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sammāājīvoti
sammāājīva
masculine nominative singular + iti (quotative particle)
- correct livelihood; right mode of earning a living
- with correct livelihood; having right mode of earning a living
Built from
- sam — prefix · together
The prefix sam- brings components into unified wholeness; here it qualifies the act of living itself as integrated and correct.
- mā — root · measure, think
√mā (Sanskrit mā-, related to English 'measure') carries the sense of deliberate ordering; sammā adverbializes it to mean 'rightly, in proper measure'.
- ā — prefix · toward
The prefix ā- directs motion or state toward a goal; here it shapes √jīv toward the attainment of proper living.
- jīv — root · live, be alive
√jīv (Sanskrit jīv-, related to English 'quick', German 'lebendig') denotes the vital condition; ājīva is livelihood, the manner of sustaining life.
- iti — ending · quotation marker
The particle iti (related to Latin 'ita' 'thus') closes a direct reference or statement, here marking sammāājīva as a cited term or named concept.
Analysis. sammā-ājīva + iti: 'rightly-living' (as a noun-phrase); iti marks the end of direct speech or cited expression, here substantivizing sammāājīva as the object of discourse.
Etymology. sammā (sam + √mā 'together + measure') means rightly, properly; ājīva (ā + √jīv 'toward + live') means livelihood, mode of life. Together they form one of the eight constituents of the Eightfold Path (sammāājīvo being the eighth factor after sammāsamkappa, sammāvācā, etc.).