Hi James,
In canonical pali the aorist endings are used with maa in the
prohibitive sense: don't do something. In commentarial prose pali it
is more common to use the imperative endings with maa in the same
sense. So just think of it as a special function of the aorist; it
doesn't signify past time together with maa.
Best regards,
/Rett
>
>I had a question for anyone willing.
>in the sentence maa sama.na.m upasa.mkami
>how does it become "do not approach the recluse" ?
>Isn't upasa.mkami in the aorist form? "approached"?