Translation Question

[sherubtse]

Question 8, Exercise 4, of _the Pali Primer_ asks for a translation of
the following sentence:

"Kumaaraa mittehi saha bhuupaala.m passanti."

In the Pali Day-by-Day answers, on www.tipitaka.net, the answer is given
as: "Boys, [together] with friends, see the king."

But I had translated it as: "Boys see the king with [his] friends."

Would someone please explain why my answer is not correct? How does one know that the word
"mittehi" goes with "kumaaraa" and not with "bhuupaala.m"?

Thank you.

With metta,
Sherubtse

[Dhammanando]

Hi Sherubtse,

Question 8, Exercise 4, of _the Pali Primer_ asks for a translation of
the following sentence:

"Kumaaraa mittehi saha bhuupaala.m passanti."

In the Pali Day-by-Day answers, on http://www.tipitaka.net, the answer is given
as: "Boys, [together] with friends, see the king."

But I had translated it as: "Boys see the king with [his] friends."

Would someone please explain why my answer is not correct? How does one know that the word
"mittehi" goes with "kumaaraa" and not with "bhuupaala.m"?

When using saha or saddhiṃ, normal Pali word order requires the things/persons accompanying to be stated immediately after the things/persons accompanied. To express your translation the word order would have been:

kumārā bhūpālaṃ mittehi saha passanti

Best wishes,
Dhammanando Bhikkhu

[sherubtse]

Thank you very much for your help, Bhante.

With metta,
Sherubtse