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ariyadhammassa

ariyadhamma

masc dat sg of ariyadhamma (adj); nt dat sg of ariyadhamma (adj); masc gen sg of ariyadhamma (adj); nt gen sg of ariyadhamma (adj); …

1. of noble character; of noble nature
2. teaching of the Buddha; noble teaching

Built from

• ariya — root · noble, worthy
  From Sanskrit ārya, cognate with English Āryan. The term refers to those of noble character or wisdom, especially in the Buddha's dispensation.
• dhamma — root · teaching, nature, law
  From *dher- 'to hold, support', cognate with English firm and Greek theros. In Buddhist usage, dhamma means both the Buddha's teaching and the fundamental nature or qualities of things.

Analysis. ariya (noble, worthy) + dhamma (teaching, nature, quality) — 'the teaching or nature of the noble ones'; often applied to the Buddha's doctrine.

Etymology. ariya is ancient, related to Sanskrit ārya 'noble, master' (from Indo-European root *ar- 'to fit, befit'), found in Āryan, referring to the Vedic-speaking peoples. dhamma (Skt. dharma) from *dher- 'to hold, support', seen in English firm, Greek theros (warm, holding heat); in Pali it means both 'law' and 'thing' — what holds or sustains reality and ethics.

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

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