> I thought "padhaana" (sanskrit -- "pradhaana")
>
> , is an adjective meaning main
> / chief.
> does it have a different meaning in pali?
>

Dear Dave,

I am retranslating from the Thai, so it may not actually be used that
way in Pali grammar, but the meaning is clear. A padhaana pada is the
chief pada in the phrase. Ex. The great golden man-made stupa,
Shwedagon. Here each pada will have the same vibhatti in pali, but the
word "stupa" will be the padhaana, as it is the chief (the noun) and the
rest are called visesana, as they are subordinate to the noun (adjectives).

Best wishes,

Yuttadhammo (Phra Noah)