➥ unnaḷā:

• for unnaḷa:
  • frivolous
• unnaḷa: frivolous
• unnaḷassa: frivolous
• unnaḷānaṁ: frivolous
• unnaḷo: frivolous

Unnaḷa: frivolous

Many meanings have been ascribed to unnaḷa, but illustrations below show that Norman’s ‘frivolous’ works well.

Collins Compact Dictionary: frivolous

• 1) not serious or sensible in content, attitude or behaviour.
• 2) unworthy of serious or sensible treatment

Webster’s Dictionary: frivolous

• 1) of little weight or importance
• 2a) lacking in seriousness; irresponsibly self-indulgent
• 2b) marked by unbecoming levity

Illustration: unnaḷā, frivolous

Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who are deceitful, puffed up, talkative, haughty, frivolous, inwardly uncollected, are not my bhikkhus.

Ye te bhikkhave bhikkhū kuhā thaddhā lapā siṅgī unnaḷā asamāhitā na me te bhikkhave bhikkhū māmakā. (AN ii 26; Iti 113)

Being frivolous, thin-skinned fools, unestablished in virtue, they will wander about like combative deer.

Ujjhānasaññino bālā sīlesu asamāhitā
Unnaḷā vicarissanti kalahābhiratā magā. (Tha 958)

➥ unnaḷassa: (main article see: unnaḷā)

Illustration: unnaḷassa, frivolous

The virtue, inward collectedness, and penetrative discernment of a bhikkhu who is frivolous, negligently applied [to the practice], and with hopes directed to external things, do not reach fulfilment.

Unnaḷassa pamattassa bāhirāsassa bhikkhuno
Sīlaṁ samādhi paññā ca pāripūriṁ na gacchati. (Tha 634)

➥ unnaḷānaṁ: (main article see: unnaḷā)

Illustration: unnaḷānaṁ, frivolous

What should be done is shunned. What should be avoided is done. Of those who are frivolous and negligently applied [to the practice] their perceptually obscuring states increase.

Yaṁ hi kiccaṁ tadapaviddhaṁ akiccaṁ pana kayirati
Unnaḷānaṁ pamattānaṁ tesaṁ vaḍḍhanti āsavā. (Tha 635; Dhp 292)

➥ unnaḷo: (main article see: unnaḷā)

Illustration: unnaḷo, frivolous

A vain, frivolous fool in whom no virtue is found deserves the white robe. What will he do with an ochre robe?

Uddhato unnaḷo bālo sīlaṁ yassa na vijjati
Odātakaṁ arahati kāsāvaṁ kiṁ karissati. (Tha 973)