English
Honored by the three worlds, the foremost, And the Buddha, and the stainless Dhamma, And the supreme Sangha; Having well understood the excellent meaning Of the words of that Teacher, I shall explain here the beneficial suttas, The good chapter on Sandhi. (B) The wise obtain welfare By the method taught by the Conqueror, And that also by the good understanding Of the meaning of his words; And the meaning, in letters and words, From being free from delusion, One desirous of welfare, from this word, discerns I will listen to the Dhamma. 1, 1. The meaning is known by letters. The meaning of all words is known by letters. For when letters are faulty, the meaning is difficult to understand. Therefore, skill in letters is very helpful in the Suttantas. 2, 2. The letters are forty-one, beginning with 'a'. And these letters, beginning with 'a', forty-one in number, are helpful in the Suttantas. Such as? A ā i ī u ū e o, ka kha ga gha ṅa, ca cha ja jha ña, ṭa ṭha ḍa ḍha ṇa, ta tha da dha na, pa pha ba bha ma, ya ra la va sa ha ḷa aṃ, these are called letters. What is the purpose of this? The meaning is known by letters. 3, 3. Among them, eight vowels end in 'o'. Among those letters, beginning with 'a', the eight letters ending in 'o' are called vowels. Such as? A ā i ī u ū e o, these are called vowels. What is the purpose of this? Vowels are elided in vowels. 4, 4. Three short in quantity are short. Among those eight vowels, the three vowels short in quantity are called short. Such as? A i u, these are called short. What is the purpose of this? Shortening. 5, 5. The others are long. Among those eight vowels, the five vowels other than the short ones are called long. Such as? Ā ī ū e o, these are called long. What is the purpose of this? Lengthening. 6, 8. The rest are consonants. Excluding the eight vowels, the remaining letters, beginning with 'ka' and ending with the nasalization, are called consonants. Such as? Ka kha ga gha ṅa, ca cha ja jha ña, ṭa ṭha ḍa ḍha ṇa, ta tha da dha na, pa pha ba bha ma, ya ra la va sa ha ḷa aṃ, these are called consonants. What is the purpose of this? Vowels are natural before consonants. 7, 9. The classes are five by five, ending in 'm'. Among those consonants, those beginning with 'ka' and ending with 'ma', having five letters each, are called classes. Such as? Ka kha ga gha ṅa, ca cha ja jha ña, ṭa ṭha ḍa ḍha ṇa, ta tha da dha na, pa pha ba bha ma, these are called classes. What is the purpose of this? The class-ending optionally in a class. 8, 10. 'Aṃ' is the nasalization. 'Aṃ' is called the nasalization. What is the purpose of this? 'Aṃ' is nasalized before a consonant. 9, 11 .In the application of other designations. And those designations, such as voiced or unvoiced, which are found in other Sanskrit texts, are also applicable here when applied. There, voiced are: ga, gha, ṅa, ja, jha, ña, ḍa, ḍha, ṇa, da, dha, na, ba, bha, ma, ya, ra, la, va, ha, ḷa, these are called voiced. Unvoiced are: ka, kha, ca, cha, ṭa, ṭha, ta, tha, pa, pha, sa, these are called unvoiced. What is the purpose of this? In the classes, the third and first letters are voiced and unvoiced respectively. 10, 12.Separate the preceding vowel-less consonant, placed below, from the vowel. There, wishing to make a sandhi, one should make the preceding consonant, placed below, vowel-less, and placing the vowel above, separate it from the vowel. This is the beginning there. 11, 14.Lead the latter when joined. Indeed, one should lead the vowel-less consonant, placed below, to the latter letter when joined. One should desire delight in that. Why "when joined"? "He abused me, he struck me, he defeated me, he robbed me." Here, it is not joined. Thus, the first chapter in the section on sandhi. Second Chapter 12, 13.Vowels are elided before a vowel. Indeed, vowels are elided when followed by a vowel. Whose faculties have attained tranquility. "No, Venerable Sir, the venerable one is not united with the Sangha." 13, 15.Or the latter if dissimilar. From a vowel, the following dissimilar vowel is elided, or not. "These four things, monks," "What then, these female ascetics?" Why "or not"? "The five faculties," "Three things are abandoned." 14, 16.Sometimes, when the preceding vowel is elided, it becomes dissimilar. Indeed, the following vowel, when the preceding vowel is elided, sometimes becomes dissimilar. "The knower of the Vedas does not go to calculation," "The meeting of relatives." Why "sometimes"? "Whose faculties," "He taught the excellent Dhamma with such a simile." 15, 17.Lengthening. Indeed, the following vowel, when the preceding vowel is elided, sometimes becomes long. "Faith here is the best wealth for a person," "And both by the homeless." Why "sometimes"? "Endowed with five qualities, O Pāli." "There is nothing else." 16, 18.And the preceding. And the preceding vowel, when the following vowel is elided, sometimes becomes long. "What wealth here is best for a person?" "Having assented with 'Good!'" Why "sometimes"? "I" For him, even for a moment. 