sakkā

indeclinable possible (lit. one might be able to); in the older language still used as a Pot., but later reduced to an adv. with infin. E.g. sakkā sāmaaññphalaṃpaññāpetuṃ would one be able to point out a result of samaṇaship DN.i.51; khādituṃ na sakkā, one could not eat Ja.ii.16; na sakkā maggo akkhātuṃ, the way cannot be shown, Mil.269; sakkā etaṃ mayā ñātuṃ? can I ascertain this? DN.i.187; sakkā honti imāni aṭṭha sukhāni vindituṃ, these eight advantages are able to be enjoyed Ja.i.8; sakkā etaṃ abhavissa kātuṃ, this would be possible to do, DN.i.168; imaṃ sakkā gaṇhituṃ, this one we can take Ja.iv.219. See also Snp-a.338, Snp-a.376 (= labbhā) Pv-a.12, Pv-a.69, Pv-a.96.

originally Pot. of sakkoti = Vedic śakyāt; cp. Prk. sakkā with Pischel’s expln in Prk. Gr. § 465. A corresponding formation, similar in meaning, is labbhā (q.v.)