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dukkhanirodhoti

dukkhanirodha

masculine nominative singular, in sandhi form with iti (quotative particle)

1. end of suffering; cessation of distress

Built from

• dukkhā — root · suffering
  From du- (bad, gone wrong) + kha (space/axle). The original image is a poorly-bored axle grinding against the wheel and creating friction; hence 'suffering, pain'. Cognate with Greek dys- in dysfunction, dystopia.
• nirodha — stem · cessation, obstruction
  From ni- (down, into) + rodha (blocking, from √rudh 'to obstruct'). The spatial image: pressing down or shutting off—here specifically the blocking or extinguishing of suffering.
• iti — ending · quotative particle
  Marks direct statement or naming: 'thus', 'saying that'. Signals that what precedes is what is said or affirmed.

Analysis. dukkhanirodha (a noun compound) + iti (quotative particle 'thus, saying that'); dukkhanirodha itself breaks into dukkhā (suffering, nominative feminine sg. in a dependent compound) + nirodha (cessation), thus 'the cessation of suffering'.

Etymology. dukkhā from Sanskrit duḥkha, from du- 'bad, hard' + kha 'space' or 'axle' (image of a badly-bored axle grinding and causing friction); cognate with Greek dys- 'bad'. nirodha from ni- 'down, into' + rodha (blocking, obstruction, from √rudh 'to obstruct'), thus 'pressing down, shutting off'—the image is of blocking or extinguishing. iti is a quotative particle marking what is stated or named.

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

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