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kusalaṁ

kusala

neuter noun, accusative singular

  1. wholesome, skillful
  2. merit-making
  3. conducive to enlightenment

Etymology. From Sanskrit kuśala; possibly cognate with Greek χράομαι (khráomai) "to use, employ" if the root sense is "apt, fit for use"; more likely from PIE *swen- "to succeed, prosper" via Proto-Indo-European. The term's doctrinal sense develops from the concrete meaning "fit, suitable" to "wholesome (of action)" and "conducive to Nibbana."

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

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