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appamāṇābhānaṁ

appamāṇābhāna

accusative plural neuter of appamāṇābhāna (immeasurable-radiance), a compound noun

1. immeasurable radiance
2. boundless splendour
3. infinite light

Built from

• a — prefix · not, without
  Plain negation; no measure can limit this radiance.
• pamāṇa — root · measure, standard
  From pra- (forth) + √mā (measure); cognate with Latin mēnsūra and English measure.
• ā — prefix · toward, outward
  Reverses or intensifies the action; radiance shines forth and toward the observer.
• bhāna — stem · radiance, shine
  From √bhā (shine); cognate with Greek phainesthai (appear) and English beam. Meditative radiance that emanates without limit.
• ṁ — ending · accusative
  Marks the plural accusative object, the radiances that are the object of practice or contemplation.

Analysis. appamāṇa (immeasurable) + ābhāna (radiance); appamāṇa = a- (not) + pamāṇa (measure, standard); ābhāna from ā- (toward, outward) + √bhā (shine).

Etymology. a- + pramāṇa (Sanskrit measure, standard) and ā- + √bhāti (shine); cognate with Greek phainesthai (appear) and English beam. The compound denotes boundless luminosity, esp. in meditative states.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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