➥ aṭṭhikatvā:

• for aṭṭhikatvā:
  • as a matter of vital concern

Aṭṭhikatvā: occurrences

Aṭṭhikatvā occurs 39 times in the scriptures, in 38 times followed by either manasikatvā or manasikaroti. In one case it is linked to paṭipajjamāno.

Aṭṭhikatvā: not sluggishly

DOP says it means ‘making something one’s aim or object; paying attention.’ But the Upavāna Sutta (SN v 76) does not support this because it occurs in the phrase aṭṭhikatvā manasikaromi no ca līnan ti. Here aṭṭhikatvā is opposed to no ca līnaṁ, which Bodhi translates as ‘I attend as a matter of vital concern, not sluggishly.’

Aṭṭhikatvā equals nisamma

Bodhi’s rendering ‘as a matter of vital concern’ is supported by Snp 317 where aṭṭhikatvā is a synonym of nisamma (‘carefully, considerately, observing’: PED). Here again aṭṭhikatvā seems well rendered as ‘as a matter of vital concern.’ The verse is as follows:

• The wise and diligent man who associates with such a person (described in the preceding verse), carefully (nisamma) practising in accordance with the teaching as a matter of vital concern (tadaṭṭhikatvāna), becomes knowledgeable, astute, and intelligent.

Tadaṭṭhikatvāna nisamma dhīro dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjamāno
Viññū vibhāvī nipuṇo ca hoti yo tādisaṁ bhajati appamatto. (Sn.v. 317)

Illustration: aṭṭhikatvā, as a matter of vital concern

It is to your loss, friend, it is to your detriment, that when the Pātimokkha is being recited you do not pay it proper attention as a matter of vital concern.

tassa te āvuso alābhā tassa te dulladdhaṁ yaṁ tvaṁ pātimokkhe uddissamāne na sādhukaṁ aṭṭhikatvā manasikarosī ti. (Vin.4.144)

When I am explaining the teaching, this worthless man does listen to it with eager ears, paying attention to it as a matter of vital concern, applying his whole mind to it.

Nacāyaṁ moghapuriso mayā dhammaṁ desiyamāne aṭṭhikatvā manasikatvā sabbacetaso samannāharitvā ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇātī ti. (MN i 445)

I will recite the Pātimokkha with one and all of us present.

Pātimokkhaṁ uddisissāmi taṁ sabbeva santā

Listen carefully. Pay attention.

sādhukaṁ suṇoma manasikaroma

Listen carefully [means]: pay attention as a matter of vital concern, apply one’s whole mind to it.

sādhukaṁ suṇomā ti aṭṭhikatvā manasikatvā sabbacetasā samannāharāma. (Vin.1.103)

Those bhikkhus were listening to the teaching with eager ears, paying attention to it as a matter of vital concern, applying their whole minds to it.

Te ca bhikkhū aṭṭhikatvā manasikatvā sabbacetasā samannāharitvā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti. (SN i 112)