Gatha | Sentence Translation | Sentence Structure |
Vocabulary&Grammar | Commentary | Pronunciation |
As if one would see a bubble, as if one would see a mirage,
who observes the world like that, the King of Death does
not see him.
yatha bubbulakaj
passe yatha
passe maricikaj
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Rel.Adv. N.m.
V.act. Rel.Adv. V.act.
N.f.
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Acc.Sg. 3.Sg.opt. |
3.Sg.opt. Acc.Sg.
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List of Abbreviations
evaj lokaj
avekkhantaj maccu+raja
na passati
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Adv. N.m.
Adj.m. N.m. N.m.
neg. V.act.in.
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Acc.Sg. |
Nom.Sg. | 3.Sg.pres.
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yatha, Rel.Adv.: as, just like.
bubbulakaj: bubbulaka-, N.m.: bubble, water bubble. Acc.Sg. = bubbulakaj.
passe, V.: should see. The verb root is dis- (to see). 3.Sg.act.opt = passe.
yatha: see above.
passe: see above.
maricikaj: maricika-, N.f.: mirage. Acc.Sg. = maricikaj.
evaj, Adv.: thus, in this way.
List of Abbreviations
lokaj: loka-, N.m.; world.
avekkhantaj: avekkhant-, Adj.: observing, considering, looking at. It is an a.prp.p of the verb root ikkh- (to see) with the prefix ava- (down, over). Acc.Sg.m. = avekkhantaj.
maccuraja:
maccuraja-, N.m.: the king of death,
Mara. The compound of:
maccu-, N.m.: death.
rajan-,
N.m.: king. The compound form of rajan-
is raja-.
Nom.Sg. = maccuraja.
na, neg.: not.
passati: sees. The verb root is dis- (to see). 3.Sg.act.in.pres. = passati.
List of Abbreviations
This verse consists of two connected
sentences. They are:
1) yatha
bubbulakaj passe
yatha passe maricikaj
(as if one would see a bubble, as if one would see a mirage). This can
be further analysed into two segments:
a) yatha
bubbulakaj passe
(as if one would see a bubble). The subject is omitted; the verb implies
the third person singular pronoun. The verb is passe (one would
see, 3rd person, singular, active, optative). The object is
the noun bubbulakaj
(a bubble, accusative singular). The relative adverb yatha
(as, like) connects the sentence to the following one.
b) yatha
passe maricikaj
(as if one would see a mirage). The subject is omitted; the verb implies
the third person singular pronoun. The verb is passe (one would
see, 3rd person, singular, active, optative). The object is
the noun maricikaj
(a mirage, accusative singular). The relative adverb yatha
(as, like) connects the sentence to the following one.
2) evaj
lokaj avekkhantaj
maccuraja na
passati (who observes the world like that, the King of Death does not
see him). The subject is the compound maccuraja
(the king of death, nominative singular). The verb is passati (sees,
3rd person, singular, active, indicative, present tense). It
is negated by the negative particle na (not). The object is the
active present participle avekkhantaj
(one who observes, accusative singular). It has an attribute, the noun
lokaj (the world, accusative singular),
with its attribute, the adverb evaj
(thus).
A group of monks went to the forest
to practice meditation. But they made very little progress and decided
to return to the Buddha and ask for further instructions. On the way to
the monastery it was very hot and they saw a mirage. Then a storm broke
out and the rain made bubbles on the ground, which soon disappeared. The
monks reflected on the mirage and the bubbles, comparing it to their own
bodies. Very soon they all attained Arahantship.
When they related the matter to the
Buddha he uttered this verse, saying that this form of meditation was very
good and one is able to reach the goal quickly.
Word pronunciation:
yatha
bubbulakaj
passe
maricikaj
evaj
lokaj
avekkhantaj
maccuraja
maccu
raja
na
passati