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nābhihaṭaṁ

nābhihaṭa

accusative singular masculine of nābhihaṭa (adjective); possibly a form that appears altered in the text

1. struck at the navel
2. struck in a vital spot

Built from

• abhi — prefix · toward, bearing down on
  The prefix indicates a blow aimed and pressed directly at its target; cognate with Latin ob-.
• haṭa — stem · struck, hit
  Past participle of √hṛ (harati, 'strike, carry, take'). The root is ancient and found across Indo-European languages.

Analysis. na-abhi-haṭa: a compound of negation (na, 'not') + abhi- ('toward, bearing down on') + haṭa (past participle of harati, 'strike'). The word appears to form abhihaṭa ('struck toward, struck at'), negated or modified. The form nābhihaṭa is rare or possibly textually uncertain; it may represent na + abhihaṭa or a variant formation. If it is a positive form (without na-), it would mean 'struck toward a vital point', with abhi- indicating the directed force of the blow.

Etymology. Abhi- carries its spatial sense of 'toward and bearing down on', from the same root as Latin ob- (observe, obtain). The root √hṛ (harati) means 'carry, take, strike'. In medical and martial contexts, abhihaṭa denotes a decisive blow aimed at a target.

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

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