āsavā

that which; flows (out or on to) outflow & influx.

1. spirit, the intoxicating extract or secretion of a tree or flower, O. C in Vin.iv.110 (four kinds); B. on DN.iii.182 (five kinds Dhs-a.48; Kp-a.26; Ja.iv.222; Ja.vi.9.
2. discharge from a sore, AN.i.124, AN.i.127 = Pp.30.
3. in psychology t.t. for certain specified ideas which intoxicate the mind (bemuddle it, befoozle it, so that it cannot rise to higher things). Freedom from the “Āsavas” constitutes Arahantship, & the fight for the extinction of these āsavas forms one of the main duties of man. On the difficulty of translating the term see Cpd.227. See also discussion of term āsava (= āsavantī ti āsavā) at Dhs-a.48 (cp Expositor pp. 63 sq). See also Cpd. 227 sq., & especially; Dhs trsl. 291 sq
   ■ The 4 āsavas are kām˚, bhav˚ diṭṭh˚, avijj˚; i.e. sensuality, rebirth (lust of life), speculation and ignorance
   ■ They are mentioned as such at DN.ii.81, DN.ii.84, DN.ii.91, DN.ii.94, DN.ii.98, DN.ii.123, DN.ii.126; AN.i.165 sq., AN.i.196, AN.ii.211; AN.iii.93, AN.ii.414; AN.iv.79; Pts.i.94, Pts.i.117; Dhs.1099, Dhs.1448 Cnd.134; Ne.31, Ne.114 sq
   ■ The set of 3, which is probably older (kāma˚, bhava˚, avijjā˚) occurs at MN.i.55; AN.i.165; AN.iii.414; SN.iv.256; SN.v.56, SN.v.189; Iti.49; Vb.364 For other connections see Vin.i.14 (anupādāya āsavehi cittani vimucciṃsu), Vin.i.17, Vin.i.20, Vin.i.182; Vin.ii.202; Vin.iii.5 (˚samudaya ˚nirodha etc.); DN.i.83, DN.i.167; DN.iii.78, DN.iii.108, DN.iii.130, DN.iii.220, DN.iii.223 DN.iii.230, DN.iii.240, DN.iii.283; MN.i.7 sq., MN.i.23, MN.i.35, MN.i.76, MN.i.219, MN.i.279, MN.i.445 (˚ṭhāniya); MN.ii.22; MN.iii.72, MN.iii.277; SN.ii.187 sq. (˚ehi cittaṃ vimucci); SN.iii.45 (id.); SN.iv.107 (id.), SN.iv.20; SN.v.8, SN.v.28, SN.v.410; AN.i.85 sq. (vaḍḍhanti), AN.i.98, AN.i.165 (˚samudaya, ˚nirodha etc.) AN.i.187; AN.ii.154 (˚ehi cittaṃ vimuttaṃ), AN.ii.196;

   In the wild

   • āsavā Dhammapada 226 (dhp226:4)
   • Āsavā Dhammapada 253 (dhp253:3)
   • āsavā Dhammapada 292 (dhp292:4)
   • āsavā Dhammapada 293 (dhp293:6)
   • āsavā Digha Nikaya 20 (dn20:18.4)
   • āsavā Digha Nikaya 2 (dn2:98.4)

   6 of 33 attestations shown.