Friday, November 27, 2009

SAUNDARANANDA 15.34: Relativity, Continued

pratishrayaM bhahu-vidhaM
saMshrayanti yath" aadvagaaH
pratiyaanti punas tyaktvaa
tadvaj jNaati-samaagamaH

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15.34
Just as, under any old roof,

Travellers shelter together

And go again their separate ways,

So are relatives joined.


COMMENT:
Whatever romantic idea Nanda may have had about family life, in encouraging him to give it up, the Buddha appears to be leaving little to chance.

EH Johnston:
As travellers come together at shelters manifold and part again to go their separate ways, so is the union of kinsfolk.

Linda Covill:
Just as travellers shelter together in a number of rest-houses, and in leaving them part company again, so it is with a group of family members.

VOCABULARY:
pratishrayam (acc. sg.): m. refuge , help , assistance ; a place of refuge , shelter , asylum , house , dwelling
bhahu-vidham (acc. sg. m.): mfn. of many sorts or kinds , manifold , various

saMshrayanti = 3rd pers. pl. saM- √shri: , to join together with , to join or attach one's self to , go for refuge or succour to , resort or betake one's self to , cling to for protection , seek the help of (acc.)
yathaa: just as
advagaaH = nom. pl advaga: m. ("a road-goer") a traveller

pratiyaanti = 3rd pers. sg. prati- √yaa: to go or come back
punar: ind. back , home , in an opposite direction (with √ yaa , to go back or away); again, once more
tyaktvaa = abs. tyaj: to leave , abandon , quit ; to leave a place , go away from

tadvat: so, likewise
jNaati: m. " intimately acquainted " , a near relation, kinsman
samaagamaH (nom. sg.): m. coming together, union ; association , assembly of (comp.)

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