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mahāmoggallānoseyyathāpi

mahāmoggallāna

nominative singular masculine of mahāmoggallāna (proper noun, name of a disciple); seyyathāpi is a separate indeclinable particle introducing a simile

1. Mahāmoggallāna (foremost disciple of the Buddha, celebrated for psychic powers)
2. a simile or comparison (seyyathāpi particle)

Built from

• mahā — prefix · great, large
  From Indo-European *meg- (Latin magnus, English much, mighty). Often prefixed to proper names to honor renown.
• moggallāna — root · Moggallāna (name)
  The etymology of the proper name is uncertain; possibly connected to mogga- (entanglement/knot) or Sanskrit muggara- (pestle/club). Stands as the personal name of a foremost disciple.
• seyyathā — stem · thus, as
  From seyya- (form, appearance) + thā (manner). An archaic adverbial form meaning 'in such a way'.
• api — ending · also, even
  An enclitic particle emphasizing or softening the statement; here it strengthens the comparison ('even just as').

Analysis. mahā- (great) + moggallāna (proper name, possibly from mogga- 'entanglement' or muggara- 'pestle'); seyyathāpi (just as, as if — seyya-thā-api, 'thus-like-also', a comparative particle introducing illustrations)

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

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