Gatha | Sentence Translation | Sentence Structure |
Vocabulary&Grammar | Commentary | Pronunciation |
Very happily indeed we live, free of hatred amongst hateful.
Amongst hateful people we dwell without hatred.
susukhaj vata
jivama
verinesu averino
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Adv.
part. V.act.in. Adj.m. Adj.m.
|__________| 1.Pl.pres. Loc.Pl.
Nom.Pl.
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List of Abbreviations
verinesu manussesu viharama
averino
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Adj.m. N.m.
V.act.in. Adj.m.
Loc.Pl. Loc.Pl. 1.Pl.pres.
Nom.Pl.
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susukhaj, Adv.: very happily. It is derived from the word sukha-, Adj.: happy, with the prefix su- (well, good).
vata, part.: indeed, certainly.
jivama, V.: (we) live. The verb root is jiv-. 1.Pl.act.in.pres. = jivama.
verinesu: verin-, Adj.: hating, bearing hostility. It is derived from the word vera-, N.n.: hatred, enmity; with the possessive suffix -in. Loc.Pl.m. = verinesu.
List of Abbreviations
averino: averin-, Adj.: not hating, without hatred. It is the word verin- (see above) negated by the negative prefix a-. Nom.Pl.m. = averino.
verinesu: see above.
manussesu: manussa-, N.m.: human, person, man. Loc.Pl. = manussesu.
viharama, V.: (we) stay, dwell, live. The verb root is har- (to carry) with the prefix vi- (denoting separation). Thus viharati, V.: to live, to stay, to dwell. 1.Pl.act.in.pres. = viharama.
averino: see above.
List of Abbreviations
This verse consists of two syntactically
separate sentences. They are:
1) susukhaj
vata jivama verinesu
averino (very happily indeed we live, free of hatred amongst hateful).
The subject is the adjective averino (without hatred, nominative
plural). The verb is jivama
(we live, 1st person, plural, active, indicative, present tense).
It has two attributes, the adverb susukhaj
(very happily) and the adjective verinesu (amongst hateful ones,
locative plural). The particle vata (indeed) serves mainly for metrical
purposes.
2) verinesu manussesu viharama
averino (amongst hateful people we dwell without hatred). The subject
is the adjective averino (without hatred, nominative plural). The
verb is viharama (we dwell, 1st
person, plural, active, indicative, present tense). It has an attribute,
the noun manussesu (amongst people, locative plural). This word
has itself an attribute, the adjective verinesu (amongst hateful
ones, locative plural).
On the bank of the river Rohini there
was the town of Kapilavatthu, where the Buddha's own relatives, Sakyans,
lived. On the other side of that river there was the town of Koliya, where
lived the Koliyans, who were also related to Sakyans.
Both towns and farms around it used the water from Rohini River.
One year there was a severe draught.
There was not enough water for everybody. Both sides started to quarrel
because of water. No compromise could be found so both sides prepared to
fight.
The Buddha found out about this and
decided to stop the bloodshed. As both armies assembled on the riverbanks,
the Buddha appeared in the middle. He then admonished them, that for the
sake of water, which has little value, they were willing to sacrifice their
lives, which were so precious and priceless! He further told them this
verse and the two following ones (DhP 198, DhP 199). Both sides became
ashamed and reached a compromise. Thus the war did not happen.
Word pronunciation:
susukhaj
vata
jivama
verinesu
averino
manussesu
viharama