Re: Sadd: Table of Contents (Smith ed.)

Hi Rett,

> Thanks! I'd like to take you up on that offer, by trying my hand at
> translating the Saddaniiti table of contents you generously posted.I
> hope then to be able to gradually fill in a description of the
> contents of each pariccheda (section). My dream would be if there
was
> a wikipedia-type site where anyone could fill in descriptions of the
> contents of individual sections or sutras, so that a guide to the
> entire contents could be developed by all the individuals over the
> globe who are reading and translating various short passages.

I don't expect to see too many individuals around the globe having the
competence or, if so, even be interested in participating in such a
project. At least we can count the two of us to get it started! A
guide to the contents could be put up on the website I set up for our
palistudy group and updated from time to time. I don't know how the
wikipedia idea would work but it sounds like something looking into. I
did a google search on 'Saddaniti' and only 60 results came back -- so
such a guide shouldn't be too hard for anyone to find on the web.

> I start with the Suttamaalaa, since it seems to have the easiest
> section-titles. This is preliminary, and as always I'm grateful to
> anyone who points out mistakes or has alternate opinions or
> speculations. In particular, anyone familiar with the actual
contents
> of the chapters will be in a much better postion to interpret the
> titles correctly. I note some unclear points after the translation.

Thank-you for your effort which is more than I can respond to all at
once here. I'll just get started with commenting on just a few points
and continue on with more in later messages over the next few days or
so.

> >III. Suttamaalaa. (pp. 603-928)
> >
> >20. Sandhikappo naama viisatimo paricchedo.  603

> Preliminary Translation:
>
> III. The Series of Sutras.
>
> 20. The twentieth section entitled: correct use of sandhi.

> Notes and Questions:
>
> _Maalaa_ as 'series'. Better choice?

I still think 'garland' is a better choice. There will be some
difficulty when you come to translate 'padamaalaa' as 'series of
words' since it also applies to conjugational or declensional
paradigms whereas 'garland of words' would be more apt, I think. To
me, 'garland' conveys the notion of a cluster or a finite set of items
better and it also conjures up pleasant images of flowers and strings
of beads besides. With 'sutra', I would try to avoid Sanskrit words in
Pali translations unless, of course, they both have exactly the same
spelling. I would be tempted to translate 'Suttamaalaa' as '(The?)
Garland of Grammatical Suttas'. These suttas, btw, are all the ones
numbered from 1 to 1347 which is about twice as many as in
Kaccaayana's grammar. Aggava.msa often expands what would be just one
sutta in Kaccayana into several.

The table of contents I posted is based on the material given at the
end of each chapter and I thought the full title should include the
last part like ' naama viisatimo paricchedo'. But now I'm not so sure.
I notice that some of the chapters in Padamaalaa do not contain
'naama' which I thought made the table inconsistent but apparently the
same omissions also occur in the CSCD version. I don't think it
necessary to translate it as 'The twentieth section entitled:' which
is too cumbersome and distracting. This can be easily represented by
just the '20.' The 'section' or 'chapter' part only need be placed
once at the top of the column of numbers or it could be placed before
as in:

Chap. 1.
           2. and so on.

> Translation of _kappa_ here. I chose 'correct use', but am not sure.

I'd go with the Mmd or Kacc-va.n.n commentary on what it has to say
about 'susandhikappo'. I thought 'kappo' meant 'section' (or chapter)
because of the verb 'kappiiyati' being a synonym of
'paricchijjiiyati' but with the word 'kappiya.m' (according to rule;
what is proper, fit) it is hard to tell for sure. Your 'correct use'
may be possible...

kappiiyati etthaa ti kappo -- Mmd, p. 4
kappiya.m paricchijjiiyati etthaa ti kappo. -- Kacc-va.n.n

Mmd takes 'sandhikappo' as 'sandhiina.m kappo'. (cha.t.t.hiitappurisa)
ie. 'the correct use of sandhis' or 'the section on sandhis'.

To be continued...

Jim