Senjecas - Chapters 1-10

Chapter One – se̋mto þı̋ro

• Tao (The Way) that can be spoken of is not the Constant Tao.

vą̋aþ' a̋ta cűr' a̋ta e̋sa ne:

vą̋-a-þ-'	a̋t-a	cűr-'	a̋t-a	e̋s-a	ne
discuss-IND-PPTCP-ELIS	way-NOM.SG	constant-ELIS	way-NOM.SG	be-IND	not

• The name that can be named is not a Constant Name.

fę̋taþo fę̋to cűro fę̋to e̋sa ne:

fę̋t-a-þ-o	fę̋t-o	cűr-o	fę̋t-o	e̋s-a	ne
name-IND-PPTCP-ATT	name-NOM.SG	constant-ATT	name-NOM.SG	be-IND	not

• Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth.

cemena̋k̬e v̌ętősk̬e tőda fyfę̋ta e̋sa:

cemen-a̋s-k̬e	v̌ęt-ős-k̬e	tőd-a	fy~fę̋t-a	e̋s-a
heaven-STA.SG-and	earth-STA.SG-and	origin-NOM.SG	less~name-NOM.SG	be-IND

• The named is the Mother of all things.

fę̋taþo őro ɱekőm mą̋ma e̋sa:

fę̋t-a-þ-o	őr-o	ɱek-őm	mą̋m-a	e̋s-a
name-IND-PPTCP-ATT	all-STA.PL	mother-NOM.SG	be-IND

• Thus, the constant void enables one to observe the true essence.

cűra ɱą̋nta ítu ɱę̋ra e̋sam ge̋þu tı̨̋ðumɘ mą̋ᵹa:

cűr-a	ɱą̋nt-a	ítu	ɱę̋r-a	e̋s-am	ge̋þ-u	tı̨̋ð-um-ɘ	mą̋ᵹ-a
constant-ATT	void-NOM.SG.	thus	true-ATT	essence-MOT.SG	observe-SUP	one-MOT.SG-EUPH	be.able-IND

• The constant being enables one to see the outward manifestations.

cűra e̋sa pų̋sa te̋idanɘ na̋ku tı̨̋ðumɘ mą̋ᵹa:

cűr-a	e̋s-a	pų̋s-a	te̋id-an-ɘ	na̋k-u	tı̨̋ð-um-ɘ	mą̋ᵹa
constant-ATT	being-NOM.SG	outward-ATT	manifestation-MOT.PL-EUPH	see-SUP	one-MOT.SG-EUPH	be.able-IND

• These two come paired from the same origin.

i-d̬ő sőma toda̋s éha ȝe̋ma ǧe̋ma:

i=d̬ő	sőm-a	tod-a̋s	éha	ȝe̋m-a	ǧe̋m-a
this-two	same-ATT	origin-STA.SG	from	in.pairs-NOM.SG	come-IND

• But when the essence is manifested, It has a different name.

ésti méti e̋sa te̋idaþa ı̋la. nás o gőȝo fę̋to e̋sa:

ésti	méti	e̋s-a	te̋id-a-þ-a	ı̋l-a	n-ás	o	gőȝ-o	fę̋t-o	e̋s-a
but	when	essence-NOM.SG	manifest-IND-PPTCP-NOM.SG	become-IND	3.STA.SG	to	different-ATT	name-NOM.SG	be.IND