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pāṭikaṅkhaṁsubhanimittaṁ
pāṭikaṅkha-subhanimittaṁ
accusative singular neuter; a dvandva compound (contraction of pāṭikaṅkhaṁ + subhanimittaṁ)
- auspicious sign wished for
- favorable omen sought
Built from
- paṭi — prefix · back, in return
Indicates desire or longing directed back toward the self: a movement of wish-bearing toward oneself.
- aṅkha — root · crook, longing
Expresses the curved movement of desire and attachment; also appears in aṅkusa 'goad'.
- su — prefix · well, good
Prefix denoting excellence and auspiciousness; cognate with Greek eu- (eulogy).
- bha — root · shine, appear
Root of bhāti 'shines'; subha is 'bright, beautiful, auspicious'.
- nimitta — stem · sign, mark
A nominal stem meaning a perceptual or mental sign, often a kasina-object or image arising in meditation.
Analysis. pāṭikaṅkha (object of longing, desired thing) + subha (auspicious) + nimitta (sign, mark); the compound fuses two ideas: the sign one longs for and the auspicious character it bears. Used in meditation contexts where a practitioner seeks a favorable mental sign or vision as a support for concentration.