➥ limpati:

• for limpati:
  • to tarnish
  • to cleave to
• for lippati:
  • to be tarnished by
• for upalimpati:
  • to cleave to
• for upalippati:
  • to be tarnished by

Spelling: lippati and limpati

PED says that in the Suttanipāta, whether the spelling is limpati or lippati is ‘doubtful,’ because both words are found as readings, but it acknowledges that lippati is passive. Therefore limpati is active.

Support for either spelling can be found amongst the various sutta editions, so we choose spelling according to our own schedule. Where the passive sense is meant, we choose lippati, lippasi and upalippati in preference to limpati, limpasi and upalimpati. This spelling is usually supported by the VRI edition, and usually unsupported by the BJT edition.

Case indicators

• The passive sense (lippati) is indicated by the instrumental case.
• The active sense (limpati) takes an object in the locative case.

Limpati: cleave to, or tarnish

The active sense (limpati) mostly means ‘cleave to,’ but occasionally ‘tarnish’:

• Just as a waterdrop does not cleave to a lotus leaf (udabindu yathāpi pokkhare… na limpati)… likewise the sage does not cleave to what is seen (evaṁ muni nopalimpati yadidaṁ diṭṭha Snp 812).
• Lamentation and stinginess do not tarnish him, just as water does not tarnish a lotus leaf. Tasmiṁ paridevamaccharaṁ paṇṇe vāri yathā na limpati. (Snp 811)

Lippati: tarnished by [attachment to]

The passive sense (lippati) always means ‘tarnished by [attachment to]’ or ‘tarnished by [contact with].’

• a white lotus is untarnished by [contact with] water (nūpalippati AN ii 39).

The advantage of these parentheses can be seen in illustrations below, but consider this one:

• He is untarnished by [attachment to] originated phenomena as the lotus is untarnished by [contact with] water.

Puṇḍarīkaṁ va toyena saṅkhārenupalippati. (Tha 1180)

Norman says: ‘He is not defiled by the constituent elements as the lotus is not defiled by water.’ But constituent elements are not themselves defiling. As the suttas say:

• The world’s attractive things remain as they are. The wise eliminate their hankering for them.

Tiṭṭhanti citrāni tatheva loke athettha dhīrā vinayanti chandan ti. (AN iii 411)

Upalitta: past participle

Upalitta operates as the past participle of both upalimpati and upalippati. Thus it means either ‘one who cleaves’ or ‘one who is tarnished by [attachment to].’

Upa- prefix

The upa- prefix is insignificant. It associated with both cleaving and tarnishing. Words with or without the prefix are used interchangeably.

Illustration: limpati, cleaves to

Knowing that what is originated is unlovely, my mind cleaves to nothing at all.

Saṅkhatamasubhan ti jāniya sabbattheva mano na limpati. (Thi 388)

➥ upalimpati: (main article see: limpati)

Illustration: upalimpati, cleave to; limpati, cleave to

Just as a waterdrop does not cleave to a lotus leaf, just as water does not cleave to a lotus flower, likewise the sage does not cleave to what is seen, heard, sensed, [or cognised].

Udabindu yathāpi pokkhare padume vāri yathā na limpati
Evaṁ muni nopalimpati yadidaṁ diṭṭhasutaṁ mutesu vā. (Snp 812)

Illustration: limpati, cleave to

Whoever does not cleave to sensuous pleasures as water does not cleave to a lotus leaf, or as a mustard seed does not cleave to the tip of an arrow, he is what I call a Brahman.

Vāri pokkharapatte va āraggeriva sāsapo
Yo na limpati kāmesu tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. (Snp 625)

Illustration: limpati, cleave to

A wise person does not cleave to what is seen or heard.

Na limpati diṭṭhasutesu dhīro. (Snp 778)

➥ limpasi: (main article see: limpati)

Illustration: limpasi, cleave to; upalimpati, cleave to

As a beautiful white lotus does not cleave to water, so you do not cleave to merit and demerit.

Puṇḍarikaṁ yathā vaggu toye na upalimpati
Evaṁ puññe ca pāpe ca ubhaye tvaṁ na limpasi. (Snp 547)

➥ nupalippati: (main article see: limpati)

Illustration: nupalippati, untarnished

He is untarnished by [attachment to] the world [of phenomena], like the lotus is untarnished by [contact with] water.

Nūpalippati lokena toyena padumaṁ yathā. (AN iii 347)

➥ nūpalippati: (main article see: limpati)

Illustration: nūpalippati, untarnished; nūpalitto, untarnished

Just as a beautiful white lotus is untarnished by [contact with] water, I am untarnished by [attachment to] the world. Therefore, brahman, I am a Buddha.

Puṇḍarīkaṁ yathā vaggu toyena nūpalippati
Nūpalittomhi lokena tasmā buddhosmi brāhmaṇā ti. (AN ii 39)

➥ alippamāno: (main article see: limpati)

Illustration: alippamāno, untarnished

Clad in robes, I live the religious life without a home, with a shaven head, with ego completely extinguished, untarnished in the world by [attachment to] human beings.

Saṅghāṭivāsī agaho carāmi nivuttakeso abhinibbutatto
Alippamāno idha māṇavehi. (Snp 456)

➥ upalippati: (main article see: limpati)

Illustration: upalippati, untarnished

[He is] like the fragrant and charming lotus born in water: it grows in water but is untarnished by [contact with] water. Likewise, the Buddha born into the world dwells in the world yet is untarnished by [attachment to] the world, just as the lotus is untarnished by [contact with] water.

Yathāpi udake jātaṁ puṇḍarīkaṁ pavaḍḍhati
Nopalippati toyena sucigandhaṁ manoramaṁ.
Tatheva ca loke jāto buddho loke viharati
Nopalippati lokena toyena padumaṁ yathā. (Tha 700-1, AN iii 347)

➥ upalitto: (main article see: limpati)

Illustration: upalitto, untarnished

As the prickly water lotus is untarnished by [contact with] water and mud, so the sage, professing peace, and free of greed, is untarnished by [attachment to] sensuous pleasure and the world [of phenomena].

Elambujaṁ kaṇṭakaṁ vārijaṁ yathā jalena paṅkena canupalittaṁ
Evaṁ muni santivādo agiddho kāme ca loke ca anupalitto. (Snp 845)

Illustration: upalitto, cleaving

Not cleaving to merit and demerit

Puññe ca pāpe ca anupalitto. (Snp 790)

Illustration: upalitto, cleaving

The sage, not cleaving to possessions.

pariggahesu muni nopalitto. (Snp 779)