[Buddha-l] MMK 25.09 (was: as Swami goes...)

[Richard Hayes]

On Apr 29, 2010, at 9:48 AM, Jim Anderson wrote:

> Dear readers of this discussion,
> 
> I would like to contribute the following translation which is very
> different from all the translations I've seen so far and this one may
> even be out of whack with Nagarjuna's ideas.
> 
>> ya ājavaṃjavībhāva upādāya pratītya vā |
>> so 'pratītyānupādāya nirvāṇam upadiśyate || MMK_25,09
> 
> That which has the nature of going (ceasing) -- derived from or
>      dependent on coming (arising),
> Not dependent on nor derived from nirvāṇa -- is pointed out
>      (or taught).
> 
> This translation is based on taking "ājavaṃjavībhāva" as two words
> "ājavaṃ javībhāva" with "ājavaṃ" as the accusative object of the two
> absolutives on the first line.

You can't use the accusative as the direct object of a verbal noun.

> If "ājavaṃjavībhāva" is really just one word, then all four
> absolutives would have "nirvāṇam" as their object.

That is also impossible, since the gerunds are in different clauses. A word in the main clause cannot be the direct object of a gerund in the subordinate clause.

Richard