lothea thole
The Practice of Love
This close translation of the Karaniya Metta Sutta into Phi follows V. Fausböll's 1881 English and is the language's first complete text. Every claim and image in that English source has a place in Phi. When a source term must be composed or a distinction narrows, the notes and gap log say so.
The source is the Pali Karaniya Metta Sutta (Sn 1.8). The English ground truth is V. Fausböll's translation of the Sutta-Nipâta (Sacred Books of the East, volume X, part II, second edition; first published 1881), stored verbatim in texts/sources/sutta_nipata_fausboll.txt. Its scan spellings, broken words, and punctuation remain in the citations. All ten verses are represented.
Each block has four lines: the Phi sentence, its word-by-word gloss, a literal English back-translation, and the exact part of Fausböll behind it. The back-translation stays close to the Phi so that a reader can judge the transfer without first knowing the language.
The text
01The one seeking good
[whu [welao sheraki] thesani phelu] miona theula [whu phoa phelona] thena na phoa.
Word-by-word gloss: [REL [good search] skill hold] person UNIV [REL do require] thing NEC do.
Literal English: (The person who has skill in searching for goodness must do every thing that requires action.)
fausboll: 1. Whatever is to be done by one who is skilful in seeking (what is) good,
shia noalu ki kelu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG tranquil PFV become.
Literal English: (They have become tranquil.)
fausboll: having attained that tran- quil state (of Nibbana) :—
su shia po phoa. su shia wero nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG POT do. OPT 3SG honest be.
Literal English: (May they be able to act. May they be honest.)
fausboll: Let him be able and upright
su shia thesa nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG careful be.
Literal English: (May they be careful.)
fausboll: and conscientious
su shia moli haolu. su shia moli nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG gentle speak. OPT 3SG gentle be.
Literal English: (May they speak gently. May they be gentle.)
fausboll: and of soft speech, gentle,
su shia thoru ma nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG proud NEG be.
Literal English: (May they not be proud.)
fausboll: not proud,
02Few burdens
su shia nuloe nai. su shia roe phina riola se panoru.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG content be. OPT 3SG INS FEW labor PASS support.
Literal English: (May they be content. May they be supported with little labor.)
fausboll: 2. And contented and easily supported
su shia phina naseru phelu. su shia whuo tupeka nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG FEW obligation hold. OPT 3SG WITHOUT burden be.
Literal English: (May they have few obligations. May they be without burden.)
fausboll: and having few cares, unburdened
su shia lo morae shena nai. su shia phue nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG PL sense calm be. OPT 3SG wise be.
Literal English: (May their senses be calm. May they be wise.)
fausboll: and with his senses calmed and wise,
su shia motu nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG humble be.
Literal English: (May they be humble.)
fausboll: not arrogant,
su shia thoa lo lumani ro thalo. su shia tha shia thoa lo lumani sheloi thena pilu tho ma rinu.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG AMONG PL family HAB walk. OPT 3SG DECL.COMP 3SG AMONG PL family MANY thing take DECL.COMP.CLOSE NEG want.
Literal English: (May they make their round among families. May they not want to take many things among the families.)
fausboll: without (showing) greediness (when going his round) in families.
03The wish for every creature
su shia [whu lo phue miona tha ha thena peloma nai tho po sherewa] thena ma phoa.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG [REL PL wise person DECL.COMP PROX thing harmful be DECL.COMP.CLOSE POT claim] thing NEG do.
Literal English: (May they not do a thing that wise people might claim is harmful.)
fausboll: 3. And let him not do anything mean for which others who are wise might reprove (him);
su theula limoe siora nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT UNIV creature joy be.
Literal English: (May every creature be joyful.)
fausboll: may all beings be happy
su theula limoe shurano nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT UNIV creature safe be.
Literal English: (May every creature be safe.)
fausboll: and secure,
su theula limoe siora korua phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT UNIV creature joy heart hold.
Literal English: (May every creature hold a joyful heart.)
fausboll: may they be happy- minded.
04Every size and strength
theula lima limoe.
Word-by-word gloss: UNIV alive creature.
Literal English: (Every living creature.)
fausboll: 4. Whatever living beings there are,
[whu huwa nai] sola [whu kema nai].
Word-by-word gloss: [REL weak be] DISJ [REL strong be].
Literal English: (Those who are weak or those who are strong.)
fausboll: either feeble or strong,
[whu laeno nai] sola [whu ru whalo nai].
Word-by-word gloss: [REL long be] DISJ [REL INTS large be].
Literal English: (Those who are long or those who are very large.)
fausboll: all either long or great,
[whu kesho ponalu phelu] sola [whu teku nai].
Word-by-word gloss: [REL middle size hold] DISJ [REL short be].
Literal English: (Those who have middle size or those who are short.)
fausboll: middle-sized, short,
[whu thiku nai] sola [whu whalo nai].
Word-by-word gloss: [REL small be] DISJ [REL large be].
