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Karaniya Metta Sutta Snp 1.8 | translation guide

Continuing my look at the Sutta Nipata, - which contains some of the oldest portion of the canon. This translation guide analyses the Mettā Sutta (Snp 1.8) which, is perhaps the most popular discourse for reciting. It is a poem on the virtues of mettā, loving-kindness. It is a brief set of ten verse which lays out the ethical foundations for good will, and shows how to develop it in meditation. The word “Metta” is derived from the Pali word “Mitta” meaning “friend”. In the English, it has been translated as kindness, loving kindness, love and goodwill.

Verse composition can throw up challenges to the amateur translator as it often employs alternate forms of words according to the needs of the metre. As such, we may find some unusual archaic endings in verse, or instances where words have been altered (vowel lengths, dropping of a niggahãta etc.) in order to meet the metre. And several examples of these can be found in the verses below.

The Sutta is found in two books of the Khuddaka Nikaya, (minor) discourses namely, the Sutta nipatha and the Khuddakapatha. Scholars have classified it under differing number schemes, e.g. KN 5.1.8 (KN 5.8) Snp 1.8 (Karaniya) Metta Sutta  Sn vs.143-152 PTS: Sn pg.25,
and also
KN 1.9 Khp 9 Mettā (Karaniya Metta) Sutta PTS: Kh pg.8 For other translations see: SuttaCentral Snp 1.8
Access-to-Insight Snp 1.8 For metre see: Ancient-buddhist-texts Mettasuttaṁ You may find the following dictionaries useful: Pali English Dictionary
 (See also PED lookup tool)
Critical Pali Dictionary
 (Incomplete -but very useful)

Again please note, this attempt at translation is for illustration and as such it is very literal and endeavours to remain true to the underlying grammar.

You can find more of my sutta translation exercises here.

The Mettā Sutta - Good Will.

