Gatha | Sentence Translation | Sentence Structure
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List of Abbreviations

# asubh'anupassij viharantaj indriyesu susajvutaj

# bhojanamhi ca mattabbuj saddhaj araddhaviriyaj

# taj ve na'ppasahati maro vato selaj va pabbataj

# (DhP 8)

Translation:

The one, who does not live contemplating pleasant things, who is well restrained in senses,
Who does know moderation in food, who is trusting and firm in effort,
Mara will not overcome him, as wind a rocky mountain.

Sentence structure:
List of Abbreviations

a+subha+anupassij viharantaj indriyesu su+sajvutaj
| | | | | | |
neg. Adj. N.m. N.m. N.n. pref. N.m.
| | Acc.Sg. Acc.Sg. Loc.Pl. | Acc.Sg.
| |_______| | | |______|
|________| | |________| List of Abbreviations
|_________________| |
|______________________|_______________________

bhojanamhi ca matta+bbuj saddhaj araddha+viriyaj
| | | | | | |
N.n. conj. N.n. Adj.m. Adj.m. Adj. N.n.
Loc.Sg. | | Acc.Sg. Acc.Sg. | Acc.Sg.
| | |______| | |________| List of Abbreviations
|__________|_________| | |
|______| | |
_______|_____________________|___________|__________________

taj ve na pasahati maro vato selaj va pabbataj
| | | | | | | | |
Pron.m. part. neg. V.act.pres. N.m. N.m. Adj.m. enc. N.m.
Acc.Sg. | | 3.Sg.in. Nom.Sg. Nom.Sg. Acc.Sg. | Acc.Sg.
| | |________| | | |_______|______|
| | |_____________| | |___|
|________|________________| |______________|
|____| |
______| | List of Abbreviations
|______________________________________________|

Vocabulary and Grammar:
List of Abbreviations

asubh'anupassij: asubh'anupassin-, N.m.: not contemplating the pleasant [things] (or: contemplating the unpleasant [things]). A compound of:
subha-, Adj.: pleasant
anupassin-, N.m.: contemplating, viewing, observing. Derived from the verb pass-, to see
with the prefix anu-, on, at, down on. anupassana- N.f.: observation, contemplation. The
suffix -in is so called possessive suffix (thus literally "having contemplation).
The compound is negated by the negative prefix a-.
Another way to see this compound (instead of a+subh'anupassij - not contemplating the pleasant [things]) is asubha+anupassij (contemplating the unpleasant things).
Acc.Sg. of the compound = asubh'anupassij.

List of Abbreviations

viharantaj: viharant-, pr.p.: staying, dwelling, living. Derived from the verb har- (to carry) with the prefix vi- (denoting separation). viharati: V.: to live, to stay, to dwell.
AccSg.m. of the pr.p. = viharantaj.

indriyesu: indriya-, N.n.: sense faculty. Loc.Pl. = indriyesu.

susajvutaj: susajvuta-, Adj.; well restrained, well governed, well guarded. It is p.p. of the verb var- (to obstruct) with the prefix saj- (together, completely), with the prefix su-, meaning well, sufficiently.
Acc.Sg.m. = susajvutaj.

List of Abbreviations

bhojanamhi: bhojana-, N.n.: food. Loc.Sg.= bhojanamhi.

ca, conj.: and.

mattabbuj: mattabbu-, N.m.: knowing the measure. A compound of:
matta-, N.n.: measure.
-bu-, Adj.suffix: knowing (derived from the verb ba-, to know).
Acc.Sg.m. of the compound = mattabbuj.

saddhaj: saddha-, Adj.: trusting, having confidence. Acc.Sg.m.: saddhaj.

List of Abbreviations

araddhaviriyaj: araddhaviriya-, Adj.: with firm effort. A compound of:
a raddha-, Adj.: firm, resolved. It is a p.p. of the verb rabh- (to take hold of, to grasp)
with the prefix a- (here as an intensifying prefix).
viriya-, N.n. :energy, vigor, effort.
Acc.Sg.m. of the compound = araddhaviriyaj.

taj: tad-, Pron.: it. Masculine form so-, he. Acc.Sg. = taj (him).

ve: affirmative particle, indeed, truly.

na, neg.: not.

List of Abbreviations

pasahati: to use force, to subdue, to overcome. The verb sah- (to conquer) with the emphasizing prefix pa-. 3.Sg.act.in.pres. = pasahati.

maro: mara-, N.m.: personified death, the Evil One, devil. Nom.Sg. = maro.

vato: vata-, N.m.: wind. Nom.Sg. = vato.

selaj: sela-, Adj.: rocky. Acc.Sg.m. = selaj.

va: enc.: as if, like.

pabbataj: pabbata-, N.m.: mountain. Acc.Sg. = pabbataj.
List of Abbreviations

This verse is in its structure similar to the previous one (see DhP 7) The subject stays the same (maro), verb pasahati is negated by the negative na (not). The object is also taj.
The five attributes to the object also follow the same pattern, in first three cases they are just negated attributes from the previous verse:
1) asubh'anupassij viharantaj (instead of subh'anupassij viharantaj),
2) indriyesu susajvutaj (instead of indriyesu asajvutaj),
3) bhojanamhi ca mattabbuj (instead of bhojanamhi c'amattabbuj).
Fourth and fifth attributes are saddhaj (trusting) and araddhaviriyaj (firm in effort) respectively. They are both also in accusative singular.
The subordinate sentence also has the same structure - the subject stays vato, the verb is again pasahati (here negated by na) from the main sentence and object is pabbataj (mountain, accusative singular). The word selaj (rocky) is an attribute to the object and it is also in accusative singular. Again, the enclitic va connects this clause to the main sentence.

Commentary:

Here, on the other hand (in contrast to DhP 7) is described the way, how to nourish the roots of meditative life, how to destroy the bad tendencies, how to become immune to Mara, to the evil part of our mind. We must not dwell with our minds only on the pleasant things and indulge in enjoying pleasurable things (asubh'anupassij viharantaj). Another way to understand this phrase is that we should contemplate the unpleasant things, to understand that there is really nothing to be attached to, that attachment to pleasant things brings about the strength of "Mara", of our bad habits and tendencies.
We must also be well restrained (indriyesu susajvutaj) in senses and know moderation in food (bhojanamhi ca mattabbuj). Thus, senses are guarded, we do not take everything in indiscriminately, and we contemplate on what we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and think. We are not attached to pleasant sense-impressions, we do not hate unpleasant sense- impressions, and we are observant and concentrated and thus able to bring meditation to everyday life.
Important part is also trust (saddhaj). Trust in the way, that the Buddha taught us, trust in the methods that are part of the way, trust in the goal that can be reached by following this way. Without this basic trust (which is not blind faith, for it is easily verified, as we go forward on the way) no progress is possible.
We must also be firm in effort (araddhaviriyaj). Effort is of course a basic necessity. We must make an effort to put everything that was said above into our daily lives. It is only by this constant effort, that we are able to progress towards the goal.
If we practice in this way, the roots of meditation will flourish, will become strong and invincible. Eventually, the tree of our practice will bear its fruit, our mind will reach the peaceful state of Nirvana. Mara, the dark side of our mind has no way to influence us, no way to overcome us, just like the wind is not able to blow away a rocky mountain.

Sentence pronunciation:

Sentence pronunciation

Word pronunciation:

asubh'anupassij
viharantaj
indriyesu
susajvutaj
bhojanamhi
ca
mattabbuj
saddhaj
araddhaviriyaj
taj
ve
na
pasahati
maro
vato
selaj
va
pabbataj