Digu-samāsa or Numerical Compounds

Digu-samāsa or Numerical Compounds¶

Kaccāyana 325. saṅkhyāpubbo digu.

These are similar to adjectival compounds, but their first member is a number.

digu is an example of a digu compound

dvi + gāvo > digu (two cows)

There are two kinds of numerical compounds

(collective numerical compounds)

taken collectively or as group and occur in neuter singular

ekabhattaṃ (one meal)

ekāhaṃ (one day)

ekavacanaṃ (singular word (gram))

dvīhaṃ (two days)

dirattaṃ (two nights)

ticīvaraṃ (three robes)

tīhaṃ (three days)

tipiṭakaṃ (three baskets)

tiyojanaṃ (three yojanas)

catumadhuraṃ (four sweets)

catusaccaṃ (four truths)

pañcakaṭukaṃ (five bitter herbs)

pañcasīlaṃ (five precepts)

saḷāyatanaṃ (six sense fields)

chāratta (six nights)

chāhaṃ (six days)

chadvāraṃ (six doors)

sattāhaṃ (seven days = week)

sattaratanaṃ (seven treasures)

etc.

(individual numerical compounds)

These compounds normally take the gender of the last member, in the plural and are taken individually.

tibhavā (three states of existence)

catubbaṇṇā (four castes)

pañcabalāni (five powers)

pañcindriyāni (five faculties)

aṭṭhānisaṃsā (eight benefits)

etc.