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diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ

diṭṭhidhammasukhavihaara

genitive plural of diṭṭhidhammasukhavihaara (compound noun); diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ is the surface form with sandhi

1. of those dwelling in visible happiness in this life
2. of those experiencing present-moment well-being

Built from

• diṭṭha — root · seen, visible
  Past participle of dassati 'sees', from √dṛś. The imagery is of what is manifest or apparent to the eye.
• dhamma — stem · doctrine, thing, phenomenon
  From √dhṛ 'to hold, establish'. In Buddhist usage, especially 'the doctrine' or 'phenomena' as they are grasped intellectually or experientially.
• sukha — stem · happiness, ease, pleasure
  A positive emotional or physical state. Often contrasted with dukkha 'suffering' in Buddhist analysis.
• vihāra — stem · dwelling, conduct, abiding
  From vi 'apart' + √har 'carry'; literally 'a carrying apart', hence 'one's way of life' or 'dwelling place'. In the canon, often refers to the ascetic life or meditative dwelling.
• ānaṁ — ending · genitive plural
  The genitive plural ending marks possession or attribution to a plural group: 'of those who dwell'.

Analysis. diṭṭha-dhamma-sukha-vihāra = seen/visible (diṭṭha) + doctrine/thing (dhamma) + happiness (sukha) + dwelling (vihāra). A four-part compound: dwelling in happiness pertaining to visible doctrine or the doctrine as it manifests here-and-now. The term emphasizes happiness experienced in the present life, not delayed to future rebirth.

Etymology. diṭṭha from dassati 'sees' (√dṛś, cognate with Latin dīcere and Greek derkesthai 'see'); dhamma from √dhṛ 'hold, bear', hence 'that which is held or established' (cognate with Latin firmus); sukha possibly from √suc 'to be well, prosper' or non-Indo-European origin; vihāra from vi + harati 'carries apart', hence 'dwelling' or 'conduct'. The compound is canonical, appearing in descriptions of the fruits of practice in the present life.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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