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padakkhiṇaṁ

padakkhiṇa

adjective or adverb, accusative neuter singular (or indeclinable adverbial form)

1. clockwise
2. to the right
3. moving/positioned on the right side

Built from

• pada — root · foot, step
  From the same root as English foot and Latin pes; the concrete sense of 'foot' extends to 'position' and 'standing place'.
• akkhiṇa — stem · right
  Related to Sanskrit dakṣiṇa (right, south); the right side was the auspicious direction for circumambulation in Buddhist devotional practice.

Analysis. pad- (foot, from √pad) + akkhiṇa (right); literally 'foot to the right' or 'rightward stepping'. The compound expresses motion or orientation to the right, performed respectfully in Buddhist practice (circumambulation to the right).

Etymology. pada (foot, position; from Indo-European √ped- 'foot'; cognate with English foot, Latin pes, Greek pous) + akkhiṇa (right side; from Sanskrit dakṣiṇa, ultimately from a root meaning 'south' or 'right', with initial d- assimilated or shifted). The right side held special ritual significance in South Asian cultures.

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

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