Index

Lesson XXI

Indeclinables (Avyaya)

An Avyaya is that whose form remains the same in all genders, numbers, and cases, without undergoing any change.

There are two kinds of Avyayas, viz :-Upasagga and Nipàta.

An Upasagga (prefix) is an indeclinable word which possesses an independent meaning and which, when prefixed to substantives and verbs, usually modifies their original sense.

These Upasaggas correspond to prefixes in Latin and sometimes to prepositions in English.

A Nipàta is an indeclinable word which may stand either before or after another word.

These Nipàtas comprise particles, adverbs, conjunctions and interjections in English.

Prefixes

There are twenty Upasaggas or prefixes in Pàëi.

1. " â "-up to, until, as far as, around, reversing to;

âpabbata,

as far as the rock;

âgacchati,

comes, gacchati, goes;

âharati,

brings, harati, carries.

 

2. " Abhi "-to, unto, forward, towards, high, great, special, over;

Abhigacchati,

goes near to, goes forward;

Abhikkhamati,

goes forward;

Abhidhamma,

higher Doctrine;

Abhi¤¤à,

higher knowledge, special knowledge;

Abhijànàti,

perceives, jànati, knows;

Abhibhavati,

overcomes, bhavati, is;

Abhimukha,

facing towards;

Abhimaïgala,

special or high festival.

 

3. " Adhi "-in, upon, above, over, great, excessive;

Adhivasati,

dwells in;

Adhisessati,

will lie upon;

Adhitiññhati,

stands on, stands above;

Adhibhå,

lord, master, bhå, to be;

Adhibhåta,

overcome, mastered;

Adhisãla,

higher morality;

Adhisãta,

very cold;

Adhigacchati,

enters upon, attains, acquires.

 

4. " Anu " -after, like, behind, along, under, sub, according to;

Anugacchati,

goes after, follows;

Anunàyaka,

sub-chief;

Anuràjà,

following king, successor;

Anulomato,

in accordance with.

 

5. " Apa " -away, from, away from;

Apa sàlàya,

from the hall;

Apagacchati,

goes away;

Apavàda,

blame, abuse, vàda, speech.

 

6. " Api "-sometimes contracted to " pi ", over, near to;

Apidhàna, pidhàna, pidahana, lid, cover.

7. " Ati " -very, over, beyond, excessive;

Atisundara,

very beautiful;

Atikkamati,

goes beyond, transgresses;

Atigacchati,

overcomes.

 

8. " Ava "-often contracted to " o ", down, away, off, around;

Avakkamati, okkamati,

steps down, descends;

Avaharati,

takes away, removes;

Avajànàti,

despises, jànàti, knows;

Avama¤¤ati,

looks down upon;

Avabodha,

full knowledge;

Avacarati,

goes through, traverses.

 

9. " Du " -bad, difficult;

Duggati,

evil state;

Duddama,

difficult to tame;

Duranubodha,

difficult of comprehension.

 

10. " Ni "-away, in, into, down, free from, down wards, without, great;

Niggacchati,

goes away;

Nikkhamati,

goes away, departs;

Nidahati,

lays aside;

Niràhàra,

without food;

Nicaya,

great collection, accumulation;

Nigama,

market town;

Nikhaõati,

digs into, bury;

Nivattati,

ceases, turns back.

 

11. " Nã "-away, without, outwards, out of;

Nãharati,

takes away, draws out;

Nãroga,

healthy, without disease;

Nãrasa,

sapless, tasteless.

 

12. " Pa "-forward, forth, in, chief;

Pabala

very strong;

Payàti,

goes forth;

Pakkhipati,

throws in, puts in;

Pakkamati,

sets out, goes away.

 

13. " Parà " -away, aside, back, opposed to;

Paràbhava,

decline, ruin (lit. away from being);

Paràjaya

defeat (lit. away from, or opposed to, victory);

Parakkamati,

puts forth one's strength, strives.

 

14. " Pari " -around, about, complete;

Paridahati,

puts on;

Paridhàvati,

runs about;

Parikkhipati,

throws around, surround;

Parisuddha,

complete purity.

 

15. " Pati " (frequently changed into " pañi ") -again, against, towards, back;

Pañikkamati,

steps backwards retreats;

Pañideti,

gives in return;

Pañivadati,

answers (lit. speaks in return);

Pañilomaü,

backwards;

Pañisotaü,

against the stream;

Patiråpaü,

counterfeit, suitable;

Patiràja,

hostile king;

Patilekhana,

letter in reply.

