adjective noun anything made with a definite object in view, prepared, arranged; or that which is fit, suitable, proper. See also DN-a.i.103 & Kp-a.115 for var. meanings.
I. Literal Meaning
- (adj.) fitting, suitable, proper (cp. ˚tā) (= kappiya) in kappâkappesu kusalo Thag.251 ˚kovido Mhvs.15, Mhvs.16; Snp.911; as juice Mil.161. (-˚) made as, like, resembling Vin.i.290 (ahata˚) Snp.35 (khaggavisāṇa˚); hetu˚ acting as cause to Snp.16; Mil.105
■ a˚ incomparable Mhvs.14, Mhvs.65. - (nt.) a fitting, i.e. harness or trapping (cp. kappana) Vv.20#9 (Vv-a.104)
■ a small black dot or smudge (kappabindu) imprinted on a new robe to make it lawful Vin.i.255; Vin.iv.227, Vin.iv.286: also fig. a making-up (of a trick) lesa˚ DN-a.i.103; Vv-a.348
II. Applied Meaning
- (qualitative) ordinance, precept, rule; practice manner Vin.ii.294, Vin.ii.301 (:kappati singiloṇa-kappo “fit is the rule concerning…”); cp. Mhvs.4, Mhvs.9; one of the chalanga, the 6 disciplines of Vedic interpretation Vv-a.265.
- (temporal) a “fixed” time, time with ref. to individual and cosmic life. As āyu at DN-a.i.103 (cp.kappaṃ); as a cycle of time = saṃsāra at Snp.521, Snp.535 Snp.860 (na eti kappaṃ); as a measure of time: an age of the world Vin.iii.109; Mil.108; Sdhp.256, Sdhp.257; Pv-a.21; Iti.17 = Bdhd 87 = SN.ii.185. There are 3 principal cycles or aeons: mahā˚, asaṅkheyya˚, antara˚; each mahā consists of 4 asankheyya-kappas, viz. saṃvaṭṭa˚ saṃvaṭṭaṭṭhāyi˚ vivaṭṭa˚ vivaṭṭaṭṭhāyi˚ AN.ii.142; often abbreviated to saṃvaṭṭa-vivaṭṭa˚ DN.i.14; Iti.15; freq in formula ekampijātiṃ, etc. Vin.iii.4 = DN.iii.51, DN.iii.111; Iti.99. On pubbanta˚ & aparanta˚, past & future kappas see D; i.12 sq. paṭhama-kappe at the beginning of the world, once upon a time (cp. atīte) Ja.i.207. When kappa stands by itself, a Mahā-kappa is understood DN-a.i.162. A whole, complete kappa is designated by kevala˚ Snp.p.18 = Snp.46~Snp.125; Snp.517; also dīgha SN.ii.181; Sdhp.257. For similes as to the enormous length of a kappa see SN.ii.181 & DN-a.i.164 = Pv-a.254-acc. kappaṃ adv.: for a long time DN.ii.103 = DN.ii.115; Ud.62, quot. at DN-a.i.103; Vin.ii.198; Iti.17; Mil.108 mayi āyukappaṃ Ja.i.119