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ariyasaccassa

ariyasacca

nt dat sg of ariyasacca (noun); nt gen sg of ariyasacca (noun)

1. truth of the Buddha; noble truth

Built from

• ariya — root · noble, worthy
  Related to PIE *ar- (fitting, suitable), suggesting something that harmonizes with reality. Cognate with Sanskrit ārya (worthy, noble) and distantly with Latin ars (art).
• sacca — root · truth
  From PIE *sek- (to say, speak), the idea being that truth is what is spoken truly. Cognate with Sanskrit satya and distantly with English sake (from the sense of speaking one's case).

Analysis. ariya (noble, worthy) + sacca (truth); the compound denotes the four cardinal truths that define the path to liberation in the Buddha's teaching.

Etymology. ariya derives from Proto-Indo-European *ar- (to fit, join, be suitable), also in Sanskrit ārya and the root of Latin ars (art, skill); sacca is from Proto-Indo-European *sek- (to say, speak), cognate with English sake and Latin sequi. The compound reflects the Buddhist doctrinal framework: truths that are 'noble' because they accord with the nature of reality and lead to enlightenment.

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

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