[INDOLOGY] Pali question

[Chris Clark]

Dear Gleb,

While hitvā is standard Pāli, in this verse hitva is m.c. for hitvā, as pointed out by Norman (2006: 391) in his translation and study of Sn (“The Group of Discourses”). Based on the critical apparatus of the PTS edition, it appears that hitva was the reading found in the editors' Sinhala script manuscript witnesses, while hitvā was the reading found in their Burmese script manuscript witnesses. Neither reading is erroneous.

Regards,
Chris Clark
PhD candidate
University of Sydney

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Dear Dr. Walser,

"-tvā" is perfectly grammatical and standard, while "-tva" isn't (must be a typo. Most PTS editions were made on a basis of only a few MSS.) See Geiger's "A Pāli grammar", §§ 209-210.

With best regards,
Gleb Sharygin

> I was using the CSCD Pali canon and noticed that in the Sutta Nipata, the
> fourth verse of the Upasivamanavapuccha has the line: Ākiñcaññaṃ nissito
> hitvā maññaṃ. The PTS has, Ākiñcaññaṃ nissito hitva maññaṃ;
>
> Is  hitvā (long a) a legitimate variant that appears in the Burmese
> version or the Thai version, or is it a typo?
> Thanks!
>
> -j
>
> Joseph Walser
> Associate Professor
> Department of Religion
> Tufts University