17, 19. Substitution of 'ya' for the final 'e'. Of the vowel 'e' being at the end, when a vowel follows, sometimes the substitution of 'ya' occurs. This Dhamma has indeed been attained by me, so I would speak thus, so they are abandoned by him. Why "sometimes"? "Not come," thus not in this case. 18, 20. Of those ending in 'o' or 'u', 'va'. Of the vowels 'o' and 'u' being at the end, when a vowel follows, sometimes the substitution of 'va' occurs. Then indeed for him, it becomes for him, much sickness, the object established here always comes into sight. Why "sometimes"? "These four things, monks," "what now, nuns?" 19, 22. 'Sabba' and 'ca'. This word 'ti', when a consonant or vowel follows, sometimes obtains 'ca'. This is skillful, this is to be said by him, having replied, he brings back. Why "sometimes"? "For him, even for a moment." 20, 27. 'Da' for 'dha' and 'ca'. Of this 'dha', when a vowel follows, sometimes the substitution of 'da' occurs. On one occasion, monks, I. Why "sometimes"? "Death will occur right here." By taking the group, the substitution of 'ha' for 'dha' occurs: "Good is the sight of the noble ones." By division of the rule, it may be in many ways: 'Ta' for 'da', as in? Sugata. 'Ṭa' for 'ta', as in? Dukkaṭa. 'Dha' for 'ta', as in? Gandhabba. 'Tra' for 'tta', as in? Atrajo. 'Ka' for 'ga', as in? Kulūpako. 'La' for 'ra', as in? Mahāsālo. 'Ja' for 'ya', as in? Gavajo. 'Bba' for 'va', as in? Kubbato. 'Ka' for 'ya', as in? Sake. 'Ya' for 'ja', as in? Niyaṃputtaṃ. 'Ka' for 'ta', as in? Niyako. 'Cca' for 'tta', as in? Bhacco. 'Pha' for 'pa', as in? Nipphatti. 'Kha' for 'ka', as in? Nikkhamati. And so on, these should be applied. 21, 21. The vowel 'i', 'ya', or not. The preceding vowel 'i', when a vowel follows, obtains 'ya' optionally. For him, of the welcoming speech, all is experienced. Why "optionally"? "Endowed with five factors," "free giver, not arrogant." 22, 28. Of 'eva' etc., 'ri', and the preceding (vowel) is short. Of that which follows a vowel, of the 'e' at the beginning of 'eva', 'ri' occurs, and the preceding vowel becomes short optionally. Just as if the earth element. And all is enough, likewise, a virtuous one is well-worshipped. Why "Navāti"? Just as it is, so it is. Thus, the second chapter in the Sandhikappa. Third Chapter 23, 26. Vowels are natural in consonants. Indeed, vowels become natural forms when followed by consonants. Mind is the forerunner of all states, heedlessness is the path to death, he crossed over, gone to the other shore. 24, 35. Vowels sometimes. Indeed, vowels sometimes become natural forms when followed by vowels. Who will illuminate this earth? Why "sometimes"? This person is of little learning. 25, 37. Lengthening. Indeed, vowels sometimes attain lengthening when followed by consonants. Rightly discerning the Dhamma, thus a sage should wander in the village, patience is the highest austerity, forbearance. Why "sometimes"? Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices, he shrinks back, he is struck down. 26, 38. Shortening. Indeed, vowels sometimes attain shortening when followed by consonants. He is called a "Bhovādin", he is so by virtue of his nature. Why "sometimes"? Right concentration, Sāvittī is the mouth of the meter, life is led to a short span. 27, 39. And elision, there an 'a' sound. Indeed, vowels sometimes attain elision when followed by consonants. And when elision has occurred, an 'a' sound is inserted. He is virtuous. He is wise, this Dhamma is ancient, he indeed deserves the saffron robe, he might even be desirous of honor, he, the sage, saw the fear of birth. Why "sometimes"? That sage, this Dhamma is evident, he does not deserve the saffron robe. 28, 40. Duplication of the following in position. The consonant following a vowel is duplicated in position. Here heedlessness, of a person, a being, I will proclaim renunciation, fourteenth, fifteenth, the moon is more radiant. Why "in position"? Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices. 29, 42. Third and first of voiced and unvoiced in a class. Indeed, the third and first letters of the preceding consonants, which are voiced and unvoiced, respectively, are duplicated in position after a vowel. This indeed is the fruit of meditation, where established, death cannot overcome, like one standing on a mountain peak, these four positions for a heedless person. Why does it remove? Here, it firmly grasps the mind with strength. Thus, the third section in the Sandhikappa. Fourth Section 30, 58. Niggahita in a consonant. Indeed, niggahita becomes aṃ when followed by a consonant. When this was said, having assented, "That is good." 31, 49. Or the end of the class in a class consonant. Indeed, niggahita obtains the end of the class, or not, when followed by a consonant belonging to a class.