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kāmahetu

ind

1. for the sake of sensual pleasures; on account of sensual gratification

Built from

• kāma — root · desire, sensual pleasure
  From PIE *kam- (to desire, love). Represents the realm of sensory gratification, one of the three marks of existence in Buddhist doctrine.
• hetu — root · cause, reason
  From PIE *set- (to set, place). In Buddhist philosophy, the five hetūs are efficient causes; here it denotes the reason or motive placed before action.

Analysis. kāma (sensual desire, pleasure) + hetu (cause, reason); lit. 'desire as cause/reason', the instrumental compound meaning 'because of desire' or 'for the sake of pleasure'.

Etymology. kāma is from PIE *kam- (to desire, love), cognate with Latin cārus (dear), Greek kamē (desire); hetu from PIE *set- (to set, place, sit), the cause or reason placed before one, cognate with English set, Sanskrit sthita (placed, established). The compound reflects the Buddhist analysis of sensual craving as a primary cause of suffering.

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

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