𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓

Ashokan Prakrit

Etymology

Etymology tree

Sanskrit उपासक (upāsaka)

Ashokan Prakrit 𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)

Inherited from Sanskrit उपासक (upāsaka).

Noun

𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka) m

1. (Buddhism) lay-worshipper, laity (non-monastic follower of the Buddha)
   • c. 258 BCE, Aśoka, Minor Rock Edict 1 Brahmagiri.2:

     𑀅𑀥𑀺𑀓𑀸𑀦𑀺 𑀅𑀠𑀸𑀢𑀺𑀬𑀸𑀦𑀺 𑀯𑀲𑀸𑀦𑀺 𑀬 𑀳𑀓𑀁 […] 𑀲𑀓𑁂

     adhikāni aḍhātiyāni vasāni ya hakaṃ […] sake

     • 1925 translation by Eugen Hultzsch

       More than two and a half years (have passed) since I (am) a lay-worshipper (upasaka).

Declension

Declension of 𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)
	singular	plural
nominative	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 upāsake	—
accusative	—	—
instrumental	—	—
dative	—	—
ablative	—	—
genitive	—	—
locative	—	—

Alternative forms

Attested at Bahapur, Bairat, Brahmagiri, Gavimath, Gujarra, Nittur, Panguraria, Rajula-Mandagiri, Sahasram, Siddapura, Udegolam and Yerragudi.

Dialectal forms of 𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (“lay-worshipper”)
Variety	Location	Lemmas	Forms edit
Central	Rupnath	𑀧𑀸𑀓𑀸𑀲 𑀲𑀓 (pākāsa saka)	𑀧𑀸𑀓𑀸𑀲 𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg; scribal error? (pākāsa sake)
	Bairat	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
	Sahasram	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
	Gujarra	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	?𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
	Panguraria	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
	Bahapur	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
South	Yerragudi	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	?𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
	Siddapura	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	?𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
	Brahmagiri	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	?𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
	Maski	𑀩𑀼𑀥𑀰𑀓 (budhaśaka)	𑀩𑀼𑀥𑀰𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (budhaśake)
	Rajula-Mandagiri	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	?𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
	Udegolam	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	?𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
	Nittur	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	?𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)
	Gavimath	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka)	𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓𑁂 nom.sg (upāsake)

Map of dialectal forms of 𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (“lay-worshipper”)
𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓 (upāsaka) (12) 𑀧𑀸𑀓𑀸𑀲 𑀲𑀓 (pākāsa saka) (1) 𑀩𑀼𑀥𑀰𑀓 (budhaśaka) (1)

References

• Andersen, Paul Kent (1990) “upāsaka-”, in Studies in the Minor Rock Edicts of Aśoka, Freiburg: Hedwig Falk, page 144