Re: Ablative/-to

Dear Tadao,

>Hi, Jim:
>I've found another example of /-to/ in the Dhammapada: i.e.,
>duura-to. Here do you treat "duura" as a noun or an adjective
>(thought in Pali the distinctioin between the 'noun' and adjective'
>doesn't mean so much)?  tadao

I found only one instance of 'duurato' in the Dhammapada (v. 219). I take
'duura' here to be a noun rather than an adjective. The /-to/ affix
functions as an ablative and the lit. meaning of the phrase 'duurato . . .
aagata.m' is 'come . . . from a distance'. But 'duurato' is considered an
indeclinable so 'come from afar' is also a valid translation. The
prepositional phrases 'from a distance' and 'from afar' both function as
clause adverbials. Although the Saddaniti has the suttas for the /-to/ affix
in the naama chapter, it also includes words with the ablative and locative
/-to/ in the section on indeclinables in chapter 27 on the four classes of
words.

The ablative use of 'duura' is discussed in some detail at sutta 571 of the
Saddaniti. An example of its adjectival use is shown with 'duurato gaamaa
aagato' (come from a distant village). The first two words can also be
expressed in the accusative or instrumental with the force of the ablative.

>P.S.
>Do you have any idea who does the best editing of the pali text for
>the Dhammapada. (I am not so happy with the Ven. Buddharakita's
>edition, which I have been using)

I take it that you are speaking of the Pali text only and not necessarily
with an English translation. I really couldn't tell you which is the best
one. I have a number of Dhammapada texts and the one I use most often is
Narada's edition with the text and translation on facing pages. I don't have
the PTS ed. of the Dhammapada so I can't tell you anything about it. I just
noticed that the PTS now offers the complete set of H. Smith's ed. of the
Saddaniti for 75 UK pds.

Jim



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