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jānāhi
jāna
fem instr pl of jāna (adj); fem abl pl of jāna (adj); imp 2nd sg of jānāti (verb)
- jāna (adj): knowing; being aware (of); understanding
- jānāti (pr): knows; understands
- jānāti (pr): knows (as)
- jānāti (pr): finds out; learns; gets to know (if)
- jānāti (pr): (rightly or wrongly) believes; assumes; considers (someone to be)
Built from
- jānā — root · know, recognize
From *ǵenH-, the ancient Indo-European root for knowing. Cognate with Sanskrit jānāti, Greek gignṓskō, Latin nōscō, and English know. The word captures the act of perceiving and understanding.
- -hi — ending · 2nd sg imperative
The primary imperative ending in Pali for 2nd singular. This -hi ending is archaic and appears also in Sanskrit and other ancient Indo-European languages, marking a direct command addressed to one person.
Etymology. From Indo-European root *ǵenH- 'to know' (Sanskrit jānāti, Greek gignṓskō, Latin nōscō, English know). The root appears in Pali as √jñā, showing the typical palatalization of the velar before the high vowel. The imperative jānāhi preserves an ancient -hi ending found across Indo-European languages for 2nd singular imperatives.