RE: Vivicca

Hi Kåre,

I did consider the possibility of the root being ‘i’ (to go) but not with a reduplicated prefix ‘vi’.  There is also paṭicca and upecca with no reduplication of the prefix. Paṭicca corresponds to pratītya in Sanskrit (prati + √ i + t + ya ).  I think icca without any prefix is a valid absolutive form in Pāli but I doubt it occurs in the texts, at least I’ve never come across it. I believe Aggavaṃsa discusses a verb in the form of iti under the root ‘i’ and there is no mention of ‘vivicca’ in the entire Dhātumālā volume.

Jim

I cant help wondering if not the verb 'eti' might be involved here. At page 233 Fahs gives an Abs. form '-icca' for this verb. That would of course imply a reduplication of the prefix 'vi-', and I am not quite sure if there are other cases where a prefix is reduplicated. But at least '-icca' < 'eti' with 'vi-' somehow underlined would make sense from how it is used in the texts.

Best regards

Kåre

 

Some other observations:

In investigating a Pali word, it's always good to know a thing or two about its derivation and structure which can shed some light on its meaning and usage as well.

In looking at 'vivicca', its verbal root didn't become obvious to me until I checked PED which points to the verb 'viviccati' and its root 'vic'. But there's no such root listed in Aggavaṃsa's Dhātumālā. However, it can be found in Pāṇini's Sanskrit Dhātupāṭha in the Rudhādi class:

5 vicir pṛthagbhāve [the actual root is 'vic' without the indicatory 'ir']

For the meaning of 'pṛthagbhāva' MW gives:

m. separate state or condition, difference, distinctness, individuality KaṭhUp. ; MBh. &c.

'vivicca' corresponds to 'vivicya' in Skt.

For the meaning of 'vic' in MW there is this which sounds interesting and maybe applicable as an analogy (grain / chaff) in the case of 'vivicca'.

sift, separate (esp. grain from chaff by winnowing) RV. ; AV. ;

Of course, one could spend days and weeks researching and pondering over the term.

Best wishes,

Jim

-- 

mvh

Kåre