In this series of verses in which the Buddha bowls the King over with his unthinkable behaviour, a word that stands out in the memory is a-tulam (3.25, "beyond measure"; 3.27 "unthinkable"). The root √ tul means to lift up; to determine the weight of anything by lifting it up, weigh, compare by weighing and examining, ponder.
A statement that seems literally to say "He strode through/over the sky/heaven" (3.22) I tend to want to translate in such a way that I can compare it to something I already know the weight of. For example, two years ago I understood the sentence to mean that the Buddha went up (lengthened in stature) in the direction of the sky. Alternatively, it strikes me now, the sentence could mean that the Buddha transcended religious conceptions of heaven. At the same time, the sentence might be intended to leave open the fanciful interpretation that the Buddha flew about the place like the hero in a Chinese martial arts film.
Any way up, there is clearly a danger of thinking too hard about the meaning of each verse and thereby falling into the trap of an overly interpretive, not to say disjointed, translation. "He strode over heaven" is at least literal and not overly wordy, even if the intended meaning is not immediately apparent.
They say that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I would like to ask: Greater by how much? Greater by how many kilograms? And the answer might be: a-tulam.
3.20
atha paarthivaH samupalabhya
sutam upagataM tathaagataM
tuurNam a-bahu-turag'-aanugataH
suta-darshan'-otsukatay"aabhiniryayau
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3.20
And so the king learned
That his son had arrived, as the One Thus Come,
And, with but a few horses straggling behind,
Out he charged in his eagerness to see his son.
VOCABULARY:
atha: so, then
paarthivaH (nom. sg. m.): mfn. earthen, coming from the earth; m. a lord of the earth , king , prince , warrior
samupalabhya = abs. sam-upa- √ labh: to take or receive fully , obtain ;
to acquire by experience , learn
sutam (acc. sg.): m. son
upagatam (acc. sg. m.): reached, arrived
upa- √ gam: to go near to , come towards , approach , arrive at , reach , attain , visit
tathaagatam (acc. sg. m.): mfn. being in such a state or condition ; " he who comes and goes in the same way [as the buddhas who preceded him] " , gautama buddha ; one who has arrived at reality, a realised man; epithet of the Buddha
tuurNam: ind. quickly , speedily
a-bahu-turag'-aanugataH (nom. sg. m.): followed by not many horses
a-bahu: not many, few
turaga: 'going quickly'; horse
anugata: followed by, having anything (as a skin) hanging behind
suta-darshan'-otsukatayaa (inst.): anxious to see his son
suta: son
darshana: seeing, meeting
utsukataa: f. restlessness , uneasiness , unquietness [separation anxiety?] ; zeal , desire , longing for ; attachment , affection ;sorrow , regret
utsuka: mfn. (fr. su , " well " , with ud in the sense of " apart " , and affix ka) , restless , uneasy , unquiet , anxious ; anxiously desirous , zealously active , striving or making exertions for any object
- taa: (abstract noun suffix)
abhiniryayau = 3rd pers. sg. perfect abhi-nir- √ yaa: to march out , go out towards
3.21
sugatas tathaagatam avekShya
nara-patim a-dhiiram aashayaa
sheSham api ca janam ashru-mukhaM
vininiiShayaa gaganam utpapaata ha
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3.21
The One Who Went Well saw the king coming thus,
Composure lost because of expectation,
And saw the rest of the people too, with tearful faces;
Wishing to direct them, he took himself, truly,
up into the sky.
