Thursday, August 26, 2010

SAUNDARANANDA 4.6: Love Made in Heaven? Or Evolutionary Biology?

saa devataa nandana-caariN" iiva
kulasya nandii-jananash ca nandaH
atiitya martyaan anupetya devaan
sRShTaav abhuutam iva bhuuta-dhaatraa

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

4.6
She like a goddess wandering
in Indra's Gardens of Gladness,

And Nanda the bringer of joy to his kin,

Seemed, having gone beyond mortals,
and yet not become gods,

To be a Creator's creation in progress.


EH Johnston:
They seemed as if produced by the Creator to surpass mortals without attaining to the appearance of the gods ; for she was like a divinity wandering in the garden of Nandana, while Nanda was the cause of joy in his family.

Linda Covill:
The Creator had made them greater than mortals, though not yet gods -- she, walking the Nandana gardens like a divinity, and Nanda, bringer of joy to his kin.


VOCABULARY:
saa (nom. sg. f.): she
devataa (nom. sg.): f. godhead , divinity (abstr. & concr.)
nandana-caariNii (nom. sg. f.): wandering about in the Garden of Gladness / Indra's paradise
nandana: mfn. rejoicing , gladdening ; n. gladdening or gladness ; a divine garden , (esp.) indra's paradise
caarin: ifc. moving , walking or wandering about
iva: like

kulasya (gen. sg.): n. family
nandii-jananaH (nom. sg. m.): bringer of joy
nandii: m. joy , delight , happiness
janana: mfn. ifc. generating , begetting , producing , causing
ca: and
nandaH (nom. sg. m.): Nanda

atiitya (abs. ati-√i): surpassing, transcending
ati-√i: to pass by , elapse , pass over , overflow ; to overcome , overtake , outdo
martyaan (acc. pl. m.): mfn. who or what must die , mortal; m. a mortal , man
anupetya (abs. an-upa- √i): not going so far as
an- : negative prefix
upa- √i: to go or come or step near , approach , betake one's self to , arrive at ; to come near to , reach , obtain , enter into any state
devaan (acc. pl.): m. deity, god

sRShTau = loc. sg. sRShTi: f. letting go , letting loose , emission ; production , procreation , creation
abhuutaam = 3rd pers. dual bhuu: to be
iva: like, as if
bhuuta-dhaatraa (inst. sg.): by the creator of what exists
bhuuta: n. that which is or exists
dhaatR: m. establisher , founder , creator ; N. of a divine being who personifies these functions (in Vedic times presiding over generation , matrimony , health , wealth , time and season ; later chiefly the creator and maintainer of the world = brahmaa)

No comments: