SAUNDARANANDA 2.16: Non-Buddhist Virtues (ctd.) -- Covering the Earth with Guiding Principles & Glory

ahaarShiid duHkham aartaanaaM
dviShataaM c' orjitaM yashaH
acaiShic ca nayair bhuumiM
bhuuyasaa yashas" aiva ca

- = = = - = = =
- - = = - = - =
- = = - - = = =
= - = - - = - -

2.16
He bore away the suffering of the oppressed

And the boastful fame of the cruel,

And covered the earth with guiding principles

And a much greater glory.

COMMENT:
Bhuumi in line 3 can mean not only the earth or ground but also posture or attitude -- the territory governed by the act of sitting.

So this verse can be read as the description of a central agency causing suffering to cease and bringing about a posture covered with glory (or an attitude covered with honour) by circumventing the puffed-up end-gaining ego and working to constructive principles.

In that sense, then, today's verse can be read as presaging the Buddha's teaching of the four noble truths in Canto 16, and Nanda's subsequent success, while sitting in the supreme manner, in making that teaching his own.

The reason I returned to England from Japan at the end of 1994 was the desire to investigate what FM Alexander realized about covering the territory governed by the act of sitting with conscious guiding principles (as opposed to unconscious end-gaining). And I haven't finished investigating it yet.


EH Johnston:
He took away from the afflicted the causes of their grief and from his foes their mighty fame ; he gained possession of the earth by his policy and covered it with his exceeding fame.

Linda Covill:
He removed their sorrows from the suffering, and from his enemies he removed their mighty reputations; he covered the earth with his good government and great fame.

VOCABULARY:
ahaarShiit = 3rd pers. sg. aorist hR: to take , bear , carry in or on (with instr.) , carry , convey , fetch , bring ; to take away , carry off , seize , deprive of , steal , rob ; to shoot or cut or hew off , sever (the head or a limb) ; to remove , destroy , dispel
duHkham (acc. sg.): n. uneasiness, suffering, hardship etc.
aartaanaam = gen. pl. aarta: mfn. fallen into (misfortune) , struck by calamity , afflicted , pained , disturbed ; injured ; oppressed , suffering , sick , unhappy

dviShataam = gen. pl. dviShat: mfn. hating or detesting , hostile , unfriendly , foe , enemy
ca: and
uurjitam (acc. sg. n.): mfn. endowed with strength or power , strong , mighty , powerful , excellent , great , important , gallant , exceeding ; proud , bragging ; n. strength , power , valour
yashaH = acc. sg. yashas: n. beautiful appearance , beauty , splendour , worth ; honour , glory , fame , renown

acaiShit = 3rd pers. sg. aorist ci: to arrange in order , heap up , pile up , construct (a sacrificial altar) ; to cover , inlay , set with
ca: and
nayaiH = inst. pl. naya: m. ( √nii) leading (of an army) ; conduct , behaviour , (esp.) prudent conduct or behaviour , good management , polity , civil and military government ; wisdom , prudence , reason ; plan , design ; leading thought , maxim , principle
bhuumim (acc. sg.): f. the earth , soil , ground ; a place , situation ; position , posture , attitude

bhuuyasaa = inst. sg. bhuuyas: mfn " becoming in a greater degree" i.e. more , more numerous or abundant , greater , larger , mightier (also " much or many , very numerous or abundant " &c )
yashasaa = inst. sg. yashas: n. beautiful appearance , beauty , splendour , worth ; honour , glory , fame , renown
eva: (emphatic)
ca: and