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Nidāna

References:

Pāḷi MO Hare Horner Punnaji Bodhi Nanamoli Rhys Davids (Mrs)Rhys Davids Thanissaro Walshe Woodward
Nidāna Downbound, Set, Setting, Start, Beginning, Cast

 


 

Pāḷi Text Society
Pāḷi English Dictionary
Edited by T. W. Rhys Davids and William Stede
[EDITED ENTRY]

Nidāna: [Sk. nidāna, ni+*dāna of dā, dyati to bind, cp. Gr. de/sma, dh_ma (fetter) and see dāma] (a) (n.) tying down to; ground (lit. or fig.), foundation, occasion; source, origin, cause; reason, reference, subject ("sujet") M I.261; A I.134 sq.; 263 sq., 338; II.196; IV.128 sq.;...(b) (adj.) founded on, caused by, originating in, relating to S V.213 sq...(c) nidānaṃ (acc. as adv.) by means of, in consequence of, through, usually with tato- through this, yato- through which D I.52, 73; M I.112...

 


Ni = down; dāna = given; Downbound. The word is most familiar to readers of Pāḷi in its use for the introductory paragraphs of suttas, and in the formula for the paticca samuppada. In both cases I believe the use relates to the meaning of this word as the knot used to begin the rug-weaving process, the first knot.

 


 

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