SV: Kc-va.n.n: intro. verse 1

Dear Jim,

avisuddhassa janassa suddhisampaapaka.m jina.m |
mohassa dha.msaka.m dhamma.m natvaa sa"ngha.m nira"nga.na.m ||

Having bowed to the Conqueror who causes unpurified people
     to obtain purity;
To the Dhamma, destroyer of confusion; to the spotless Sangha;

1) "-sampaapaka.m" (who causes to obtain/attain/reach): I take this to
be a causal agent-noun (hetukattusaadhana) derived from sa.m + pa +
aap (dhaatu) + aka (suffix, Kc 641). I'm not sure if Pali grammar
allows it, but it seems to me that "avisuddhassa janassa" (unpurified
people) and "suddhi-" (purity) are objects of "-sampaapaka.m" as if
the latter functioned like the causative verb "sampaapeti" -- he
causes x to obtain/attain y. According to Kc 309 and Sadd I p. 6, the
genitive "avisuddhassa janassa" can function as an accusative object
of a causative verb but again I'm not sure if the same applies to a
causal agent-noun.

This is definitely the correct interpretation. Examples could be cited from
at.t.hakathaas and t.iikas. sampaapaka.m is as your explanation presupposes
di-valent and therefore constructed with two "accusatives" like other
nominals based upon the causative stem. Of course, Paa.ninian grammar as
well as Kaccaayana supports your analysis.

Best wishes,

Ole 

PS I am a bit slow because I have broken my left arm, and I have to peck
like a chicken at the keyboard.



An alternative interpretation could be "obtainer of
purity for unpurified people (dative)" but the problem I have with
this is that it implies that the Buddha hands over the purity instead
of showing them how to obtain it for themselves.