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pabbajati

pr 3rd sg of pabbajati (verb)

1. ordains as a monastic; renounces the household life; lit. goes forth

Built from

• pa — prefix · forward, forth
  Intensifying prefix expressing motion out ahead and away. Concrete imagery of stepping forth becomes the spiritual act of leaving lay life.
• bbhṛ/bhavati — root · go, become
  Root meaning motion and transformation. Cognate with Sanskrit bhavati 'becomes', English bear (in the sense of bearing oneself, moving). In this word, motion becomes the existential step of renunciation.
• a — ending · 3rd singular present
  Present indicative ending indicating the action happens now, in the habitual present tense: one who goes forth, ordains.

Analysis. pa + √bhaṁ (√bhvand) 'going'; literally 'goes forth', the prefix pa- intensifying forward motion into the act of leaving lay life for the monastic path.

Etymology. From pa- 'forward, forth' (Latin pro-, English forth) + √bhṛ/bhavati 'to go, become'; the root is cognate with English bear (as in 'bear oneself') and Sanskrit bhavati. The spatial sense of pa- (stepping forth, out ahead) becomes the spiritual sense of renouncing: to go forth from the household is to step out onto the path.

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

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