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ekantasukhaṁ

ekantasukha

accusative singular neuter of ekantasukha (adjective/noun); the surface form ekantasukhaṁ shows the accusative ending -aṁ with anusvāra for nasalization

1. unqualified pleasure
2. exclusive happiness
3. one-directional bliss

Built from

• eka — root · one, single
  From Indo-European *oikos; cf. Latin unus, Greek hen. Denotes unity or singularity of direction.
• anta — root · end, limit, direction
  Refers to a terminus or directional tendency; here, happiness leaning in one (unwholesome) way.
• sukha — stem · happiness, pleasure, ease
  Related to Sanskrit sukha; the stem used in compounds to denote comfort or well-being.
• aṁ — ending · accusative singular
  The neuter singular accusative ending -aṁ (with anusvāra) marks the object or direct case in the sentence.

Analysis. eka (one, singular) + anta (end, limit, direction) + sukha (happiness, pleasure); literally 'happiness in one direction only', used in the canon to denote pleasure that is not mixed with pain or spiritual drawback.

Etymology. eka- from Indo-European *oikos (one, singular; cf. Latin unus, Greek oikos); anta- from the root meaning 'end' or 'limit'; sukha- from Sanskrit sukha, related to 'ease', perhaps cognate with English 'soothe'. The compound reflects the Buddhist critique: worldly pleasures are 'one-directional' (ekanta) because they arise from and lead back to craving, lacking the balanced, neutral equanimity (upekkhā) of spiritual joy.

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

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