Gāthā Sentence Translation Sentence Structure
Vocabulary&Grammar Commentary Pronunciation
List of Abbreviations

uṭṭhānavato satīmato sucikammassa nisammakārino

saññatassa dhammajīvino appamattassa yasobhivaḍḍhati

(DhP 24)



Translation:

The good repute of someone, who is energetic, mindful, of pure deeds, acting
considerately, self-controlled, living righteously and conscientious, increases.



Sentence Structure:

List of Abbreviations

uṭṭhānavato satīmato suci+kammassa nisamma+kārino
|                      |           |            |               |          |

Adj.m.       Adj.m.    Adj.      N.m.         Adv.   Adj.m.

Gen.Sg.     Gen.Sg.      |      Gen.Sg.          |      Gen.Sg.

|                      |           |_______|              |______|

|____________|__________|_______________|______________________

List of Abbreviations

saññatassa dhamma+jīvino   a+ppamattassa   yaso   abhivaḍḍhati
    |                 |           |         |            |             |                |

Adj.m.        N.m.  Adj.m.   neg.   Adj.m.       N.n.       V.act.in.

Gen.Sg.          |    Gen.Sg.     |     Gen.Sg.   Nom.Sg.   3.Sg.pres.

    |                 |______|         |_______|            |                 |

__|_____________|____________|                  |                 |

                                     |_________________|                 |

                                                     |__________________|



Vocabulary and Grammar:

List of Abbreviations

uṭṭhānavato: uṭṭhānavant-, Adj.: energetic, strenuous, active. The word uṭṭhāna-, N.n.: exertion, zeal, energy (derived from the verb ṭhā-,to stand, with the prefix ud-, up) with the possessive suffix -vant. Gen.Sg.m. = uṭṭhānavato.

satīmato: satimant-, Adj.: mindful, wakeful. The word sati-, N.f.: mindfulness, wakefulness, alertness, with the possessive suffix -mant. The form satīmant- is used in poetry. Gen.Sg.m. = satīmato.

sucikammassa: sucikamma-, N.m.: [a person] of pure actions. A compound of:
    suci-, Adj.: clear, pure.

    kamma-, N.n.: deed, action. Derived from the verb kar-, to do.

Gen.Sg. of the compound = sucikammassa.

List of Abbreviations

nisammakārino: nisammakārin-, N.m.: [a person] acting considerately. A compound of:
    nisamma-, Adv.: carefully, considerately. Originally a ger. of the verb sam- (to be

    appeased, to be calmed) with the prefix ni- (down).

    kārin-, Adj.m.: acting, doing. Derived from the verb kar- (to do).

Gen.Sg. of the compound = nisammakārino.

saññatassa: saññata-, Adj.: restrained, self-controlled. A p.p. of the verb yam- (to restrain, to become tranquil) with the prefix sam- (together). Gen.Sg. = saññatassa.

dhammajīvino: dhammajīvin-, N.m.: living righteously. A compound of:
    dhamma-, N.m.: Law, Buddha's teaching, righteousness. Derived from

    the verb dha-, to hold.

    jīvin-, Adj.m.: living. Derived from the verb jīv- (to live).

Gen.Sg. of the compound = dhammajīvino.

List of Abbreviations

appamattassa: appamatta-, Adj.: conscientious, non-negligent. A negated (by the negative prefix a-) word pamatta-, Adj.: negligent. It is a p.p. of the verb mad- (to be intoxicated) with the strengthening prefix pa- (thus pamajjati = to be careless, to neglect).
Doubled p is due to the euphonic combination (a + pamatta = appamatta).

Gen.Sg.m. = appamattassa.

yaso: yasa-, N.n.: glory, fame, repute. Nom.Sg. = yaso.

abhivaḍḍhati, V.: increases, grows. The verb vaḍḍh- (to grow) with the prefix abhi- (all over, fully). 3.Sg.act.in.pres. = abhivaḍḍhati.

List of Abbreviations
 
    The subject of this sentence is the word yaso (good repute, nominative singular). The verb is abhivaḍḍhati (grows, 3rd person, singular, active, indicative, present tense). The subject has seven attributes, all of which are in genitive singular. They are: uṭṭhānavato (of an energetic one), satīmato (of a mindful one), sucikammassa (of a person of pure deeds), nisammakārino (of one who is acting considerately), saññatassa (of a self-controlled one), dhammajīvino (of one living righteously) and appamattassa (of a conscientious one).



Commentary:

    The story says that there was an heir of a rich family, named Kumbhaghosaka, once in the city of Rājagaha. His parents died in the epidemic and he alone escaped and lived in the forest for some time. When he returned, nobody recognized him. He did not want to use the family wealth (which was buried in a safe place) out of fear that people might think he found it accidentally and thus the king might confiscate it. So he found a job (waking people in the morning) and lived a poor life.
    But the king saw him once and recognized that his voice and manners are of a man of great wealth. He then sent his maid to investigate. At the end he summoned Kumbhaghosaka to the court. There the young man told him the story and the king made him a banker and gave his daughter in marriage to him.

    When the Buddha heard about it, he spoke this verse.

    If one always acts properly, with energy and mindfulness, applies self-control and consideration, is always conscientious, his good repute will increase, because people will know that he is a man of honor, that they can trust him. And they will report this to the others - who will then come to see for themselves, again telling other people about this. So the good word will spread around and everybody will trust such a person.



Sentence pronunciation:

Sentence pronunciation

Word pronunciation:

uṭṭhānavato
satīmato

sucikammassa

nisammakārino

saññatassa

dhammajīvino

appamattassa

yaso

abhivaḍḍhati