➥ pahitatta:

• for pahitatta:
  • resolute
  • resolutely
  • resolutely applied [to the practice]
  • resolutely applied [to inward striving]

Padahati and pahitatta

Padahati means ‘to strive’, for example:

• In this regard a bhikkhu stirs up eagerness, endeavours, applies energy, exerts his mind, and strives to prevent the arising of unarisen unvirtuous, spiritually unwholesome factors.

Idha bhikkhave bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati viriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati. (DN ii 312)

Although pahita is the past participle of padahati, it only occurs in the compound pahitatta. The relationship between the padahati and pahita can be seen in the following quote:

• Enthusiastically applying himself [to the teaching], he scrutinises [it].

ussahitvā tuleti

… Having scrutinised [it], he strives [to practise it].

tulayitvā padahati

… Being resolutely applied [to the practice] he realises with his very being the supreme truth, and he sees [the nature of reality] having penetrated it with discernment.

pahitatto samāno kāyena ceva paramaṁ saccaṁ sacchikaroti paññāya ca naṁ paṭivijjha passati. (MN i 480)

The -atta suffix is therefore shown to be redundant. For further notes see IGPT sv Attā.

Pahitatta: renderings of the -atta suffix

We have noted that the past participle of padahati occurs in the compound pahitatta (‘strived self’). The PED says it occurs only in this compound, i.e. there is no word pahita. In their translations, Horner, Norman, and PED attempt to incorporate the atta suffix. See below. Like Bodhi, we ourselves regard the -atta suffix as redundant. The same redundancy is seen also in sukhitattā (May they be happy, bhavantu sukhitattā, Snp 145) and samāhitatto (inwardly collected, SN i 169). For further notes, see Glossary sv Attā.

• living diligent, ardent, self-resolute

appamattā ātāpino pahitattā viharāmā. (Horner, MN i 207)

• My self is thus intent [upon striving]

Evaṁ maṁ pahitattampi. (Norman, Snp 432)

• for a bhikkhu with intent self

pahitattassa bhikkhuno. (Norman, Snp 961)

• resolute will

pahitatta. (PED sv Pahita, SN iv 145)

• abide diligent, ardent, and resolute.

appamattā ātāpino pahitattā viharāmā. (Bodhi, MN i 207)

Pahitatta: qualifiers

Pahitatta often occurs in the scriptures without qualification. We consider it to be an abbreviation that should be parenthesised in translation according to suttas where it is linked to some qualifier. In the following quotes it is linked to inward striving (padhāna) and ‘practising as I instructed him’ (yathā mayānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamāno). We usually choose to render it in accordance with the second quote as ‘resolutely applied [to the practice]’ (i.e. ‘as I instruct him’), because the first quote refers to the Buddha’s practice before his enlightenment, that is, before the discovery of the teaching and the practice of the teaching.

• While I was nearby the Nerañjara River, resolutely applied to inward striving.

Taṁ maṁ padhānapahitattaṁ nadiṁ nerañjaraṁ pati. (Snp 425-6)

• My disciple who abides diligently, vigorously, and resolutely applied [to the practice] for one night and day, practising as I instructed him, might experience exclusively happiness for a hundred years.

Idha mama sāvako… ekaṁ rattindivaṁ appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto yathā mayānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamāno satampi vassāni ekanta sukhapaṭisaṁvedī vihareyya. (AN v 86)

Translations

Our translations of the passages above are therefore:

• we abide diligently, vigorously, and resolutely applied [to the practice]

appamattā ātāpino pahitattā viharāmā. (MN i 207)

• I am thus resolutely applied [to inward striving].

Evaṁ maṁ pahitattampi. (i.e. before enlightenment, Snp 432)

• resolute bhikkhu’s

pahitattassa bhikkhuno. (Snp 961)

• resolutely applied [to the practice].

pahitatto. (SN iv 145)

Similar issue with Ātāpī

We have made similar comments about Ātāpī (sv Ātāpī). Ātāpī likewise occurs in the scriptures without qualification. We consider ātāpī to be an abbreviation to be parenthesised in translation, and we therefore render it as ‘vigorously applied [to the practice]’:

➥ pahitatto: (main article see: pahitatta)

Illustration: pahitatto, resolutely applied [to the practice]

My disciple who abides diligently, vigorously, and resolutely applied [to the practice] for one night and day, practising as I instructed him, might experience exclusively happiness for a hundred years.

Idha mama sāvako… ekaṁ rattindivaṁ appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto yathā mayānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamāno satampi vassāni ekanta sukhapaṭisaṁvedī vihareyya. (AN v 86)

Illustration: pahitatto, resolutely applied [to the practice]

Bhante, it would be good if the Blessed One would explain the teaching to me in brief, so that, having heard the teaching from the Blessed One, I might abide alone, withdrawn [from human fellowship, sensuous pleasures, and spiritually unwholesome factors], diligently, vigorously, and resolutely applied [to the practice].

sādhu me bhante bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṁ desetu yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyanti. (SN iv 145)

➥ pahitattam: (main article see: pahitatta)

Illustration: pahitattam, resolutely applied [to inward striving]

‘Faith, energy, and wisdom are found in me [regarding the development of spiritually wholesome factors]. Why do you ask about life when I am thus resolutely applied [to inward striving].

Atthi saddhā tathā viriyaṁ paññā ca mama vijjati
Evaṁ maṁ pahitattampi kiṁ jīvamanupucchasi. (Snp 432)

Comment:

This is spoken before the discovery of the teaching, so before the practice of the teaching.

➥ pahitattassa: (main article see: pahitatta)

Illustration: pahitattassa, resolute

What should be his manner of speech? What his sphere of personal application in this world? What should be that resolute bhikkhu’s observances and practices?

Kyāssa vyappathayo assu kyāssassu idha gocarā
Kāni sīlabbatānāssu pahitattassa bhikkhuno. (Snp 961)

➥ pahitattā: (main article see: pahitatta)

Illustration: pahitattā, resolute

The diligent and resolute practisers of my training system will go without your approval where, having gone, they will not grieve.

Te appamattā pahitattā mama sāsanakārakā
Akāmā te gamissanti yattha gantvā na socare. (Snp 445)

Illustration: pahitattassa, resolutely

For a bhikkhu who abides properly considering pairs [of teachings] in this way, diligently, vigorously, and resolutely, one of two fruits can be expected.

Evaṁ sammā dvayatānupassino kho bhikkhave bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato dvinnaṁ phalānaṁ aññataraṁ phalaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ. (Snp 140)