karuṇaṁ

(f.) pity compassion. Karuṇā is one of the 4 qualities of character significant of a human being who has attained enfranchisement of heart (ceto-vimutti) in the 4 sentiments viz. mettā k.˚ upekhā muditā Freq. found in this formula with ˚sahagatena cetasā. The first two qualities are complementary, and Snp-a.128 (on Snp.73 explains k˚ as “ahita-dukkh-âpanaya-kāmatā,” the desire of removing bane and sorrow (from one’s fellowmen), whilst mettā is expl. as “hita-sukh-ûpanayakāmatā,” the desire of bringing (to one’s fellow-men) that which is welfare and good. Other definitions are “paradukkhe sati sādhūnaṃ hadayakampanaṃ karotī ti” Bdhd 21; “sattesu k˚ karuṇāyanā karuṇāyitattaṃ karuṇā cetovimutti” as expl. of avihiṃsa dhātu Vb.87; paradukkhāsahana-rasā Vism.318. K˚-sahagatena cetasā denotes the exalted state of compassion for all beings (all that is encompassed in the sphere of one’s good influence: see cātuddisa “extending over the 4 i.e. all, directions): DN.i.251; DN.iii.78, DN.iii.50, DN.iii.224; SN.iv.296 SN.iv.322, SN.iv.351; SN.v.115; AN.i.183, AN.i.196; AN.ii.129, AN.ii.184; AN.iii.225 AN.v.300, AN.v.345; Ja.ii.129; Nd ii.on Snp.73; Vb.273, Vb.280; Dhs.1258. The def. of karuṇā at Vism.318 runs “paradukkhe sati sādhūnaṃ hadaya-kampanaṃ karoti. Frequently referred to as an ideal of contemplation (in conn. w. bhāvanā & jhāna), so in “karuṇaṃ cetovimuttiṃ bhāveti” SN.v.119; AN.i.38; AN.v.360; in k˚ cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulī-katā, etc. DN.iii.248; AN.iii.291 AN.iv.300; in k˚-sahagataṃ saddhindriyaṃ AN.i.42; unspecified SN.v.131; AN.iii.185; Ne.121, Ne.124; Pts.i.8 k˚ + mettā Ne.25; k˚ + muditā Bdhd 16 sq., Bdhd 26 sq. Bdhd 29; ananta k˚ pañña as epithet of Buddha Bdhd 1 karuṇaṃ dūrato katvā, without mercy, of the Yamadūtā messengers of Death Sdhp.287; mahā˚; great compassion Pts.i.126, Pts.i.133; -samāpatti a ʻgest,ʼ feat of great compassion: in which Buddha is represented when rising and surveying the world to look for beings to be worthy of his mercy and help DN.ii.237; Pts.i.126 f Dhp-a.i.26, Dhp-a.i.367; Pv-a.61, Pv-a.195.
As adj. only in compounds (e.g. ˚vācā merciful speech; neg. akaruṇa merciless Mhbv.85, & ati˚ very merciful Ja.iv.142) and as adv. karuṇaṃ pitifully, piteously, mournfully, in k paridevati Ja.vi.498, Ja.vi.513, Ja.vi.551; Cp.ix.54; also in abl karuṇā Ja.vi.466
■ See also kāruñña.

-ādhimutta intent upon compassion
Attestations
- karuṇaṁ Sutta Nipata 1.3 (snp1.3:39.1)
- karuṇaṁ Sutta Nipata 3.2 (snp3.2:2.1)
- karuṇaṁ Digha Nikaya 19 (dn19:38.8)
- karuṇaṁ Digha Nikaya 19 (dn19:38.9)
- karuṇaṁ Digha Nikaya 19 (dn19:39.6)
- karuṇaṁ Digha Nikaya 19 (dn19:39.7)
6 of 18 attestations shown.

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