PART ONE: Nāgārjuna’s Position, Verses 1 - 3
Verse 1 = Although the Buddha talks about ‘arising,’ ‘abiding,’ and ‘ceasing, etc, these are only conventional terms.
Verse 2 = Designations are without significance. All expressible things are empty (śūnya) of own-being (svabhāva).
Verse 3 = Therefore all dharmas are empty (śūnyatā).
PART TWO: ‘Proof’ of the Non-Arising of Dharmas
Verse 4 = Arising in the Present
There is no arising of something that exists, since it already exists. There is no arising of the nonexistent, since it does not exist. There is no arising of that which is both existent and non-existent, since that very concept is contradictory. If there is no arising, there is no abiding (i.e. being) or ceasing (i.e. destruction, death, etc).
Verse 5 = Arising in Future
That which has already been born cannot be born (again), nor can that which has not yet been born be born.
Verse 6 = Arising in the Past
It is not possible to say that something is a “cause” before something that is its specific effect has arisen. Therefore there are no ‘causes’ in the past. ‘Causes’ cannot exist in the past, present, or future.
PART THREE: Conclusion
Verse 7 = Without one, there are not many. Without many, one is not possible. Whatever arises dependently lacks essential characteristics.