dasa

the number ten; gen dasannaṃ (Dhp.137); instr. dasahi (Kp iii.) & dasabhi (Vin.i.38). In compounds (-˚) also as ḷasa (soḷasa 16) rasa (terasa 13; pannar˚ 15; aṭṭhār˚ 18).

I. Metaphorical meaning

1. In the first place 10 is used for measurement (more recent & comprehensive than its base 5); it is the no. of a set or comprehensive unity, not in a vague (like 3 or 5), but in a definite sense.
2. There inheres in it the idea of a fixed measure, with which that of an authoritative, solemn & auspicious importance is coupled. This applies to the unit as well as its decimal combinations (100, 1000) Ethically it denotes a circle, to fulfil all of which constitutes a high achievement or power.

II. Application

1. (based on natural phenomena): dasa disā (10 points of the compass; see disā): Snp.719, Snp.1122; Pv-a.71, etc.; d. lokadhātuyo Pv.ii.9#61 (= 10 × 1000; Pv-a.138); d. māse (10 months as time of gestation kucchiyā pariharitvā Ja.i.52; Pv-a.43, Pv-a.82
2. (fig.)
   1. a set:
      1. personal (cp. 10 people would have saved Sodom: Gen. 18, 32; the 10 virgins (2 × 5) Matt. 25, 1) divase divase dasa dasa putte vijāyitvā (giving birth to 10 sons day by day) Pv.i.6
      2. impersonal: 10 commandments (dasa sikkhāpadāni Vin.i.83), cp. Exod 34, 28; 10 attributes of perfection of a Tathāgata or an Arahant: Tathāgata-balāni; with ref. to the Buddha see Vin.i.38 & cp.; Vin. Texts i.141 sq.; dasah’ angehi samannāgato arahā ti vuccati (in memorizing of No. 10 Kp iii. dasahi asaddhammehi sam˚ kāko Ja.iii.127–Ja.iii.10 heavenly attributes (ṭhānāni): āyu etc. DN.iii.146; SN.v.275; Pv-a.9, opp. 10 afflictions as punishment (cp.10 plagues Exod. 7–11): dasannaṃ aññataraṃ ṭhānaṃ nigacchati Dhp.137 (= das. dukkha-kāraṇānaṃ, enumerated v. Dhp.138, Dhp.139) “afflicted with one of the 10 plagues” cp. Dhp-a.iii.70.
         ■ 10 good gifts to the bhikkhu (see deyyadhamma) Cnd.523; Pv-a.7; Pv-a.10 rules for the king Pv-a.161
         ■ dividing the Empire into 10 parts: Pv-a.111; etc. vassa-dasa a decade: das’ ev’ imā vassa-dasā Ja.iv.396 (enumerated under vassa); dasa-rāja-dhammā Ja.ii.367; das’ akkosa-vatthūni Dhp-a.i.212
         ■ See on similar sets AN.v.1–AN.v.310; DN.iii.266–DN.iii.271
   2. a larger unity, a crowd, a vast number (of time & space)
      1. personal, often meaning “all” (cp. 10 sons of Haman were slain Esth. 9, 10; 10 lepers cleansed at one time Luke 17, 12): dasa bhātaro Ja.i.307; dasa bhātikā Pv-a.111; dasa-kaññā-sahassa-parivārā Pv-a.210 etc.
      2. impersonal (cp. 10 × 10 = many times, S.B.E. 43, 3) dasa-yojanika consisting of a good many miles

feminine & dasa; (nt.) unwoven thread of a web of cloth, fringe, edge or border of a garment DN.i.7 (dīgha˚ long-fringed, of vatthāni); Ja.v.187; Dhp-a.i.180 Dhp-a.iv.106 (dasāni)
■ sadasa (nt.) a kind of seat, a rug (lit. with a fringe) Vin.iv.171 (= nisīdana); opp. adasaka (adj.) without a fringe or border Vin.ii.301 = Vin.ii.307 (nisīdana). -anta edge of the border of a garment Ja.i.467; Dhp-a.i.180 sq., Dhp-a.i.391.

Sk. daśā

a slave, often combined w. f. dāsī. Def. by Bdhgh as “antojāto” (DN-a.i.300), or as “antojātadhanakkīta-karamarânīta-sāmaṃ dāsabyaṃ upagatānaṃ aññataro” (ibid. DN-a.i.168)
■ In phrase dāsā ca kammakarā “slaves & labourers” Vin.i.243, Vin.i.272; Vin.ii.154; as dāso kammakaro “a slave-servant” DN.i.60 (cp. d. kammakara)
■ Vin.i.72, Vin.i.76 (dāso na pabbājetabbo the slave cannot become a bhikkhu); DN.i.72; MN.ii.68 (fig. taṇhā˚); Ja.i.200, Ja.i.223; Ja.iii.343 (bought for 700 kahāpaṇas), Ja.iii.347; Pp.56; Pv-a.112.

• -kammakara (porisa) a slave-servant, an unpaid labourer, a serf Vin.i.240; AN.i.206; DN.iii.189; Dhp-a.iv.1;
• -gaṇa a troop of slaves Pv.iv.1#41;
• -purisa a servant Ja.i.385;
• -porisa a servant, slave Snp.769 (cp. Mnd.11 where 4 kinds of d. are mentioned);
• -lakkhaṇa fortunetelling from (the condition of) slaves DN.i.9.

Ved. dāsa; orig. adj. meaning “non-Aryan,” i.e. slave (cp. Gr. βάρβαρος, Ger. sklave = slave); Av. dāha a Scythian tribe. Also connected w. dasyu (see dassukhīla)