VOCABULARY:
sugataH (nom. sg. m.): mfn. "going well;" "one who has fared well" ; epithet of the Buddha
tathaagatam (acc. sg. m.): arrived thus, come in such a state
avekShya = abs. avekSh: to look towards , look at , behold ; to perceive , observe , experience
nara-patim (acc. sg.): m. m. " man-lord " , a king
a-dhiiram (acc. sg. m.): not steady, not composed; tremulous, excitable; out of balance
aashayaa = inst. sg, aashaa: f. wish , desire , hope , expectation , prospect
sheSham (acc. sg.): mn. the remainder, the rest
api: also
ca: and
janam (acc. sg.): m. people
ashru-mukham (acc. sg. m.): tear-faced, with tear-stained faces
ashru: n. tear
mukha: n. the mouth, face
vininiiShayaa = inst. vininiiShaa (fr. desid. of vi - √nii) , desire of leading away, desire of instructing
vi - √nii: to lead or take away , remove ; to train , tame , guide (horses) ; to educate , instruct , direct ; to get rid of. give up , cease from (anger) [vininiiShate , to wish to get rid of or give up (egoism)]
gaganam (acc. sg.): n. the atmosphere , sky , firmament
utpapaata = 3rd pers. sg. perfect ut- √ pat : to fly or jump up , fly upwards ; to ascend, rise
ha: (emphatic) indeed, verily, truly
3.22
sa vicakrame divi bhuv' iiva
punar upavivesha tasthivaan
nishcala-matir ashayiShTa punar
bahudh" aabhavat punar abhuut tath" aikadhaa
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3.22
He strode over heaven as if over the earth;
And sat again, in the stillness of having stopped.
Invariable in his thinking, he lay down;
He showed many changing forms
and became again, in this manner, all of a piece.
VOCABULARY:
sa (nom. sg. m.): he
vicakrame = 3rd pers. sg. perfect vi- √ kram: to step beyond or aside , move away , depart from (abl.) ; to move apart or asunder , become divided ; to go or stride through , traverse ; to move on , walk , go , advance ; to rise to (acc.) ; to bestride
divi = loc. sg. div: heaven, sky
bhuvi (loc. sg.): on the earth, over the earth
iva: like, as if
punar: ind. back , home , in an opposite direction ; again , once more; again and again , repeatedly (mostly punaH punar); further , moreover , besides
: upavivesha = 3rd pers. sg. perfect upa- √ vish : to sit down ; to stop , settle one's self ; to set (as the sun)
tasthivaan (nom. sg. m. perfect active participle √sthaa): 'being in the state of having stopped'
√sthaa: to stand still , stay quiet , remain stationary , stop , halt
nishcala-matiH (nom. sg. m.): being invariable in his thinking
nishcala: mfn. motionless , immovable , fixed , steady , invariable , unchangeable
mati: f. mind, thinking, mental tendency, intention, thought-direction
ashayiShta = 3rd pers. sg. perfect shii: to lie , lie down , recline , rest , repose
punar... punar: at one time.... at another time
bahudhaa: ind. in many ways, forms or directions; in many parts or places; variously
abhavat = 3rd pers. sg. imperfect bhuu: to be, become ; to manifest , exhibit , show
punar: again
abhuut = 3rd pers. sg. aorist bhuu: to become, be, abide, stay
tathaa: ind. thus, in that manner, in such a manner
ekadhaa: ind. in one piece, singly, simply, at once, all together
3.23
salile kShitaav iva cacaara
jalam iva vivesha mediniiM
megha iva divi vavarSha punaH
punar ajvalan nava iv' odito raviH
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3.23
He walked over water as if on dry land,
Immersed himself in the soil as though it were water,
Rained as a cloud in the sky,
And shone like the newly-risen sun.
VOCABULARY:
salile = loc. sg. salila: mfn. flowing ; flood , surge , waves ; water
kShitau = loc. sg. kShiti: f. the earth , soil of the earth
iva: like, as if
cacaara = 3rd pers. sg. perfect car: to move, go, walk
jalam (acc. sg.): n. water
iva: like, as if
vivesha = 3rd pers. sg. perfect vish: to enter , enter in or settle down on , go into ; (with apas) to sink or be immersed in the water
mediniim (acc. sg.): f. 'having fatness or fertility'; the land; fertile soil
meghaH (nom. sg.): m. "sprinkler " , a cloud
iva: like
divi (loc. sg.): in the sky
vavarSha = 3rd pers. sg. perfect vRSh: to rain
punar: ind. and, again, at one time...
