Nissaya on Padarūpasiddhi.
Apart from PTS Pāli-English Dictionary and Monier Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary, I have amassed all the available Tipitaka Pāli-Myanmar Dictionaries, 20 volumes so far in print. I am waiting for the publication of further volumes. When I visit Myanmar early next year, I will make enquiry about the remaining volumes 21 and 22 as well as remaining portion of volume 14.
Bryan, the reason I am mentioning my Pāli resources is your following question.
“I'm not sure where Suan is getting vinnyānaṃ in the sense of "it is known"? Perhaps he has another reading? The passive of vijānāti is viññāyati ("it is known") per the PED.”
Yes, I have another reading in light of my Pāli resources that have enabled me to offer the following.
“viññātabbanti viññāṇaṃ nibbānassetaṃ nāmaṃ.”
“It is called ‘Knowable’ because it is known uniquely; it is the name of nibbāna.”
So, you are taking issue my translation of ‘viññātabbam’ as ‘it is known’.
My translation is in line with the Monastic Pāli grammar texts.
Please read carefully the following quotes from Padarūpasiddhi, the commentary on Kaccāyana, the earliest Pāli grammar text.
545: Bhāva kammesu tabbānīyā.
Tattha- akammakehi dhātūhi, bhāve kiccā bhavanti te;
Sakammakehi kammatthe, araha sakkatthadīpakā.
546: ņādayo te kālikā.
Tikāle niyuttā tekālikā…
547: Yathāgamamikāro.
548: Te kiccā.
Ye idha vuttā tabbānīyaņya teyya riccappaccayā, te kiccasañā hontīti veditabbā…
Bhāve kiccappaccayantā napumsakā; kamme tiliňgā.
……
Kammani abhipubbo, abhibhūyate, abhibhuyittha, abhibhūyissateti abhibhavitabbho kodho paņḍitena, abhibhavitabbhā taņhā; abhibhavitabbham dukkham; evam abhibhavanīyo, abhibhavanīyā, abhibhavanīyam; purisa kañā citta saddanayena netabbam; evam sabbattha.
Bryan, after reading and understanding the above 4 suttas from Padarūpasiddhi, you will able to justify my translation of ‘viññātabbam’as ‘it is known’.
If you have Chaţţha Saňgāyanā CD from Vipassanā Research Institute, you can consult Padarūpasiddhi in the Añña category.
Please let me know your progress.
With regards,
Suan Lu Zaw