Re: about api

Dear Ven. Pandita,

> My intended sense for "pi / api" is "even" only. The word "though"
> is included because the clause "jinavarassa
> niravasesadevamanussaana.m pavarabhaave satipi" is an Absolute
> clause (See RG - 20).

In "(See RG - 20)", what does the '20' stand for? I could not find it
in RG which only goes to p. 19. I think you must be referring to
the Absolute Clause section starting on p. 15. I agree that 'though'
goes with the locative absolute clause.

> Then Bhante wrote:
>
> >Sambhaavane in the Abh. passage is from sambhaavanaa rather than
sambhaavana. The meaning then is praising or honouring, rather than
supposition. The Padaruupasiddhi gives the example "api dibbesu
kaamesu" in the passage, "api dibbesu kaamesu, merumpi vinivijjhitvaa
gaccheyya."
> >
> I have to agree with Bhante here. We should take Sambhaaavanaa of
> the sense "praising, honouring", and I have taken "api" here as
> having that very sense.

I spent some time investigating the term found in Sanskrit.
I didn't think I'd find much more in the Pali texts on what is meant
by 'sambhaavanaa'. In order to find out more it sometimes helps
to look in the Sanskrit linguistic texts for further information. Of
course, one has to bear in mind that usage can differ widely between
the two related languages. Here are some of my findings:

1) It is the neuter 'sambhaavanam' that is used by Paa.nini instead of
the feminine form. This could explain the use of the neuter in Abh
1183.

2) There is a sutra in Panini's work that treats 'api' as a
karmapravacaniiya in the uses of padaartha, sambhaavana,
anvavasarga, garhaa, and samuccaya. (api.h
padaarthasambhaavanaanvavasargagarhaasamuccaye.su 1.4.96)

3) In his translation of Panini's work, S.C. Vasu takes 'sambhaavana'
to mean possibility, supposition---just as in the dictionaries. This
is puzzling to me because I cannot make this connection in the
explanations found in the Kaa"sikaav.rtti and its 2 subcommentaries.
'Possibility, supposition' could be due to 'api' being used with the
optative (li"n).

4) The Kaa"sikaav.rtti glosses 'sambhaavanam' with
"adhikaarthavacanena "sakterapratighaataavi.skara.nam." (1.4.96). I
read here a synonym 'aavi.skara.nam' (making clear) for
'sambhaavanam'. Jinendrabuddhi in his Nyaasa adds 'pakaa"sanam'
(elucidation) as a second one. Recall part of the Saddaniiti
explanation of 'sambhaaveti': su.t.thu *pakaaseti* ukka.mseti
(emphasis mine) which I think is important as it links to
Jinendrabuddhi's 'pakaa"sanam'. ' "sakterapratighaata' is unclear (the
non-opposition of shakti (m.) ??).

5) "adhikaarthavacanena" (with an exaggerated statement or assertion)
is revealing though I think 'exaggerated' (as in the dictionaries)
carries a negative overtone. It depends on who is listening, for
instance, a non-believer might take the same assertion as exaggerated
or far-fetched while a believer might take it in a positive light (as
elevated). In Apte's entry for 'adhikaarthavacana' there is added:
"(whether of praise or blame)" and " = stuti-nindaa-phalakam
arthavaada-vacanam". Here, the pair 'stuti-nindaa' means 'praise or
blame' but I'm unsure about 'phalakam' (the shield of praise or
blame??).

6) Two examples are given in the Kaa"sikaa for this use of 'api': "api
si~ncenmuulakasahasram / api stuyaadraajaanam / " which Vasu
(questionably) translates as: possibly may sprinkle a thousand trees
(in one instant); he may praise, possibly, the king.

I don't know if any of this really helps. I have attached below my
transcription of the relevant parts of the glosses on 1.4.96. My
understanding of Sanskrit is rather limited.

Best wishes,
Jim

sambhaavanam = adhikaarthavacanena "sakterapratighaataavi.skara.nam /
api si~ncenmuulakasahasram / api stuyaadraajaanam /
--Kaa"sikaav.rtti 1.4.96

_adhikaarthavacanena_ iti / adhikaartho muulakasahasrasekaadi.h, tasya
vacanena sekaadaavarthe kriyaayaa.m
yacchakterapratighaatasyaavi.skara.nam prakaa"sana.m tatsambhaavanam
/ _api si~ncenmuulakasahasram / api stuyaadraajaanam_ iti / tasya seke
stutau ca samarthya na vihatyata ityastha.h / sambhaavane'lamiti cet
siddhaaprayoge (3.3.154) iti li"n / --Jinendrabuddhi's Nyaasa

adhikaarthavacaneneti tatsambhaavanamityartha.h / api si~ncediti /
sambhaavane li"naa tasyaiva du.skaravi.sayataamapiraaha /
--Haridatta's Padama~njarii