Re: Meaning of sānu?

Dear Jim, D.C.

Thanks for your help on this. The ṭīkā seems to be saying that the root of sānu is san, with a meaning of sambhatti (“distribution, allotment, bestowal, possessing enjoying, favouring, honouring” per MW s.v. sambhakti). The root san, sanati means “to give, distribute, possess, enjoy” per MW.

D. C., you mention that sana is devotion and “this is the meaning of sānu in the Saṃyutta.” Could you point out where that occurs? Are you referring to the Sānusuttaṃ (SN 1, 208f)? Certainly Sānu’s name here doesn’t mean “plateau” and may well mean “devotion” as he was named by a upāsikā who wanted him to be a monk. The ṭīkā certainly seems to be saying that sānu has the meaning of sambhajīyate (“is devoted) and sevīyate (“is served), but it seems a long way from these meanings to “plateau” and the etymology that D.C. suggests seems a stretch – i. e. the plateau as a place of rest and devotion.

The St. Petersburg dictionary gives several alternate meanings of sānu “known by the Lexicographers” (vana, mārga, vātyā and kovida), all of which seems to suggest that the etymology of the word isn’t well understood.

Thanks again for your help,

Best wishes,

Bryan

From: "'Jim Anderson' jimanderson.on@... [palistudy]" <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
To: palistudy@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2014 7:07 AM
Subject: Re: [palistudy] Meaning of sānu?

Dear D.C.,

Your take on ṇu differs from mine::

<< nu is to employ serve, associate etc. with devotion.>>

My take:
ṇu is an uṇādi affix added to the root san to form sānu. This affix is
probably the one described at Kacc 671 (673). Affixes are prevalent in Abh-ṭ
when giving a derivation of a word.

I will eventually get back to you on the word pāḷi.

Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dc Wijeratna dcwijeratna@... [palistudy]"
<palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
To: <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: November 23, 2014 4:23 AM
Subject: Re: [palistudy] Meaning of sānu?

Dear Bryan, Jim and all

a) Where can I get a copy of the Abhidhanappadipika-ṭīkā?
I think Jim has already answered it. I have a Abhidhanappadipika published
in Sri Lanka with Sinhala and English meanings,

b) what does vetthiyaṃ mean under item 607?
The word is not in the Suttas. So very difficult to give a meaning. I am
giving it a try.
There is a word vetheti in the Pitaka, meaning bind, bonding etc.
[see ṭhassa
tho].

c) I am not clear on the meaning of the last few phrases
Patiṭṭhate asminti pattho: Pattho: standing on something--think of Sīle
pathiṭṭhāya naro sapaññpo…Visuddhimagga
Sana sambhattiyaṃ, ṇu, sambhajīyate sevīyateti sānu--Sana is devotion, nu
is to employ serve, associate etc. with devotion.

This is the meaning of sānu in the Samyutta. [In Pali adjectives are also
nouns, names etc.]

The sānu as a plateau is in the commentaries. It is derived from the above.
Plateu is a place of rest, freedom etc. Devotion to Dhamma brings rest,
freedom, peace, and gets rid of fear.

There could be many mistakes in the above. Please read it carefull and
comment on anything that you find not clear.

Sukhii hotu

D.C.

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