Dear Petra,
Thank-you for explaining your interpretation and giving a translation of
padas 8 & 9a. In my earlier translation I left sāsana untranslated because
I felt that "Teacher's Teachings" sounded odd in English. Ñāṇamoḷi uses
Dispensation for this term and the Teacher's Dispensation does sound better.
For '-jotane' I'm still undecided on its meaning (illuminating or
explaining) and who is doing the action. 'esopi' (he <the king> too) comes
immediately before the compound. The term 'sāsana' can include more than
just scripture (pariyatti) and even border on what we might call the
Buddha's religion (buddhasāsana).
Best,
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "petra kieffer-Pülz" <kiepue@...>
To: <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: [palistudy] Sv-n.t I 1-2 (introductory verses 7-8)
Dear Jim,
> Is "That with respect to which..." your translation of "taṃ nissāya (8a)
> yo
> (7a)?
>
No. My "with respect" renders the loc. in °saasane. ta.m nissaya is as you
had it.
> The meaning will depend on who is doing the action. I can't see the king
> doing the explaining
> as I understand that the commentator had a special relationship to the
> king
> as his rājaguru (from Bode, if ī remember correctly).
>
It is the commentator who explains the text, and who expresses his wish that
the king might be a support for him (the commentator) while he (the
commentator) is explaining the saasana, perhaps similar to the image of the
previous verse that the king is zealous to purify the saasana (which also
is some kind of support).
Regarding jotana, it is used as a loc. at the end of compounds in several
cases. It, furthermore, is used in one line with virocane and pakaasane
(Pa.tis-a II 390), both used to express that someone illuminates a specific
sense. And it is also in that sense in the Sadd (I 103,15:
li.ngavisesajotane, "for explaining the distinction of gender"). See also
Ud-a 23 upayogatthajotanattham " with the aim of illuminating this sense of
the accusative"; in this sense it is also used in the Sv-ant itself (see I
174 explanation to tadatthajotanattham). Many examples could be added.
Thus, I understand vss. 8-9 as:
Relying on him (i.e. on the king), (and) thinking that he (i.e. the king)
hopefully might be a support also for me (not only for those who purify the
saasana) in explaining the Teacher's
Sāsana (i.e. when I, the commentator explain the Saasana), I will begin the
commentary; ...
Best,
Petra
>