sutta » sn » sn1 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.60

Kavisutta

Poetry A Poet

“Kiṁsu nidānaṁ gāthānaṁ,
“What is the scaffolding of verses?
“What’s the basis of verses?

kiṁsu tāsaṁ viyañjanaṁ;
What constitutes their phrasing?
What’s their detailed expression?

Kiṁsu sannissitā gāthā,
On what base do verses rest?
What do verses depend upon?

kiṁsu gāthānamāsayo”ti.
What is the abode of verses?”
What underlies verses?”

“Chando nidānaṁ gāthānaṁ,
“Metre is the scaffolding of verses;
“Metre is the basis of verses.

akkharā tāsaṁ viyañjanaṁ;
Syllables constitute their phrasing;
Syllables are their detailed expression.

Nāmasannissitā gāthā,
Verses rest on a base of names;
Verses depend on names.

kavi gāthānamāsayo”ti.
The poet is the abode of verses. ”
A poet underlies verses.”

Jarāvaggo chaṭṭho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Jarā ajarasā mittaṁ,

vatthu tīṇi janāni ca;

Uppatho ca dutiyo ca,

kavinā pūrito vaggoti.