A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s2.7

v2.c19.s2.7

² S. *Dutt*, l. c., p. 90 f. thinks that, even etymologically pāṭimokkha means "bond" in this sense. The PTS Dic. s. v. (also R. C. *Childers*, Dict. of the Pāli Language, s. v.) explains it by pratimokṣya "that which should be made binding," "obligatory," "obligation," with reference to Jātaka V, p. 25, where it explains saṃgaraṃ paṭimokhaṃ by "a binding promise." In my opinion, the correct explanation of this phrase is "a promise to be redeemed," and, accordingly, I am inclined to explain pāṭimokkha as "that which is to be redeemed." For other etymologies see *Rhys Davids* and *Oldenberg*, SBE., Vol. XIII, p. xxvii f. ("Disburdening, Getting free "), *Oldenberg*, Buddha, p. 419 n. 1, *Kern*, Manual, p. 74 n. 5 ("a spiritual cuirass "), and R. O. *Franke*, Dīghanikāya, p. 66 n. 7. The earliest etymology is the one in the old commentary Mahāvagga II, 3, 4, which was also accepted by Buddhaghosa, pāṭimokkha being taken as a derivative of mukhaṃ, which is quite impossible.