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### Nidāna

References:

Pāḷi | MO | Hare | Horner | Punnaji | Bodhi | Nanamoli | Rhys Davids | (Mrs)Rhys Davids | Thanissaro | Walshe | Woodward
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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) nidānaṁ (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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