adjective of the nature of rajas, i.e. leading to lust, apt to rouse excitement, enticing lustful.

1. As epithet of rūpa (vedanā saññā etc.) SN.iii.79; also at DN.i.152 sq. (dibbāni rupāni passāmi piya-rūpāni kām’ ûpasaṃhitāni rajanīyāni; & the same with; saddāni). In another formula (relating to the 5 kāmaguṇā): rūpā (saddā etc.) iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kām’ ûpasaṃhitā rajanīyā DN.i.245; MN.i.85. The explⁿ of this passage at DN-a.i.311 is: r. = rāgajanaka
   ■ The expression rajanīyā dhammā “things (or thoughts) causing excitement” is contrasted with vimocaniyā dh. “that which leads to emancipation at AN.ii.196. The same takes the places of lobhanīyā dhammā in combination with dosanīyā & mohanīyā dh. at SN.iv.307; AN.ii.120; AN.iii.169. Another pair is mentioned at Ne.18, viz. r. dhammā and pariyuṭṭhāniyā dh.
2. In diff. connections it means simply “delightful lovely” and is e.g. an epithet of the night. So at Pv.iii.7#1, where the passage runs “yuvā rajanīye kāmaguṇehi sobhasi”: youthful thou shinest with the qualities of enjoyment in the enjoyable (night), which at Pv-a.205 is explained in a twofold manner viz. first as “ramaṇīyehi rāguppatti-hetu-bhūtehi” (viz. kāmagunehi), referring to aN variant reading rajanīyehi, and then as “rajanī ti vā rattīsu, ye ti nipātamattaṃ” and “virocasi rattiyaṃ.” Thus rajanī is here taken directly as “night” (cp. Abhp.69)
   ■ At Pv.iv.6#2 the passage runs “pamattā rajaniyesu kām’ assād’ âbhinandhino” i.e. not heeding the enjoyment of the taste of craving at nights; here as m. & not f
   ■ The meaning “lovely is applied to sounds at Thag.1233 (sarena rajanīyena) Vv-a.37 (r. nigghosa).

grd. of rajati