sutta » sn » sn1 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.60

Kavisutta

A Poet Poetry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jarāvaggo chaṭṭho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Jarā ajarasā mittaṁ,

vatthu tīṇi janāni ca;

Uppatho ca dutiyo ca,

kavinā pūrito vaggoti.