Literal English: (Those who are small or those who are large.)
fausboll: small or large,
05Seen and unseen
[whu se nila] sola [whu se ma nila].
Word-by-word gloss: [REL PASS see] DISJ [REL PASS NEG see].
Literal English: (Those who are seen or those who are not seen.)
fausboll: 5. Either seen or which are not seen,
[whu wuero menui] sola [whu noshi menui].
Word-by-word gloss: [REL far dwell] DISJ [REL near dwell].
Literal English: (Those who dwell far away or those who dwell near.)
fausboll: and which live far (or) near,
[whu ki thowia] sola [whu wea thowia shua].
Word-by-word gloss: [REL PFV born] DISJ [REL TOWARD born come].
Literal English: (Those who have been born or those coming toward birth.)
fausboll: either born or seeking birth,
su theula limoe siora korua phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT UNIV creature joy heart hold.
Literal English: (May every creature hold a joyful heart.)
fausboll: may al] creatures be happy-minded.
06No deception or contempt
su mawha miona roe peshu shia phelira ka nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT NONE person INS lie 3SG mistaken CAUS be.
Literal English: (May no person cause another to be mistaken through deception.)
fausboll: 6. Let no one deceive another,
su mawha miona mua theula lokue shia thiku nila.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT NONE person LOC UNIV place 3SG small see.
Literal English: (May no person, in any place, see another as small.)
fausboll: let him not despise (another) in any place,
su mawha miona lue korua thero sola lue laeno thimu korua thero wei shia peloma pula.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT NONE person ABL heart fire DISJ ABL long time heart fire DAT 3SG harmful wish.
Literal English: (May no person, from heart-fire or long-held heart-fire, wish harm to another.)
fausboll: let him not out of anger or resentment wish harm to another.
07The unbounded friendly mind
phea [whu miso lioru mua pukea nai nela miso ta lopia shorupo] thowia phao.
Word-by-word gloss: AS [REL REFL life LOC danger be COORD REFL one child protect] born parent.
Literal English: (Like a birth parent whose own life is in danger and who protects their own one child.)
fausboll: 7, As a mother at the risk of her life watches over her own child, her only child,
su theula miona wea theula limoe [mawha norui lothea korua] sorila.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT UNIV person TOWARD UNIV creature [NONE boundary love heart] cultivate.
Literal English: (May every person cultivate a loving heart without boundary toward every creature.)
fausboll: so also let every one cultivate a boundless (friendly) mind towards all beings.
08Above, below, and around
su shia wea theula lokue lothea sorila.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG TOWARD UNIV place love cultivate.
Literal English: (May they cultivate love toward every place in the world.)
fausboll: 8. And let him cultivate goodwill towards all the world,
su shia [mawha norui lothea korua] sorila.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG [NONE boundary love heart] cultivate.
Literal English: (May they cultivate a loving heart without boundary.)
fausboll: a boundless (friendly) mind,
su shia leo muila nela phou muila nela roa muila ha korua sorila.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG ABOVE earth COORD BELOW earth COORD AROUND earth PROX heart cultivate.
Literal English: (May they cultivate this heart above the earth, below it, and around it.)
fausboll: above and below and across,
su ha korua nuwi nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT PROX heart clear be.
Literal English: (May this heart be clear of obstruction.)
fausboll: unobstructed,
su ha korua whuo korua thero nai. su ha korua whuo laeno thimu korua thero nai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT PROX heart WITHOUT heart fire be. OPT PROX heart WITHOUT long time heart fire be.
Literal English: (May this heart be without heart-fire. May it be without long-held heart-fire.)
fausboll: without hatred, without enmity.
09Devotion while awake
su shia sui [whano sola thalo sola meilo sola ruemi] sui waeli wei ha korua miso menai.
Word-by-word gloss: OPT 3SG DUR [stand DISJ walk DISJ sit DISJ lie down] DUR conscious DAT PROX heart REFL dedicate.
Literal English: (Throughout wakefulness, whether standing, walking, sitting, or lying down, may they dedicate themself to this heart.)
fausboll: 9. Standing, walking or sitting or lying, as long as he be awake, let him devote himself to this mind
ha liona ruela mua ha muila mo ko welao ti nai.
Word-by-word gloss: PROX live path LOC PROX earth CMPR FOC good REP be.
Literal English: (This way of living is reportedly the best in this world.)
fausboll: this (way of) living they say is the best in this world.
10Insight and the end of return
[whu lo remo kire ma phelu] miona welao phoa.
Word-by-word gloss: [REL PL think shape NEG hold] person good do.
Literal English: (The person who does not hold fixed thought-shapes acts well.)
fausboll: 10. He who, not having embraced (philosophical) views, is virtuous,
shia sholu sorai phelu.
Word-by-word gloss: 3SG complete insight hold.
Literal English: (They hold complete insight.)
fausboll: endowed with (perfect) vision,
pheo shia lo weloni siora te ru wilao shia mawha thimu muo thowia phao mokura so turema.
