Aṭṭha¹

num. card, eight, decl. like pl. of adj. in-a A. The number in objective significance, based on natural phenomena: see compounds ˚angula, ˚nakha, ˚pada, ˚pāda B. The number in subjective significance

1. As mark of respectability and honour, based on the idea of the double square:
   1. in meaning “a couple” aṭṭha matakukkuṭe aṭṭha jīva-k. gahetvā (with 8 dead & 8 live cocks; eight instead of 2 because gift intended for a king) Dhp-a.i.213. sanghassa a salākabhattaṃ dāpesi Vv-a.75 = Dhp-a.iii.104. a. piṇḍapātāni adadaṃ Vv.34#8. a. vattha-yugāni (a double pair as offering) Pv-a.232, a therā Pv-a.32
      ■ The highest respectability is expressed by 8 × 8 = 64, and in this sense is freq. applied to gifts, where the giver gives a higher potency of a pair (2³). Thus a “royal” gift goes under the name of sabb-aṭṭhakaṃ dānaṃ (8 elephants, 8 horses 8 slaves etc.) where each of 8 constituents is presented in 8 exemplars Dhp-a.ii.45, Dhp-a.ii.46, Dhp-a.ii.71. In the same sense aṭṭh’ aṭṭha kahāpaṇā (as gift) Dhp-a.ii.41; aṭṭh-aṭṭhakā dibbākaññā Vv.67#3 (= catusaṭṭhi Vv-a.290); aṭṭhaṭṭhaka Dpvs.vi.56. Quite conspicuous is the meaning of a “couple” in the phrase satt-aṭṭha 7 or 8 = a couple e.g. sattaṭṭha divasā, a weck or so Ja.i.86; Ja.ii.101; Vv-a.264 (saṃvaccharā years)
   2. used as definite measure of quantity & distance, where it also implies the respectability of the gift, 8 being the lowest unit of items that may be given decently. Thus freq. as aṭṭha kahāpaṇā Ja.i.483; Ja.iv.138; Vv-a.76; Mil.291
      ■ In distances: a karīsā Dhp-a.ii.80; Dhp-a.iv.217; Pv-a.258; a. usabhā Ja.iv.142.
   3. in comb^n. with 100 and 1000 it assumes the meaning of “a great many”, hundreds, thousands. Thus aṭṭha sataṃ 800, Snp.227. As denotation of wealt (cp. below under 18 and 80): a-˚sata-sahassa-vibhava Dhp-a.iv.7. But aṭṭhasata at SN.iv.232 means 108 (3 × 36), probably also at Ja.v.377
      ■ aṭṭha sahassaṃ 8000; Ja.v.39 (nāgā). The same meaning applies to 80 as well as to its use as unit in comb^n. with any other decimal (18, 28, 38 etc.):
      1. 80 (asīti) a great many. Here belong the 80 smaller signs of a Mahāpurisa (see anuvyañjana), besides the 32 main signs (see dvattiṃsa) Vv-a.213 etc. Freq. as measure of riches, e.g. 80 waggon loads Pv.ii.7#5; asīti-koṭivibhava Dhp-a.iii.129; Pv-a.196; asīti hatth’ ubbedho rāsi (of gold Vv-a.66, etc. See further references under asīti
      2. The foll. are examples of 8 with other decimals:
         ■ 18 aṭṭhādasa (only MN.iii.239: manopavicārā) & aṭṭhārasa (this the later form) Vv-a.213 (avenika-buddhadhammā: Bhagavant’s qualities);
         ■ as measure Ja.vi.432 (18 hands high, of a fence);
         ■ of a great mass or multitude: aṭṭhārasa koṭiyo or ˚koṭi, 18 koṭis Ja.i.92 (of gold), Ja.i.227; Ja.iv.378 (˚dhana riches); Dhp-a.ii.43 (of people); Mil.20 (id.); a. akkhohini-sankhāsenā Ja.vi.395. a. vatthū Vin.ii.204
         ■ 28 aṭṭhavīsati nakkhattāni Mnd.382; paṭisallāṇaguṇā Mil.140
         ■ 38 aṭṭhatiṃsā Mil.359 (rājaparisā)
         ■ 48 aṭṭhacattārīsaṃ vassāni Snp.289
         ■ 68 aṭṭhasaṭṭhi Thag.1217 ˚sitā savitakkā, where id. p. at SN.i.187 however reads atha saṭṭhi-tasitā vitakkā); Ja.i.64 (turiya-satasahassāni)
         ■ 98 aṭṭhanavuti (cp. 98 the age of Eli, 1 Sam. iv.15); Snp.311 (rogā, a higher set than the original 3 diseases cp. navuti)
2. As number of symmetry or of an intrinsic, harmonious, symmetrical set, aṭṭha denotes, like dasa (q.v.) a comprehensive unity. See esp. the cpds for this application. -aṃsa and -aṅgika. Closely related to nos. 2 and 4. aṭṭha is in the geometrical progression of 2–4–8–16–32, where each subsequent number shows a higher symmetry or involves a greater importance (cp.8 × 8 under 1 a) Ja.v.409 (a. mangalena samannāgata of Indra’s chariot: with the 8 lucky signs); Vv-a.193 (aṭṭhahi akkhaṇehi vajjitaṃ manussabhāvaṃ: the 8 unlucky signs). In progression: Ja.iv.3 (aṭṭha petiyo, following after 4, then foll. by 8, 16, 32); Pv-a.75 (a. kapparukkhā at each point of the compass, 32 in all). Further: 8 expressions of bad language Dhp-a.iv.3.

