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daṇḍasamphassenapi
daṇḍasamphassa
masc. nom./acc. dual + api
- beating with a stick; blows with a cane; lit. touch of the stick
Built from
- daṇḍa — root · stick, rod
From √daṇḍ (to strike, beat). Cognate with English dent and dint, all from PIE *dent- (to press, strike). Originally denotes the physical implement used in striking.
- sam — prefix · together, with
The prefix sam- (often saṁ-) brings things into union. Here it intensifies and unifies the contact: samphassa is not mere touch but contact that brings pain (beaten-together contact). Works like Latin con-.
- phassa — stem · contact, touch
From √phasa (to touch, feel). Relates to Sanskrit sparśa (touch, feeling). The root's concrete sense of one thing pressing against another remains vivid in compounds of pain or collision.
- a — ending · nom./acc. dual
Pali dual marker -a (< PIE *-o, cognate with Latin -us in some dual contexts). Marks the two entities in contact: the stick and what is struck.
- api — prefix · even, also
Postpositive particle emphasizing the preceding word: even beatings with a stick (implying even such harsh contact does not disturb the adept). Common in doctrinal contexts to heighten the illustration of non-attachment.
Analysis. daṇḍa (stick) + samphassa (contact, touch): dual form with postpositive api (even, also), meaning even the touch/beating of a stick.
Etymology. daṇḍa from root √daṇḍ (to strike), cognate with English dent, dint, and German Dent (impression); samphassa from sam- (together) + √phasa (to touch), whose root appears in Sanskrit sparśa (touch) and possibly English phrase (originally to lay out, arrange in contact).