Word-by-word gloss: POST 3SG PL body joy CESS INTS long-for 3SG NONE time INTO born parent belly FUT return.
Literal English: (After they cease strongly longing for bodily joys, they will never return into a birth parent's belly.)
fausboll: after subduing greediness for sensual pleasures, will never again go to a mother’s womb.
The complete text
lothea thole
[whu [welao sheraki] thesani phelu] miona theula [whu phoa phelona] thena na phoa.
shia noalu ki kelu.
su shia po phoa. su shia wero nai. su shia thesa nai.
su shia moli haolu. su shia moli nai. su shia thoru ma nai.
su shia nuloe nai. su shia roe phina riola se panoru.
su shia phina naseru phelu. su shia whuo tupeka nai.
su shia lo morae shena nai. su shia phue nai. su shia motu nai.
su shia thoa lo lumani ro thalo. su shia tha shia thoa lo lumani sheloi thena pilu tho ma rinu.
su shia [whu lo phue miona tha ha thena peloma nai tho po sherewa] thena ma phoa.
su theula limoe siora nai. su theula limoe shurano nai.
su theula limoe siora korua phelu.
theula lima limoe.
[whu huwa nai] sola [whu kema nai].
[whu laeno nai] sola [whu ru whalo nai].
[whu kesho ponalu phelu] sola [whu teku nai].
[whu thiku nai] sola [whu whalo nai].
[whu se nila] sola [whu se ma nila].
[whu wuero menui] sola [whu noshi menui].
[whu ki thowia] sola [whu wea thowia shua].
su theula limoe siora korua phelu.
su mawha miona roe peshu shia phelira ka nai.
su mawha miona mua theula lokue shia thiku nila.
su mawha miona lue korua thero sola lue laeno thimu korua thero wei shia peloma pula.
phea [whu miso lioru mua pukea nai nela miso ta lopia shorupo] thowia phao.
su theula miona wea theula limoe [mawha norui lothea korua] sorila.
su shia wea theula lokue lothea sorila.
su shia [mawha norui lothea korua] sorila.
su shia leo muila nela phou muila nela roa muila ha korua sorila.
su ha korua nuwi nai.
su ha korua whuo korua thero nai. su ha korua whuo laeno thimu korua thero nai.
su shia sui [whano sola thalo sola meilo sola ruemi] sui waeli wei ha korua miso menai.
ha liona ruela mua ha muila mo ko welao ti nai.
[whu lo remo kire ma phelu] miona welao phoa.
shia sholu sorai phelu.
pheo shia lo weloni siora te ru wilao shia mawha thimu muo thowia phao mokura so turema.
Translation gap log
The gap log records each place where Phi composes or narrows Fausböll's wording.
| Source detail | Phi | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| attaining Nibbana's tranquil state | noalu ki kelu | ki describes attainment as a completed change into tranquility; Nibbana remains in the adjacent citation. |
| upright | wero | Honesty covers the truthfulness in upright conduct, but not its whole moral range. |
| easily supported | roe phina riola se panoru | The support requires little labor. |
| few cares | phina naseru phelu | The cares narrow to obligations; whuo tupeka states "unburdened" directly. |
| greediness on the family round | thoa lo lumani ro thalo and tha shia thoa lo lumani sheloi thena pilu tho ma rinu | The round among families and the desire to take many things are stated separately. |
| mean; reprove | a harmful deed that wise people might sherewa | Harm narrows "mean"; a possible claim restores the social act of reproof. |
| great; large | ru whalo; whalo | Intensity distinguishes the two sizes. |
| seeking birth | wea thowia shua | The not-yet-born come toward birth without being assigned an intention. |
| deceive another | roe peshu shia phelira ka nai | Deliberate deception causes the other person to be mistaken. |
| anger; resentment; hatred; enmity | korua thero; laeno thimu korua thero | Duration separates a passing heart-fire from one that has lasted. |
| mother | thowia phao | Birth parent states the relevant relation without adding a gender class. |
| only child | miso ta lopia | Exact one carries the quantity; Phi does not place restrictive li on a number. |
| world; across | theula lokue; roa muila | Every place renders the world, and around the earth renders the transverse direction. |
| philosophical views | remo kire | The registered thought-shapes are fixed views. |
| virtuous | welao phoa | Virtue is expressed as acting well. |
| perfect vision | sholu sorai | Complete insight accounts for vision and its perfection. |
| greed for sensual pleasures | lo weloni siora te ru wilao | The practitioner ceases strong longing for bodily joys. |
| a mother's womb; never again | thowia phao mokura; mawha thimu ... so turema | A birth parent's belly is the nearest available anatomy; the prediction of no return remains explicit. |
| optional vocabulary | thesani; naseru | Skill comes from Work, Craft, and Repair; obligation belongs to that module and Commons and Collective Governance. No new word is coined. |