‹ Back to the text

khandhasamā

khandhasama

masc nom pl of khandhasama (adj); fem nom sg of khandhasama (adj); fem nom pl of khandhasama (adj); nt nom pl of khandhasama (adj); …

1. like the aggregates; like the conglomeration of mind and matter

Built from

• khandha — root · aggregate, heap
  From √khand 'break, split', referring to the five aggregates (pañcakkhandha) as components into which the person dissolves.
• sama — root · like, equal
  From √sam 'be even, lie flat', cognate with Sanskrit sama, Greek homos, English same; originally 'level, even', extended to 'like, equal'.

Analysis. khandha (aggregate, heap) + sama (like, equal); a compound meaning 'equal to or resembling the five aggregates (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, consciousness)' that constitute the person.

Etymology. khandha from √khand 'break, split' (hence 'heap of fragments'); sama from √sam 'be even, lie flat', cognate with Sanskrit sama, Greek homos, English same. The compound expresses the Buddhist teaching that all phenomena resolve into these five heaps.

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

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version