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byākataṁ

byākata

neuter singular nominative/accusative past participle of byākaroti

1. explained, expounded
2. declared, answered
3. determined, decided

Built from

• vi — prefix · apart, asunder
  Intensive clarity through separation; separates things into distinct parts.
• ā — prefix · toward, up to
  Reverses or directs motion toward the speaker; things laid out in detail toward understanding.
• kar — root · do, make
  Indo-European root *ker- (make, craft); English craft, create; Latin creare.
• ta — ending · past participle
  Neuter nominative/accusative singular; marks completed action in the role of adjective or noun.

Analysis. byā (< vi + ā, prefix combining "apart" and "toward") + karoti (do, make): literally "separates out in detail toward the speaker", hence "explains"; in the canon, often used of the Buddha's responses to questions.

Etymology. vi + ā + √kr̥ (do, make). The prefix vi- provides clarity through separation; ā- reverses or directs motion toward. Sanskrit vikaroti (make manifest); English cognates to the root: craft, create. The sense "explain" arises from the image of laying things out apart so they are fully visible.

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

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