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asaṁvutaṁ

asaṁvuta

accusative singular masculine of asaṁvuta (adjective); alternatively, nominative/accusative singular neuter

1. unguarded (of the senses)
2. unrestrained
3. unprotected

Built from

• a — prefix · not
  Plain negation; cognate with English un- and Greek a(n)-.
• saṁ — prefix · together
  Brings things into one; works like Latin con-, intensifying the sense of 'completely enclosed'.
• vṛ — root · cover, enclose
  The root underlying saṁvuta; cognate with Sanskrit vṛṇoti and Latin vēlum 'veil', reflecting the imagery of fencing or protecting.
• ta — ending · past participle
  Forms an adjective from the root, marking the state of being covered or enclosed (or, with a-, uncovered).

Analysis. a- (not) + saṁvuta (guarded, from sam + √vṛ 'to cover, enclose'). The compound negates the sense of guarding or fencing in one's sense-faculties. In the Pali canon, asaṁvutaṁ indriyaṁ describes the unguarded sense-door, a source of mental defilement and suffering.

Etymology. The root √vṛ (cover, enclose) appears in Sanskrit vṛṇoti 'covers' and Latin vēlum 'veil'; saṁvuta literally means 'together-enclosed', hence protected or guarded. The prefix a- is plain negation, as in English un- or Greek a(n)-.

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

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