> (//para)[1]
> 
> and
> 
> /descendant::para[1]
> 
> are equivalent?

yes,

although of course the real expansion is

(/descendant-or-self::node()/child::para)[1]

but it comes to the same thing in this case.


note though that

(.//para)[1]

is not

./descendant::para[1]

it is

./descendant-or-self::para[1]


You don't need the -or-self variant in the form you posted though as in
that case you know the top node is / which can't be a para element.


David


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