Re: Eng translation of Kacc 1:1

Hi Eisel,

>   I'm just about to get on the long bus to Cambodia (followed by a
> long boat trip down the Mekong ... possibly to the bottom of the
> Mekong, so to speak).

Have a pleasant and safe journey! I too will soon be getting on the bus
(tomorrow) for a 10 day visit to Orillia (25 miles distant).

>   Re: "Budha", in the introductory verses ("proem"), various footnotes
> indicate that this is an un-natural contraction of Buddha forced to
> fit the metrical requirements of the line (I am recalling this from
> memory; I believe you will find it noted in the PDF to my Pali text of
> the passage).  If this is untrue, the entire passage should be
> re-interpreted as an homage to the planet Mercury (NB: yes, I am
> joking).

Although the word "budha" (a wise or learned man) isn't listed in the PED,
it is found at Abh 228 among 25 synonyms of a wise man. It's also in Apte's
Skt. dictionary but with 3 additional meanings: a god, a dog, and the planet
Mercury. It's certainly not a contraction of Buddha but a simple derivation
from the root "budh" plus the primary suffix "a".

>   You are correct that I read seyya (etc.) as comparative, and in a
> reflexive sense.
>
>   However, I stop short of using terms such as "self-improvement".
>
>   In the context of an introduction to a grammatical work, I am
> hesitatnt to assign such soteriological implications to "Naya"
> --another use of the word we've discussed at length is in verse 11.

The "naye" in Kc 11 is a verb in the optative, 3rd pers. sing. whereas the
"-nayena" in the proem is a noun but, of course, they're both derived from
the same root "nii". I'm now not so sure if "by means of the Method
explained by the Conqueror" is a fair rendering of "jineritanayena". Another
possibility might be "in the way or manner taught by the Conqueror".
However, I need to do some further investigation of the term "naya". One of
the nayas enumerated in the Kaccaayanatthadiipanii (p. 21) is the naya of
avoiding the two extremes (as set forth in the Buddha's first discourse).

Best wishes,
Jim

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