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kusalapakkhā

kusalapakkha

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

1. good; lit. on the side of the skilful

Built from

• kusala — stem · skilful, wholesome
  Adjective from √kus 'to be strong, able', expressing capability and moral fitness. Related to Sanskrit kuśala.
• pakkha — stem · side, faction, party
  From √pak 'to move, go', hence 'wing' or 'side' of a body or group. Sanskrit pakṣa; cognate with English 'peck' via Indo-European *pek-.

Analysis. kusala (skilful, wholesome) + pakkha (side, party, faction): lit. 'the side of the skilful'; used in the canon for the wholesome or noble faction (opp. akusalapakkha). E.g. kusalapakkhā dhammā 'qualities on the skilful side'.

Etymology. kusala derives from √kus 'to be able, strong' (Sanskrit kuśala, Greek koskos is unreliable); pakkha is from Sanskrit pakṣa 'wing, side, faction', ultimately from √pak 'to go, move' (Indo-European *pek-, visible in English 'peck'). The compound joins moral quality (kusala) with alignment (pakkha), expressing the doctrinal grouping of deeds, thoughts, and persons into wholesome and unwholesome camps.

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

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