karaṇīya-m-attha1-kusalena
fppins
nn
sgl
ought to doskillful in prosperity/matters
(This) ought to be done by the skillful in success
yanta2 santaṃpadaṃabhisamecca3
accaccaccabsol
nnn
sglsglsgl
he who peace; calm;path/statehaving realised
who having realised that still path/state
sakkoujūcasuhujūca
nomnomprtnomprt
mmm
sglplpl
capablestraight, uprightandvery upright
capable, upright & erect
suvacoca-assa4 muduanatimānī
nompr.opt.3rdnomnom
mmm
sglsglsglsgl
well spokenand he should besoft, mildfree from pride
& well-spoken, meek, free from pride, One should be
santussakocasubharoca
nomprtnomprt
mm
sglsgl
content, satisfiedandeasily supported
Satisfied & easily supported
appakiccocasallahuka-vutti
nomprtnom
mn
sglsgl
(with) few dutiesand of frugal living
[with] few obligations, & living lightly
santindriyacanipakoca
nomprtnom
mm
sglsgl
faculties calmedandastute, wise
faculties calmed & astute
appagabbhokulesv5 -ananugiddho
nomlocnom
mm
sglsgl
courteous; respectful;
in family without desire
courteous; without desire for family/support
nacakhudda-m-ācarekiñci
prtprtpr.opt.3rdnom
n
sglsgl
pn-indef
notandsmallhe should doanything
& One should not do any small thing,
yenaviññūpareupavadeyyuṃ
insnomnompr.opt.3rd
nnn
sglplplpl
by which
wise onesothersmay blame, criticize
by which other wise ones might find fault
sukhinovakheminohontu
nomprtnompr.imp.3rd
mm
plplpl
happyandsafe, securemay they be
may they be happy & secure
sabba-sattābhavantusukhita-attā
 nompr.imp.3rd nom
mm
plplpl
all beingsmay they behappy in self
may all beings be happy
yekecipāṇabhūta-atthi
nomnompr.3rd
mm
plplpl
pn-relpn-indef
whatever,
anybreathing beingthere are
Any, whatsoever, living beings there are
tasāvāthāvarā6va-anavasesā
nomprtnomprtnom
mmm
plplpl
mobileorimmobileorwithout any remainder
without exception, moving or stationary
dīghāvāyevamahantā
nomnomnom
mmm
plplpl
pn-rel
longorwhicheverorlarge, extensive
whether, long or large
majjhimārassakā aṇuka-thūlā7
nomnomnom
mmm
plplpl
mediumshortsubtle or coarse
medium (or) short, subtle or coarse
diṭṭhāvāyevaadiṭṭhā
nomnomnom
mmm
plplpl
pn-rel
seenorwhatever
orunseen
Whether, seen or unseen
yevadūrevasantiavidūre
nomprtadvpr.3rdadv
m
plplpl
pn-rel
whatever
or
far offthey livenear
or whether they live far off (or) near by
bhūtāvasambhavesīva
nomprtnomprt
mm
plpl
become, grownorseeking to be,
(those) become or seeking to be
sabba-sattābhavantusukhita-attā
 nompr.imp.3rd nom
mm
plplpl
all beingsmay they behappy in self
may all [these] beings be happy
naparoparaṃnikubbetha
prtnomaccpr.opt.3rd
mm[rfx]
sglsglsgl
nototheranotherdeceives, cheats
One should not deceive another
nātimaññethakatthacina'8kañci
pr.opt.3rdadvprtacc
[rfx]m
plsgl
pn-indef
do not despisesomewherehimanyone
nor despise him anyone anywhere
byārosanāpaṭighasaññā
instinst
ff
sglsgl
via angervia recognition of resentment
[though] infuriated, repulsed
nāñña-m-aññassadukkhama-iccheyya
prtdatadjpr.opt.3rd
m
sglsgl
not for one anotherhard to toleratehe may wish
may One not wish intolerance for one to another
mātāyathāniyaṃputtaṃ
nomadvaccacc
fmm
sglsglsgl
motherjust asone's ownson, child
Just as a mother her own child
āyusāeka-putta-m-anurakkhe
inspr.opt.3rd
n
sglsgl
lifesingleson, childprotects, guards
would protect as an only child with (her) life
evaṃ-pisabba-bhūtesu
prtloc
m
pl
so tooall beings
so too, towards all beings
mānasaṃbhāvayeaparimāṇaṃ
accpr.opt.3rdacc
nn
sglsglsgl
intention
cultivatelimitless
one should cultivate [that] intention without-limit
mettaṃ-casabba-lokasmi'9
accloc
fm
sglsgl
goodwillallworld
Goodwill towards the entire world
mānasaṃbhāvayeaparimāṇaṃ
accpr.opt.3rdacc
nn
sglsglsgl
intention
cultivatelimitless
one should cultivate [that] intention without-limit
uddhaṃadhocatiriyaṃca
advadvprtadvprt
upwardsdownwardsandsideways
upwards, downwards and across
asambādhaṃavera-m-asapattaṃ
accacc
nn
sglsgl
unrestrictedfree of ill-will & enmity
without barriers, ill-will or hostility
tiṭṭhaṃcaraṃnisinnova
nomnomnomprt
mmm
sglsglsgl
pr.p.pr.p.p.p.
standingwalkingsat downor
Standing, walking, sat or
sayānoyāvatā-assavita-middho
nompr.opt.3rdnom
mn>m
sglsglsgl
pr.p.
lying downas far ashe may beun-drowsy
lying down, as long as One can be alert
etaṃsatiṃadhiṭṭheyya
accaccpr.opt.3rd
ff
sglsglsgl
thisremembering, mindfulhe should resolve
recalling this, One should be resolved
brahma-m-etaṃvihāra-m-idha-m-āhu10
nomperf.3rd
m
sglpl
brahmathisabode/lifeherethey said
this, is called, a (brahma abode) divine life, here (in this world)
diṭṭhiṃ-caanupaggamma
accprtabsol
f
sgl
dogma, theory, beliefandhaving not approached
Avoiding dogma
sīlavādassanenasampanno
nominsnom
mnm
sglsglsgl
virtuousinsightequipped, accomplished (in)
virtuous, endowed with insight
kāmesuvinayagedhaṃ
locpr.imp.2ndacc
mm
plsglsgl
pleasures
dispelsgreed
dispel yearning for pleasures
na hijātu-gabbha-seyya'11puna-r-eti 'ti
prtemphaccpr.3rd
f
sglsgl
certainly notsurely-womb-lyingagain-goes
[and] surely one [will] not return to lying in a womb

Notes:

1 attha has many meanings: gain, advantage, welfare, purpose, affair, matters. Sujato points out that atthakusala can be 'skilled in meaning', eg. 'those skilled in the meaning of scripture', ie. not yet trained in practice.
2 shortened for metre; yantaṃ = yaṃ+taṃ 'the one who' or 'that which'
3 some suggest taking this in an infinitive sense: 'in order to realise'
4 Here assa might be dat of ima, 'for him' or opt.3rd of atthi 'should be'
5 adjusted for metre: kulesu loc of kula
6 tasa: the movable (animal world) & thāvara: the immovable (vegetable world); sometimes trans. as 'trembling/frail & firm'
7 can also be taken as: 'tiny or massive'
8 shortened for metre: naṃ
9 shortened: sabbalokasmiṁ loc sgl 'in the entire world'
10 perf. expressing indefinite time, 'it is said that'
11 shortened gabbhaseyyaṁ acc
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