 

16. " Saü " -with, together, self;

Sambuddha,

self enlightened;

Samàgacchati,

comes together, assembles;

Sameti,

meets together;

Saüharati,

collects, folds up;

Saïkhipati,

condenses, (lit. throws together);

Saïgaha,

collection;

Sammukha,

face to face with.

 

17. " Su " -good, well, thoroughly, excellent;

Sugati,

happy state;

Sujana,

good man;

Sudesita,

well-preached;

Subhàvita,

thoroughly practised;

Sudubbala,

very weak;

Sukara,

easy to do.

 

18. " U " -up, above, away;

Uggacchati,

rises;

Ukkhipati,

throws upwards;

Ucchindati,

cuts off;

Uttarati,

comes up, ascends;

Udaya,

rise, beginning.

 

19. " Upa " -near, towards, next, by the side of, sub, below, less, strong;

Upagacchati,

goes near;

Upasàkhà,

minor branch;

Upadhàvati,

runs up to;

Uparàjà,

viceroy;

Upakaõõa,

into the ear;

Upakaóóhati,

drags down;

Upàdàna,

attachment, clinging (lit. strong or firm hold).

 

20. " Vi " -apart, separate, not, free from, special, around, clear, different, opposed to;

Vimala,

stainless;

Vibhava,

power or free from existence;

Vigata,

separated, disappeared;

Vicarati,

wanders about;

Visoka,

free from sorrow;

Vikkhipati,

scatters;

Vipassati,

sees clearly;

Visama,

not equal, uneven;

Vicchindati,

cuts, off;

Vimutti,

perfect release;

Viloma,

reverse;

Vimukha,

averted (lit. face away);

Vyàkaroti,

expounds.

 

Of the above prefixes abhi, anu, pati, and pari are sometimes used after the words.

Frequently the consonant following du, ni, and u, and sometimes vi, is duplicated. If the consonant is aspirated, the first duplicated one is changed into the same unaspirated consonant.

Before a vowel " r " is augmented in the case of " du " and " ni ", " d " in the case of " u ", and " y " in the case of " vi ".

Exercise xxi

A

  1. " Mà nivatta abhikkama. "
  2. Puttadhãtåhi màtàpitaro yathàsatti saïgahetabbà.
  3. Idh'àgacchatha, bhikkhavo, yathàbuóóhaü vandatha.
  4. Sace'pi dujjanà yàvajãvaü sujane bhajeyyuü tesaü koci'pi attho na bhaveyya.
  5. Sudesitaü Buddhadhammaü uggaõhàmi yathàbalaü.
  6. Sabbe devamanussà manussaloke và devaloke và yathàkammaü uppajjanti.
  7. *Tàv'àhaü Pàëibhàsaü uggaõhàmi. Api ca kho pana** tassa bhàsàya pañilekhanaü likhituü vàyamàmi.
  8. Tass'antevàsikà gàmanigamesu vicaritvà suriyodaye nagaraü sampàpuõiüsu.
  9. Senàpatiputto anupubbena tassa raññhe senàpati ahosi.
  10. " Iti h'etaü vijànàhi pañhamo so paràbhavo. "
  11. Duranubodhaü abhidhammaü ythàbalaü paõdità-sotånaü desetuü vaññati***.
  12. Uparàjà pañiràjànaü abhibhavituü upanagaraü gato.
  13. Sattasattàhaü so niràhàro'va vane vasi.
  14. Mahàseññhino corabhayena yathàsukhaü na supiüsu.
  15. " Attà hi kira duddamo. "

* Tàva, Still

** Api ca kho pana, nevertheless.

*** vaññati, it is fit.

B

  1. The viceroy became the king in due course.
  2. You should sit according to seniority.
  3. Just when the sun had set they in due course arrived in the suburb.
  4. Husbands should treat their wives and children according to their might.
  5. Good men and bad men do not always come together.
  6. I shall try to be a celibate as long as I live.
  7. It is not right to sleep after meals as one wishes.
  8. He is yet studying the Higher Doctrine. Nevertheless he will try to teach it according to his strength.
  9. Boys, I shall question you now. You must give answers according to order.
  10. Pupils follow their teachers according to their ability.
  11. Take as much as you require and go away from this home.
  12. It is not right for good men to look down upon bad men and women.
  13. The mind is indeed difficult to tame. The wise nevertheless overcome it by degrees.
  14. When the moon arises darkness disappears.
  15. Healthy people do not eat and sleep as much as they like.