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SN 1.60PTS (1st ed) SN 1.381 min read

A Poet

Kavisutta

A pair of verses on the nature of poetry, and lacking a Dhamma counterpart.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.60Linked Discourses 1.60
  • 0.26. Jarāvagga6. Old Age

0.3KavisuttaA Poet

1.1“Kiṁsu nidānaṁ gāthānaṁ,“What’s the source of verses?11.2kiṁsu tāsaṁ viyañjanaṁ;What constitutes their phrasing?1.3Kiṁsu sannissitā gāthā,What do verses depend upon?1.4kiṁsu gāthānamāsayo”ti.What underlies verses?”

2.1“Chando nidānaṁ gāthānaṁ,“Metre is the source of verses.22.2akkharā tāsaṁ viyañjanaṁ;Syllables constitute their phrasing.32.3Nāmasannissitā gāthā,Verses depend on names.42.4kavi gāthānamāsayo”ti.A poet underlies verses.”5

2.5Jarāvaggo chaṭṭho.

3.0Tassuddānaṁ

3.1Jarā ajarasā mittaṁ,3.2vatthu tīṇi janāni ca;3.3Uppatho ca dutiyo ca,3.4kavinā pūrito vaggoti.

Translator’s notes

  1. In this short discourse the Buddha articulates a naturalistic theory of poetry.

    ↩ sn1.60:1.1

  2. Rig Veda 10.90.9 says that verses, chants, and metres were born, rather, from the sacrifice.

    ↩ sn1.60:2.1

  3. The akkhara (“syllable”) is the smallest indivisible morpheme, typically consisting of a consonant bound with a vowel. Mystically, it is the “imperishable” Divinity within all things. The “phrasing” (viyañjana) is the complex linguistic expression. Verses and other expressions are often counted by their syllables (eg. Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 6.2.1.22, 6.2.2.33, 6.3.1.43).

    ↩ sn1.60:2.2

  4. Chāndogya Upaniṣad 7.1.4 defines “name” (nāma) as the Vedic texts and sciences.

    ↩ sn1.60:2.3

  5. The Buddha uses the worldly word for “poet” (kavi) instead of the divinely-inspired Vedic “seer” (isi).

    ↩ sn1.60:2.4