Dear Sayalay Cālā,
Does "the suffix 'ī' gives the word the function of an agent noun
(kattusaadhana)" answer your question?
In a search of CSCD 3, I find only 2 occrrences of the word "brahmavihārī"
and both are in a non-canonical text entitled Buddhaguṇagāthāvalī. The
latter of the two is placed after brahmacārī suggesting that the suffix ī
in -cārī is the same as the one in -vihārī. The suffix is actualy ṇī with
the anubandha letter ṇ and can be found at Kacc 532 (tassīlādīsu ṇītvāvī
ca). In the vutti we find the following explanation of brahmacārī:
brahmaṃ carituṃ sīlaṃ yassa puggalassa so hoti puggalo brahmacārī,
and just by making two changes we can write a similar explanation for
brahmavihārī:
brahmaṃ viharituṃ sīlaṃ yassa puggalassa so hoti puggalo brahmavihārī.
The anubandha causes lengthening of the short -a-. Just not sure how to
interpret brahmaṃ viharituṃ/carituṃ sīlaṃ as the infinitives are
intransiitve and cannot govern an accusative. Or is brahmaṃ an adjective
qualifying sīlaṃ? One who has the best habit for living.
Best wishes,
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "sicala2010@... [palistudy]" <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
To: <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: April 7, 2016 7:19 PM
Subject: Re: [palistudy] Re: Brahmavihārī
Thanks for replying, Jim, Petra, Byran.
I am interested to know the function of suffix 'ī' in this Brahmavihārī.
Can you give me more information regarding this?