From: Bhikkhu Bodhi
Message: 4160
Date: 2015-01-13
Here is a link to the source:“§552. The words prati, pari and anu are karma pravachaniya when used in the sense of (1) ‘sign’, ‘in the direction of’; (2) ‘mere statement of a circumstance’ (‘as regards’); (3) division ‘share of’; and (4) ‘pervasion’ severally.”
Then as an example of (1), he gives vṛkṣaṃ prati vidyotate vidyut, “the lightning is flashing in the direction of the tree.”
Nadiṃ nerañjaraṃ patīti lakkhaṇaṃ niddisati. Lakkhaṇañhi
padhānapahitattāya nerañjarā nadī. Ten'eva c'ettha upayogavacanaṃ.
Ayaṃ pan'attho ‘‘nadiyā nerañjarāyā’’ ti, nerañjarāya tīreti vuttaṃ hoti.
"By 'nadiṃ nerañjaraṃ pati', he describes the sign/direction. For the sign/direction is the Neranjara River for the purpose of being resolute in striving. Hence the accusative case is used here. But the meaning is 'oward the Neranjara River'; what is meant is 'on the bank of the Neranjara'."
Dear Bhante,
<< It seems the word 'lakkhaṇaṃ' is being used here in a specialized sense.
>>
The term is used in the traditional grammars to explain the usage of
prefixes (upasaggas) that govern the accusative case.
At Sadd III 715 "lakkhaṇa" is seen in 583 which also carries over into 584
(see its vutti):
582 anvādidhirādayo kammappavacanīyā.
583 lakkhaṇasahatthe hīne cānu.
584 itthambhūtakkhānabhāgavicchāsu ca patiparānū.
As I'm hardly familiar with the above, I can't explain much but will do some
further study. S.C. Vasu might have an English translation of the
Sanskrit usage.
Best wishes,
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bhikkhu Bodhi venbodhi@... [palistudy]"
<palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
To: <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: January 13, 2015 4:53 AM
Subject: [palistudy] meaning of lakkhana at Pj II 386
Dear Pali Group Members,
In the commentary to the Padhana Sutta of the Suttanipata (commenting on
verse 425), we find the following:
Nadiṃ nerañjaraṃ patīti lakkhaṇaṃ niddisati. Lakkhaṇañhi
padhānapahitattāya nerañjarā nadī. Teneva cettha upayogavacanaṃ.
Ayaṃ panattho ‘‘nadiyā nerañjarāyā’’ ti, nerañjarāya tīreti vuttaṃ hoti.
This is in Paramattha-jotika II p. 386 of the PTS edition. It seems the
word 'lakkhaṇaṃ' is being used here in a specialized sense. The usual
meanings, as "characteristic, mark," etc., don't fit very well. Would
anyone know the specific way the word is being used in this context?
The verse itself says:
Taṃ maṃ padhānapahitattaṃ, _nadiṃ nerañjaraṃ pati_;
Viparakkamma jhāyantaṃ, yogakkhemassa pattiyā.
Thank you in advance.
--
Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
-- Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi Chuang Yen Monastery 2020 Route 301 Carmel NY 10512 U.S.A. To help feed the hungry and educate disadvantaged children around the world, please check: Our website: http://www.buddhistglobalrelief.org/ Our blog: http://buddhistglobalrelief.wordpress.com/ For my Dhamma lectures and teachings: http://www.baus.org/en/?cat=9 (includes schedule of classes) http://bodhimonastery.org/a-systematic-study-of-the-majjhima-nikaya.html http://www.noblepath.org/audio.html http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL23DE0292227250FA For my public photo albums: http://picasaweb.google.com/venbodhi Sabbe sattā averā hontu, abyāpajjā hontu, anighā hontu, sukhī hontu! 願眾生無怨，願眾生無害，願眾生無惱，願眾生快樂！ May all beings be free from enmity, free from affliction, free from distress. May they be happy!