Verses¶
A single Excellent Night
Bhadd'eka-ratta
[Mn 131]
atītaṃ n'ānvāgameyya, nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṃ. yad-atītam'pahīnan'taṃ, appattañ'ca anāgataṃ.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| atītaṃ | adj (as noun) | nt.acc.sg | (what is) past, gone past |
| n'ānvāgameyya | verb | opt.3.sg | could/should not follow; should not return, chase after, run back |
| nappaṭikaṅkhe | verb | opt.3.sg | could/should not wish for, should not long for, live in expectation, place expectations |
| anāgataṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | future, lit. not come |
| yad | pron | nt.nom.sg | whichever, whatever, that which (object) |
| atītaṃ- | noun | nt.nom.sg | (what is) past, the past |
| pahīnaṃ | pp | nt.nom.sg | abandoned, dispelled, eliminated, removed given up |
| taṃ | pron | nt.nom.sg | that |
| appattaṃ- | pp | nt.nom.sg | not attained, not reached, not gained, not found |
| ca | ind | and | |
| anāgataṃ | noun | nt.nom.sg | future, lit. not come |
One should not follow the past, one should not wish for the future. Whatever is past that is given up, the future - not (yet) attained.
paccuppannañ'ca yaṃ dhammaṃ, tattha tattha vipassati.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| paccuppannañ- | adj | masc.acc.sg | present, existing, current |
| ca | ind | and | |
| yaṃ | pron | masc.acc.sg | whatever, whichever, that which |
| dhammaṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | (mental) state |
| tattha tattha | ind | in each and every case, lit. there and there ind | right there, here and now, lit. there and there |
| vipassati | verb | pr.3.sg | sees deeply (into), sees in detail, understands with insight |
And he understands with insight right there any state which is presently arisen. (or)
And he understands with insight in each and every case a state which is presently arisen.
asaṃhiraṃ asaṅkuppaṃ, taṃ vidvā m-anubrūhaye.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| asaṃhiraṃ | adj (or as noun) | masc.acc.sg | (what is) immovable, unconquerable, irrefutable |
| asaṅkuppaṃ | adj (or as noun) | masc.acc.sg | (what is) not to be shaken; immovable; steady |
| taṃ | pron | masc.acc.sg | that |
| vidvā | masc | masc.nom.sg | wise |
| m-anubrūhaye | verb | opt.3.sg | should foster, nurture, develop, lit. cause to increase |
One who is wise should cultivate that immovable and steady [state].
ajj'eva kiccam'ātappaṃ, ko jaññā maraṇaṃ suve. na hi no saṅgaran'tena, mahā-senena maccunā.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ajja- | ind | today, now | |
| eva | ind | emph | only, just, so, even |
| kiccam- | ptp | nt.nom.sg | should be made, ought to be done |
| ātappaṃ | noun | nt.nom.sg | effort, exertion |
| ko | pron | masc.nom.sg | who? what? which? |
| jaññā | verb | opt.3.sg | could know, must understand |
| maraṇaṃ | noun | nt.acc.sg | death |
| suve | ind | tomorrow | |
| na | ind | not | |
| hi | ind | emph | indeed, certainly, truly, definitely |
| no | ind | then, now, indeed | |
| saṅgaran- | noun | nt.nom.sg. | promise, agreement |
| tena | pron | masc.ins.sg | with him, with that, by that |
| mahā- | adj | great, large, powerful, grand, vast, extensive | |
| senena | noun | masc.ins.sg | with army |
| maccunā | noun | masc.ins.sg | with death, Death, Mara |
Just today, an effort should be made. Who could know, death (may come) tomorrow. Indeed there is no agreement with Death and (his) great army.
evaṃ vihārim'ātāpiṃ, ahorattam'atanditaṃ. taṃ ve bhadd'eka-ratto'ti, santo ācikkhate muni.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| evaṃ | ind | thus, this, like this, just as, such | |
| vihārim- | adj (as noun) | masc.acc.sg | one who lives (in a state of), (one) living |
| ātāpiṃ | adj | masc.acc.sg | ardent, zealous, with continuous effort, lit. burning |
| ahorattam- | ind | nt.acc.sg. | day and night; continuously; continually |
| atanditaṃ | adj | masc.acc.sg | energetic, effortful, active, alert, lit. not lazy |
| taṃ | pron | masc.acc.sg | that, him |
| ve | ind | indeed, truly, really | |
| bhadda- | adj | good, lucky, auspicious | |
| eka- | adj | one | |
| ratto- | noun | night | |
| ti – | ind | ” | |
| santo | adj | masc.nom.sg | still, calm, at peace, tranquil |
| ācikkhate | verb | reflex.opt.3.sg | would tell by himself, describes, points out, teaches |
| muni | noun | masc.nom.sg | monk, sage, seer, hermit, silent sage |
Thus staying ardent day and night, effortful – he (has) indeed an auspicious night – the peaceful sage could tell.