nāvaṁ

(num.) number nine. gen
■ dat. navannaṃ (Snp.p.87) instr
■ abl. navahi (Vv-a.76), loc. navasu.

Meaning and Application: The primitive-Aryan importance of the “mystic” nine is not found in Buddhism and can only be traced in Pali in folkloristic undercurrents (as fairy tales) & stereotype traditions in which 9 appears as a number implying a higher trinity = 3²

1. navabhūmaka pāsāda (a palace 9 stories high more freq. satta˚, 7) Ja.i.58; nava-hiraññakoṭīhi (w. 9 koṭis of gold) Vv-a.188; nava yojana Dhp-a.ii.65.
2. navangabuddhasāsana “the 9 fold teaching of Buddha,” i.e. the 9 divisions of the Buddh. Scriptures according to their form or style, viz. suttaṃ geyyaṃ veyyākaraṇaṃ gāthā udānaṃ itivuttakaṃ jātakaṃ abbhutadhammaṃ vedallaṃ MN.i.133; AN.ii.103, AN.ii.178; AN.iii.86 sq., AN.iii.177 sq.; Pp.43; Mil.344; Dpvs.iv.15; Pv-a.2. Cp. chaḷanga
   ■ nava sattāvāsā “9 abodes of beings” Kp iv. (in exemplifying No. 9), viz. (see DN.iii.263 = Kp-a.86, Kp-a.87 cp. also AN.iv.39 sq.) 1 manussā, devā, vinipātikā; 2 Brahmakāyikā devā; 3 Ābhassarā; 4 Subhakiṇhā; 5 Asaññasattā; 6 Ākāsanañcâyatana-upagā; 7 Viññāṇanañcâyatana˚; 8 Ākiñcaññāyatana˚; 9 Nevasaññâsaññâyatana˚-nava sotā (Snp.197) or nava dvārā (Vv-a.76; variant reading mukhā), 9 openings of the body, viz (Snp-a.248), 2 eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, anus & urethra (cp.; S.B.E. 39, 180; 40, 259 sq.)
   ■ nava vitakkā 9 thoughts Cnd.269 (q.v.).
3. a trace of the week of 9 days is to be found in the expression “navuti-vassasatasahass-āyukā” giving the age of a divinity as 9 million years (= a divine week) Vv-a.345
   ■ Cp navuti.

Ved. navan, Idg. *neṷn̊, cp. Lat. novem (*noven), Gr. ἐννέα, Goth. niun, Oir. nōin, E. nine Connection with nava² likely because in counting by tetrads (octo = 8 is a dual!) a new series begins with No. 9

feminine a boat, ship Vin.iii.49 (q.v. for definition & description) SN.i.106 (eka-rukkhikā); SN.i.iii.155 = SN.i.v.51 = AN.iv.127 (sāmuddikā “a liner”); AN.ii.200; AN.iii.368; Snp.321, Snp.770, Snp.771; Dhp.369 (metaphor of the human body); Ja.i.239 Ja.ii.112; Ja.iii.126; Ja.iii.188; Ja.iv.2, Ja.iv.21, Ja.iv.138; Ja.v.75 (with “500 passengers), Ja.v.433; Ja.vi.160 (= nāvyā canal? or read nālaṃ?); Vv.6#1 (= pota Vv-a.42, with pop. etym. “satte netī ti nāvā ti vuccati”); Pv.iii.3#5 (= doṇi Pv-a.189) Mil.261 (100 cubits long); Dāvs iv.42; Pv-a.47, Pv-a.53 Sdhp.321. In simile Vism.690.

• -tittha a ferry Ja.iii.230;
• -sañcaraṇa (a place for) the traffic of boats, a port Mil.359.

Ved. nāuḥ & nāvā, Gr.; ναϋς, Lat. navis