punar: ind. and, again, ...at another time
ajvalat = 3rd pers. sg. imperfect jval: to burn brightly , blaze , glow , shine
navaH (nom. sg. m.): new
iva: like
uditaH (nom. sg. m): mfn. risen
raviH (nom. sg. m.): the sun
3.24
yugapaj jvalan jvalana-vac ca
jalam avasRjaMsh ca megha-vat
tapta-kanaka-sadRsha-prabhayaa
sa babhau pradiipta iva sandhyayaa ghanaH
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3.24
All in harness, he glowed like a fire,
Passed water like a cloud,
And, with light like molten gold,
He shone like a cloud set aglow,
by the breaking of day, or dusk.
VOCABULARY:
yugapad: ind. 'being in the same yoke'; simultaneously
jvalan = nom. sg. pres. part. jval: to flame, burn brightly, blaze, glow
jvalana-vat (nom. sg. m.): like fire
jvalana: m. fire
ca: and
jalam (acc. sg.): water
avasRjan = pres. part: ava- √ sRj: to let off , let loose , let go , send ,
ca: and
megha-vat (nom. sg. m.): like a cloud
megha: m. " sprinkler " , a cloud
tapta-kanaka-sadRsha-prabhayaa (inst. sg.): with light like molten gold
tapta: molten
kanaka: gold
sadRsha: being like, similar to
prabhaa: f. light , splendour , radiance , beautiful appearance
sa (nom. sg. m.): he
babhau = 3rd pers. sg. perfect bhaa: to shine , be bright or luminous ; to shine forth , appear , show one's self ; to be splendid or beautiful or eminent ; to appear as , seem , look like , pass for (nom. with or without iva)
pradiiptaH (nom. sg. m.): mfn. inflamed, burning, shining, set alight
iva: like
sandhyayaa = inst. sg. saMdhyaa: f. holding together , union , junction , juncture , (esp.) juncture of day and night , morning or evening twilight ; twilight, sunset; juncture of the three divisions of the day; the religious acts performed at the three divisons of the day (hence suggestive of the scenery around the time of sitting-dhyana at dawn and dusk)
ghanaH (nom. sg. m.): cloud
3.25
tam udiikShya hema-maNi-jaala-
valayinam iv'otthitaM dhvajaM
priitim agamad a-tulaaM nR-patir
janataa nataash ca bahumaanam abhyayuH
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3.25
Looking up at him in the network of gold and pearls
That seemed to wrap around him like an upraised flag,
The king became joyful beyond measure
And the assembled people, heads bowed down,
felt deep appreciation.
VOCABULARY:
tam (acc. sg. m.): him
udiikShya = abs. ud- √ iikSh: to look up to, to look up at
hema-maNi-jaala-valayinam (acc. sg. m.): wrapped around with a network of gold and pearls
hema: gold
maNi: jewels, pearls
jaala: net, lattice
valayin: mfn. provided with a bracelet ; (ifc.) encircled by , studded with
valaya: mn. a bracelet , armlet , ring (worn by men and women on the wrist); (also applied to waves as compared to bracelets) ; a zone , girdle (of a married woman) ; a line (of bees; a circle , circumference , round enclosure (ifc. often = " encircled by ")
iva: like
utthitam (acc. sg. m.) : raised, uplifted
dhvajam (acc. sg.): m. banner, flag, standard
priitim (acc. sg.): f. any pleasurable sensation , pleasure , joy , gladness ,
agamat = 3rd pers. sg. aorist gam: to go to any state, to become
a-tulaam (acc. sg. f.): unequalled, beyond measure
nR-patiH (nom. sg.): m. lord of men; king, ruler
jana-taaH (nom. pl.): f. a number of men , assemblage of people , community , subjects
nataaH (nom. pl. f.): mfn. bent , bowed , curved , inclined , inclining ; bowing to , saluting
ca: and
bahu-maanam (acc. sg.): m. high esteem or estimation , great respect or regard
abhyayuH = 3rd pers. pl. perfect abhi- √ yaa: to go up to in a hostile manner , attack , assail ; to go up to , approach , obtain
3.26
atha bhaajanii-kRtam avekShya
manuja-patim Rddhi-sampadaa
paura-janam api ca tat-pravaNaM
nijagaada dharma-vinayam vinaayakaH
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3.26
So, perceiving that he had made a vessel
Of the ruler of men,
through the wealth of his accomplishments,
And that the townsfolk also were favourably inclined,
The guide gave voice to the dharma and the discipline.
