Dhātu, Mahā Dhātu
Cattāro Mahā Bhūtāni The Four/Six Great Elements
References:
Satipatthana Sutta: The Four Great Elements
[DN 33]pp288
PTS, T.W and C.A.F. Rhys Davids, trans., Dialogs of the Buddha III #33 pp 228. 4:16; 6:16
WP, Walshe, trans, The Long Discourses of the Buddha, #33, pp491
BD: DN #33: The Compilation: 4.16; 6:16
[MN 28]
ATI: Middle Length Sayings, #28: The Simile of the Elephant's Footprint (Greater)
BD: Making an Earth Kasina
SN 2.14 Samyutta Nikaya, Nidana Vagga, Dhatu Samyutta Index page.
Pali | MO | Hare | Horner | Punnaji | Bodhi | Rhys Davids | (Mrs)Rhys Davids | Thanissaro | Walshe | Woodward |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dhātu | Data, sense data, information | element | element | element | properties | |||||
paṭhavī | earth | extension | Solidity | earth | extended, earthy | extended, earthy | earth | earth-element (or extension) | earth | |
Apō | water | liquid | Fluidity | water | cohesive, watery | cohesive, watery | water | water-element (or cohension) | water | |
tejo | fire | heat | Heat | fire | hot, fiery, heat | hot, fiery | fire | fire-element (or temperature) | heat | |
vāyo | wind | motion | Motion | air | mobile, aerial, air | mobile, aerial | wind | air-element (or motion) | air | |
ākāsā | space | space | ether | Space | space | space | space | space | space | space |
viññāṇa | consciousness | consciousness | consciousness | Cognition | consciousness | consciousness, thought | consciousness | consciousness | consciousness-element | consciousness |
Pali Text Society
Pali English Dictionary
Edited by T. W. Rhys Davids and William Stede
[EDITED ENTRY]
Dhātu: (f.) [Sk. dhātu to dadhāti, Idg. *dhe, cp. Gr. τίθημι, ἁνά-θημα Sk. dhāman, dhāṭr (=Lat. conditor); Goth. gadeds; Ohg. tāt, tuom (in meaning *-=dhātu, cp. E. serf-dom "condition of . . .") tuon=E. to do; and with k-suffix Lat. facio, Gr. (ἕ)θηκ(α), Sk. dhāka; see also dhamma] element. Closely related to dhamma in meaning B 1b, only implying a closer relation to physical substance. ...- 1. a primary element, of which the usual set comprises the four paṭhavī, āpo, tejo, vāyo (earth, water, fire, wind), otherwise termed cattāro mahābhūtā(ni): D I.215; II.294; III.228; S I.15; II.169 sq., 224; IV.175, 195; A II.165; III.243;...- Singly or in other combns paṭhavī- S II.174; tejo- S I.144; D III.227; the four plus ākāsa S III.227, plus viññāna S II.248;...- 2. (a) natural condition, property, disposition; factor, item, principle, form. In this meaning in var. combns and applications, esp. closely related to khandha. Thus mentioned with khandha and āyatana (sensory element and element of sense-perception) as bodily or physical element, factor...Freq. also in combn kāma-dhātu, rūpa- arūpa- "the elements or properties of k. etc." as preceding and conditioning bhava in the respective category...nibbāna- the state of N. S V.8; A II.120; IV.202; J I.55;...vaṇṇa- form, beauty S I.131;...In these cases it is so far weakened in meaning, that it simply corresponds to E. abstr. suffix -hood or -ity (cp. -hood=origin. "form": see ketu), so perhaps in Nibbāna- =Nibbāna-dom....- (b) elements in sense-consciousness: referring to the 6 ajjhattikāni and 6 bāhirāni āyatanāni S II.140 sq. Of these sep. sota- D I.79; III.38;... dibbasota- S II.121, 212; V.265, 304; A I.255; III.17, 280; V.199; cakkhu- ...; mano-...; mano-viññāṇa- ...(c) various: aneka- A I.22; III.325; V.33; akusala-...; avijjā- S II.132; ābhā- S II.150; ārambha- S V.66, 104 sq.; A I.4; II.338; ṭhiti- S II.175; III.231; A III.338; dhamma- S II.56; nekkhamma- S II.151; A III.447; nissāraṇiyā dhātuyo (5) D III.239; A III.245, 290. See further S I.134, 196; II.153, 248 (aniccā); III.231 (nirodha); IV.67; A I.176; II.164; IV.385;...- (d) Different sets and enumerations: as 3 under kāma-, rūpa-, arūpa A I.223; III.447;...; under rūpa-, arūpa-, nirodha- ...- as 6 (pathavī etc.+ākāsa- and viññāṇa-): D III.247; A I.175 sq.; M III.31, 62, 240;...- as 7 (ābhā subha etc.): S II.150. - 18:...- 3. a humour or affection of the body...- 4. the remains of the body after cremation...a relic...- abl. dhātuso according to one's nature S II.154...S III.65.