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saṁvegaṁ

saṁvega

accusative singular masculine of saṁvega

1. urgency, impetus
2. spiritual urgency or inspired energy
3. terror, shock

Built from

• saṁ — prefix · together, completely
  Complete, unified agitation; things brought into one intense state.
• veg — root · shake, be agitated
  To shake or tremble; cognate with English wake. The trembling becomes spiritual energy.
• a — stem · abstract noun marker
  Forms abstract nominalization.
• ṁ — ending · accusative singular masculine
  Object case; here the spiritual urgency is received or experienced (saṁvegaṁ paṭilabhati "obtains urgency").

Analysis. saṁ + √vaj/veg (saṁ- "together, completely" + veg "to shake, be agitated") — spiritual agitation that catalyzes practice, the urgent sense of danger (in saṃsāra) that drives renunciation.

Etymology. The prefix saṁ- (together, completely) combines with veg (to shake, tremble), cognate with English "wake" (from PIE *weg- "to be lively, active"). The word denotes a unified, intense emotional-volitional state — not mere fear but purposeful impetus born of seeing danger.

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

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