VOCABULARY:
atha: then, so
bhaajanii-krtam (acc. sg. m.): made into a vessel or receptacle
avekShya = abs. avekSh: to look towards , look at , behold ; to perceive , observe , experience
manuja-patim (acc. sg. m.): ruler of men; king
manu-ja: Manu-born, a man
patim: ruler, lord, king
Rddhi-sampadaa (inst. sg.): through his attainment of accomplishments
Rddhi: prosperity, increase, growth, success, accomplishment, perfection, supernatural power
sampad: f. success, accomplishment; ; attainment , acquisition , possession , enjoyment , advantage , benefit , blessing ; excellence , glory , splendour , beauty ; excess , abundance , high degree
paura-janam (acc. sg. m.): townsfolk, citizens
api: also
ca: and
tat-pravaNam (acc. sg. m.): favourably disposed to him/it;
pravaNa: the side of a hill , slope , declivity ; mfn. declining , bent , sloping down , steep , abrupt ; (ifc.) directed towards ; inclined or disposed
nijagaada = 3rd pers. sg. perfect ni- √ gad : to recite , proclaim , announce , declare , tell , speak ; to speak to , address (acc.) , to say anything (acc.) to (acc.)
dharma-vinayam (acc. sg.): the Dharma and the Vinaya; the truth and the precepts
vinaayakaH (nom. sg.): m. (from vi- √nii, to lead away, instruct) leader, guide ; a Guru or spiritual preceptor
3.27
nR-patis tataH prathamam aapa
phalam a-mRta-dharma-siddhaye
dharmam a-tulam adhigamya muner
munaye nanaama sa yato guraav iva
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3.27
Then the royal hero reaped the first fruit
For the fulfillment of the deathless dharma.
Having obtained unthinkable dharma from the sage,
He bowed accordingly in the sage's direction,
as to a guru.
VOCABULARY:
nR-patiH (nom. sg.): m. lord of men, king
nR: man, hero
pati: master, owner, possessor, lord, ruler, sovereign
tataH: ind. then
prathamam (acc. sg. n.): first
aapa = 3rd pers. sg. perfect aap: to reach, gain, obtain
phalam (acc. sg.): n. fruit
a-mRta-dharma-siddhaye (dat. sg.): for the fulfillment of the undying Dharma
a-mRta: mfn. immortal, deathless, undying
dharma: the law, dharma, teaching, etc.
siddhi: f. fulfillment, achievement, accomplishment
N.B. In EHJ's original Sanskrit text the compound ends in siddhayoH, which would be a loc./gen. dual ending. In a footnote to his English translation EHJ says he reads siddhaye, and LC also follows this.
dharmam (acc. sg.): m. dharma, teaching, truth, way of being etc.
a-tulam (acc. sg. m.): unequalled, beyond measure, imponderable, unthinkable
√tul: to determine the weight of anything by lifting it up , weigh , compare by weighing and examining , ponder
adhigamya = abs. adhi- √ gam: to go up to , approach , overtake ; to meet , find , discover , obtain ; to accomplish
muneH = abl./gen. sg. muni: m. the sage
munaye (dat. sg.): to the sage
nanaama = 3rd pers. sg. perfect nam: to bend or bow
sa (nom. sg. m.): he
yataH: ind. from which, since, because of that, accordingly
gurau (loc. sg.): to a guru
iva: like, as
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