Note 192 — THE NIDĀNAKATHĀ OR THE THREE EPOCHS. (continued 2)

The force of this passage is due to the fullness of meaning which, to the Buddhist, the words NIBBUTA and NIBBĀNAŊ convey. No words in Western languages cover exactly the same ground, or connote the same ideas. To explain them fully to any one unfamiliar with Indian modes of thought would be difficult anywhere, and impossible in a note; but their meaning is pretty clear from the above sentences. Where in them, in the song, the words blessed, happy, peace, and the words gone out, ceased, occur, NIBBUTA stands in the original in one or other of its two meanings; where in them the words Nirvāna, Nirvāna of Peace occur, NIBBĀNAŊ stands in the original. Nirvāna is a lasting state of happiness and peace, to be reached here on earth by the extinction of the ‘fires’ and ‘troubles’ mentioned in this passage.