• -aṃsa with eight edges, octagonal, octahedral, implying perfect or divine symmetry (see above B. 2), of a diamond DN.i.76 = MN.iii.121 (maṇi veḷuriyo a.); Mil.282 (maṇiratanaṃ subhaṃ jātimantaṃ a.) of the pillars of a heavenly palace (Vimāna) Ja.vi.127 = Ja.vi.173 = Vv.78#2 (a. sukatā thambhā); Vv.84#15 (āyataṃsa = āyatā hutvā aṭṭha-soḷasadvattiṃsādi-aṃsavanto Vv-a.339). Of a ball of string Pv.iv.3#28 (gulaparimaṇḍala, cp. Pv-a.254). Of geometrical figures in general Dhs.617.
• -aṅga (of) eight parts, eightfold, consisting of eight ingredients or constituents (see also next and above B 2 on significance of aṭṭha in this connection), in comp^n. with ˚upeta characterised by the eight parts (i.e. the observance of the first eight of the commandments or vows, see sīla & cp. anga 2), of; uposatha the fast-day AN.i.215; Snp.402 (Snp-a.378 explains ekam pi divasaṃ apariccajanto aṭṭhangupetaṃ uposathaṃ upavassa) cp. aṭṭhanguposathin (adj.) Mhvs.36, Mhvs.84. In BSk. always in phrase aṣṭānga-samanvāgata upavāsa, e.g. Divy.398 Sp. Avs.i.338, Avs.i.399; also vrata Avs.i.170. In the same sense aṭṭhangupeta pāṭihāriyapakkha (q.v.) Snp.402, where Vv.15#6 has ˚susamāgata (expl^d. at Vv-a.72 by pānāṭipātā veramaṇī-ādīhi aṭṭhah’ angehi samannāgata). ˚samannāgata endowed with the eight qualities (see anga 3), of rājā, a king DN.i.137 sq., of brahmassara, the supreme or most excellent voice (of the Buddha) DN.ii.211; Ja.i.95; Vv-a.217. Also in Buddh. Sk. aṣṭāngopeta svara of the voice of the Buddha, e.g. Sp. Avs.i.149.
• -aṅgika having eight constituents, being made up of eight (intrinsic) parts embracing eight items (see above B 2); of the uposatha (as in prec. aṭṭhang’ uposatha) Snp.401; of the “Eightfold Noble Path” (ariyo a. maggo). (Also in BSk. as aṣṭāngika mārga, e.g. Lal.540, cp. aṣṭāngamārgadeśika of the Buddha, Divy.124, Divy.265); DN.i.156, DN.i.157 DN.i.165; MN.i.118; Iti.18; Snp.1130 (magga uttama); Dhp.191 Dhp.273; Thig.158, Thig.171; Kp iv.; Vin.i.10; Cnd.485; DN-a.i.313; Dhp-a.iii.402.
• -aṅgula eight finger-breadths thick eight inches thick, i.e. very thick, of double thickness Ja.ii.91 (in contrast to caturangula); Mhvs.29, Mhvs.11 (with sattangula).
• -aḍḍha (variant reading aḍḍhaṭṭha) half of eight, i.e. four (˚pāda) Ja.vi.354, see also aḍḍha¹.
• -nakha having eight nails or claws Ja.vi.354 (: ekekasmiṃ pāde dvinnaṃ dvinnaṃ khurānaṃ vasena C.).
• -nava eight or nine Dhp-a.iii.179.
• -pada 1 a chequered board for gambling or playing drafts etc., lit. having eight squares, i.e. on each side (DN-a.i.85: ekekāya pantiyā aṭṭha aṭṭha padāni assā ti), cp. dasapada DN.i.6. 2 eightfold, folded or plaited in eight, cross-plaited (of hair) Thag.772 (aṭṭhāpada-katā kesā); Ja.ii.5 (˚ṭṭhapana = cross-plaiting).
• -padaka a small square (1/8), i.e. a patch Vin.i.297; Vin.ii.150.
• -pāda an octopod, a kind of (fabulous) spider (or deer?) Ja.v.377 Ja.vi.538; cp. Sk. aṣṭapāda = śarabha a fabulous eight-legged animal.
• -maṅgala having eight auspicious signs Ja.v.409 (expl^d. here to mean a horse with white hair on the face, tail, mane, and breast, and above each of the four hoofs).
• -vaṅka with eight facets, lit. eight-crooked i.e. polished on eight sides, of a jewel Ja.vi.388.
• -vidha eightfold Dhs.219.

Vedic aṣṭau, old dual, Idg. *octou, pointing to a system of counting by tetrads (see also nava); Av. ašta Gr. ὀκτώ, Lat. octo, Goth. ahtau = Ohg. ahto, Ger. acht E. eight

Aṭṭha²

see attha.