Gatha | Sentence Translation | Sentence Structure
Vocabulary&Grammar | Commentary | Pronunciation

List of Abbreviations

# svakhato bhagavata dhammo sanditthiko akaliko

# ehipassiko opanayiko paccattaj veditabbo vibbuhi ti

Translation:

Well proclaimed is the Law by the Blessed One, visible in this world, immediate, invites everybody to come and see, leads to the goal, is to be understood individually be the wise ones.

Sentence structure:
List of Abbreviations

sv + akhato bhagavata dhammo sanditthiko a+kaliko
| | | | | | |
Pref. Adj.m. N.m. N.m. Adj.m. neg. Adj.m.
| Nom.Sg. Ins.Sg. Nom.Sg. Nom.Sg. | Nom.Sg.
|_________| | | | |____|
|______________| | |__________|_________________I.
| |_______________|
|__________________________|
|____________________________________________II.

ehipassiko opanayiko paccattaj veditabbo vibbuhi ti List of Abbreviations
| | | | | |
Adj.m. Adj.m. Adv. Adj.m. Adj.m. part.
Nom.Sg. Nom.Sg. | Nom.Sg. Ins.Pl. |
| | | |_________| |
| | |_____________| |
I.__|________|_________________| |
II._____________________________________________|

Vocabulary and Grammar:
List of Abbreviations

svakhato: svakhata-, Adj.: The word akhata-, Adj.: proclaimed (p.p. of the verb kha-, to say with the prefix a-, forth, out to) with the prefix su- (well). The form sv- is due to the euphonic combination. Nom.Sg.m. = svakhato.

bhagavata: bhagavant-, N.m.: Blessed One (epithet of the Buddha, possessive form of the word bhaga-, N.m.: good fortune, happiness, prosperity. The word bhaga- is derived from the verb root bhaj-, to share. Thus bhagavant means literally "having good fortune").
Ins.Sg. = bhagavata: By the Blessed One.

dhammo: dhamma-, N.m.: Buddha's Teaching. The Law. Derived from the verb dha-, to hold. Thus dhamma "holds the world together". Nom.Sg. = dhammo.

List of Abbreviations

sanditthiko: sanditthika-, Adj.: visible in this world. Derived from the word sanditthi-, N.f.: the visible world (futher analysed into ditthi-, N.f. with the prefix saj-, together. The word ditthi comes from the verbal root dis-, to see). The suffix -ka transforms the noun into an adjective. Nom.Sg.m.: sanditthiko.

akaliko: akalika-, Adj.: immediate. The word kalika-, Adj. (gradual, slow, delayed; it is formed from the word kala-, N.m., time) negated by the negative prefix a-.

List of Abbreviations

ehipassiko: ehipassika-, Adj.: inviting to come and see. This word has three segments:
ehi, 2.Sg.act.imp. of the verb i- (to go) with the prefix a- (towards): come!
passi, 2.Sg.act.imp. of the verb dis- (to see): see!
-ka, the denominative suffix, transforming these verbs into an adjective.
The literal meaning therefore is "come-and-see-ish", having the quality of [saying] "come!" and "see!".
Nom.Sg.m.: ehipassiko.

opanayiko: opanayika-, Adj.: leading (to the goal, that is Nirvana). Derived from the verb ni- (to lead) with the prefix upa- (close, towards). Nom.Sg.m.: opanayiko.

List of Abbreviations

paccattaj: Adv.: individually. An adverbial form of:
paccatta-, Adj.: separate, individual. A compound of:
pati-, ind.: against, towards.
attan-, N.m.: self.

veditabbo: veditabba-, Adj.: should be known. A gerundive of the verb vid-, to know. Nom.Sg.m.: veditabbo.

vibbuhi: vibbu-, Adj.: wise, learned, intelligent. Derived from the verb ba- (to know) with the prefix vi- (adding emphasis). Ins.Pl.m.: vibbuhi. The form vibbuhi, as seen in the verse, is due to euphonic combination vibbuhi + iti = vibbuhi ti.

ti: (another form of iti) a particle, symbolizing the end of direct speech (in English that is expressed by quotation marks) or the end of a list.
List of Abbreviations

The subject of the sentence is dhammo (The Law). The verb "to be" is omitted, as happens a lot in Pali. The word svakhato (well proclaimed, nominative singular) actually fulfills the role of a verb, it is an attribute to the missing verb "to be". The word bhagavata (by the Blessed One, instrumental singular) is an attribute to svakhato.

All the other words are attributes to the subject. They are sanditthiko (visible in this world), akaliko (immediate), ehipassiko (inviting everybody to come and see), opanayiko (leading to the goal) and paccattaj veditabbo vibbuhi (to be understood individually be the wise ones). Except for the last one, they are single words (or compounds). They are in nominative singular.

The last of these attributes is paccattaj veditabbo vibbuhi. The main attribute here is veditabbo (to be known). It is therefore also in nominative singular. It is a gerund, which is a verbal derovation meaning that the action should be done. It has an attribute vibbuhi (by the wise ones), which is in instrumental plural. The adverb paccattaj (individually) forms an attribute to this phrase.

The particle ti marks the end of the list of attributes.

Commentary:

In this gatha, there are enumerated the qualities of the Law (Dhamma), of Buddha's teaching. The Dhamma has been well preached (svakhato), because it has no flaws, it has been preached fully and without anything missing.

It is visible in this world (sanditthiko). We can reap the fruit in this very world, we do not have to wait for the fruits to same future life, or the other world. The results of meditation will come in this very life.

It is immediate (akaliko). The results of our practice will come to us immediately, we do not have to wait for them to some distant future. As we become to practice the Dhamma, the fruit will come right away. Gradually, step by step we will be able to verify that the Way truly leads to the goal.

It invites everybody to come and see (ehipassiko). The Dhamma invites us to "come and see". In other words, it invites all people to verify for themselves, that it really leads to the goal, that by practicing it, one can reach the Nirvana. It can not be forced on anybody, nobody can reach the goal just by blind faith. One must "come and see" - and make an effort on the Way to the goal.

It leads to the goal (opanayiko). By following this teaching, by applying this method, by making an effort on the Way, we can certainly reach the goal and realize the Nirvana.

It is to be understood individually be the wise ones (paccattaj veditabbo vibbuhi). Nobody can reach the Nirvana passively, just by praying or reading books. Everybody must individually practice it and make an effort. Deep insight into the Dhamma is necessary for realizing the goal. That insight will not come by itself, we must strive for it hard. It can not be realized as a result of some help by an external force. Nobody can "enlighten" us, we must do the work for ourselves. Of course, to realize this and to be able to proceed on the path, certain amount of wisdom is required, for a fool will never realize these truths and act accordingly.

Sentence pronunciation:

Sentence pronunciation

Word pronunciation:

svakhato
bhagavata
dhammo
sanditthiko
akaliko
ehipassiko
opanayiko
paccattaj
veditabbo
vibbuhi
ti