Mahavastu [sanskrit verses and english]

by Émile Senart | 1882 | 56,574 words

This is the Sanskrit Mahavastu: a lengthy work on Buddhist teachings and narratives belonging to the school of early Buddhism (Mahasanghika). This edition only includes those metrical verses occuring in the various stories and Jatakas, as well as the corresponding English translation by J. J. Jones.

Verse 14.20

न शक्यं गगनस्य अन्तं गन्तुं सर्वविहंगमैः ।
न शक्यं सर्वसत्वेहि गुणा ज्ञातुं स्वयम्भुवाम् इति ॥ २० ॥

na śakyaṃ gaganasya antaṃ gantuṃ sarvavihaṃgamaiḥ |
na śakyaṃ sarvasatvehi guṇā jñātuṃ svayambhuvām iti || 20 ||

As it is not possible for any bird to reach the confines of the sky, so is it not possible for any man to comprehend the good qualities of the self-becoming Buddhas. (20)

English translation by J. J. Jones (1949) Read online

Glossary of Sanskrit terms

Note: This extracts Sanskrit terms and links to English definitions from the glossary, based on an experimental segmentation of verse (14.20). Some terms could be superfluous while some might not be mentioned. Click on the word to show English definitions.

Shakya, Gagana, Antam, Anta, Gantu, Sarva, Vihangama, Sarvasatva, Guna, Svayambhu, Svayambhuva, Iti,

Analysis of Sanskrit grammar

Note: this is an experimental feature and only shows the first possible analysis of the Sanskrit text (Mahavastu Verse 14.20). If the system was successful in segmenting the sentence, you will see of which words it is made up of, generally consisting of Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Participles and Indeclinables. Click on the link to show all possible derivations of the word.

  • Line 1: “na śakyaṃ gaganasya antaṃ gantuṃ sarvavihaṃgamaiḥ
  • na -
  • na (indeclinable particle)
    [indeclinable particle]
    na (noun, masculine)
    [compound], [vocative single]
    na (noun, neuter)
    [compound], [vocative single]
  • śakyam -
  • śakya (noun, masculine)
    [adverb], [accusative single]
    śakya (noun, neuter)
    [adverb], [nominative single], [accusative single]
    śakyā (noun, feminine)
    [adverb]
    śak -> śakya (participle, masculine)
    [accusative single from √śak class 5 verb]
    śak -> śakya (participle, neuter)
    [nominative single from √śak class 5 verb], [accusative single from √śak class 5 verb]
  • gaganasya -
  • gagana (noun, neuter)
    [genitive single]
  • antam -
  • antam (indeclinable)
    [indeclinable]
    anta (noun, masculine)
    [adverb], [accusative single]
    anta (noun, neuter)
    [adverb], [nominative single], [accusative single]
    antā (noun, feminine)
    [adverb]
  • gantum -
  • gam -> gantum (infinitive)
    [infinitive from √gam]
    gam -> gantum (infinitive)
    [infinitive from √gam]
    gam -> gantum (infinitive)
    [infinitive from √gam]
    gantu (noun, masculine)
    [accusative single]
  • sarva -
  • sarva (noun, neuter)
    [compound], [vocative single]
    sarva (noun, masculine)
    [vocative single]
  • vihaṅgamaiḥ -
  • vihaṅgama (noun, masculine)
    [instrumental plural]
    vihaṅgama (noun, neuter)
    [instrumental plural]
  • Line 2: “na śakyaṃ sarvasatvehi guṇā jñātuṃ svayambhuvām iti
  • na -
  • na (indeclinable particle)
    [indeclinable particle]
    na (noun, masculine)
    [compound], [vocative single]
    na (noun, neuter)
    [compound], [vocative single]
  • śakyam -
  • śakya (noun, masculine)
    [adverb], [accusative single]
    śakya (noun, neuter)
    [adverb], [nominative single], [accusative single]
    śakyā (noun, feminine)
    [adverb]
    śak -> śakya (participle, masculine)
    [accusative single from √śak class 5 verb]
    śak -> śakya (participle, neuter)
    [nominative single from √śak class 5 verb], [accusative single from √śak class 5 verb]
  • sarvasatve -
  • sarvasatva (noun, masculine)
    [compound], [vocative single], [locative single]
    sarvasatva (noun, neuter)
    [compound], [nominative dual], [vocative single], [vocative dual], [accusative dual], [locative single]
  • ihi -
  • i (verb class 2)
    [imperative active second single]
  • guṇā* -
  • guṇa (noun, masculine)
    [nominative plural], [vocative plural]
    guṇā (noun, feminine)
    [nominative plural], [vocative plural], [accusative plural]
  • jñātum -
  • jñā -> jñātum (infinitive)
    [infinitive from √jñā]
    jñā -> jñātum (infinitive)
    [infinitive from √jñā]
  • svayambhuvām -
  • svayambhū (noun, feminine)
    [genitive plural], [locative single]
    svayambhuvā (noun, feminine)
    [accusative single]
  • iti -
  • iti (indeclinable particle)
    [indeclinable particle]
    iti (noun, feminine)
    [compound], [adverb]

Other editions:

Also see the following editions of the Sanskrit text or (alternative) English translations of the Mahavastu Verse 14.20

Cover of edition (1949)

The Mahavastu
by J. J. Jones (1949)

Translated from the Buddhist Sanskrit

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