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sattāvāsā

sattāvāsa

masc nom pl of sattāvāsa (noun); masc instr sg of sattāvāsa (noun); masc abl sg of sattāvāsa (noun); masc voc sg of sattāvāsa (noun); …

1. realm of existence; abode of beings

Built from

• satta — root · being, creature
  From √sat (to be, exist). The present participle of the verb "to be" used as a noun for any sentient being, the foundation of Buddhism's analysis of suffering (dukkha affecting all satta).
• ā — prefix · toward, up to
  Prefixed to √vas to create āvāsa. Reverses the direction of motion: toward the dwelling-place, hence the place one comes to dwell in.
• vāsa — stem · dwelling, abode
  From √vas (to dwell, settle). The noun form ending in -a. In āvāsa, the prefix ā focuses on the destination or realm of dwelling as an objective place.

Analysis. satta (being, creature) + āvāsa (dwelling, abode); the dwelling-place or realm inhabited by sentient beings. In the canon, one of the fundamental metaphysical divisions: the five realms (pañca gati) or six realms (cha gati) through which sentient beings wander in saṃsāra.

Etymology. satta from √sat (be, exist; Sanskrit sat-, Latin esse, English is); āvāsa from ā (toward) + √vas (dwell; Sanskrit vas-, Latin habitāre, English was/dwell). The compound binds existence itself (satta) with the dwelling that defines it (āvāsa), yielding the realm or domain of being.

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

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