The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

the keepers (and liberal spenders) of underground riches, hidden treasures etc., with which they delight
men: see e. g. the frame story to Pv ii.11 (PvA 145), and to iv.12 (PvA 274). They enjoy every kind of
splendour & enjoyment, hence their attribute k!ma -- k!min Pv i.33. Hence they possess supernatural
powers, can transfer themselves to any place with their palaces and work miracles; a frequent attribute of
theirs is mah' iddhika (Pv ii.910; J vi.118). Their appearance is splendid, as a result of former merit: cp. Pv
i.2; i.9; ii.11; iv.317. At the same time they are possessed of odd qualities (as result of former demerit);
they are shy, and afraid of palmyra leaf & iron: J iv.492; their eyes are red & do not wink: J v. 34; vi.336,
337. -- Their abode is their self -- created palace (Vim!na), which is anywhere in the air, or in trees etc. (see
under vim!na). Sometimes we find a communion of yakkhas grouped in a town, e. g. 4)akamand! D ii.147;
Sir"sa -- vatthu (in Ceylon) Mhvs 7, 32. 6. Their essential human character is evident also from their
attitude towards the "Dhamma." In this respect many of them are "fallen angels" and take up the word of
the Buddha, thus being converted and able to rise to a higher sphere of existence in sa's!ra. Cp. D iii.194,
195; J ii.17; VvA 333; Pv ii.810 (where "yakkha" is expld by Dhp!la as "pet -- attabh!vato cuto (so read for
mato!) yakkho ata' j!to dev -- attabh!va' patto" PvA 110); SnA 301 (both S(ciloma & Khara converted). -
- See in general also the foll. passages: Sn 153, 179, 273, 449; S i.206 -- 15; A i.160; Vism 366 (in simile);
Miln 23. 7. Exceptionally the term "yakkha" is used as a philosophical term denoting the "individual soul"
[cp. similar Vedic meaning "das lebendige Ding" (B.R.) at several AV. passages]; hence probably the old
phrase: ett!vat! yakkhassa suddhi (purification of heart) Sn 478, quoted VvA 333 (ett!vat' agga' no vadanti
h' eke yakkhassa sudhi' idha pa*.it!se). Sn 875 (cp. Nd1 282: yakkha=satta, nara, puggala, manussa). --
ânubh!va the potency of a yakkha J i.240. -- !vi&&ha possessed by a y. J vi.586. -- iddhi (yakkh˚) magic
power of a y. PvA 117, 241. -- ga*a the multitude of ys. J vi.287. -- gaha=following DhA iii.362. -- g!ha
"yakkha -- grip," being seized by a y. S i.208; PvA 144. -- &&h!na the dwelling -- place of a y. -- d!s" "a
female temple slave," or perhaps "possessed by a demon" (?) J vi.501 (v. l. BB devat! -- pavi&&h! cp. p.
586: yakkh' !vi&&h!.) -- nagara city of ys. J ii.127 (=Sir"savatthu); cp. pis!ca -- nagara. -- pura id. Mhvs
7.32. -- bhavana the realm or abode of the y. Nd1 448. -- bh(ta a yakkha -- being, a ghost Pv iii.52 (=pis!ca
-- bh(ta v! yakkha -- bh. v! PvA 198); iv.135. -- mahiddhi=˚iddhi; Pv iv.154. -- yoni the y. -- world, realm
of the y. SnA 301. -- sam!gama meeting of the y. PvA 55 (where also devaputt! join). -- s(kara a y. in the
form of a pig VbhA 494. -- sen! army of ys. D iii.194; SnA 209. -- sen!pati chief -- commander of the
yakkha -- army J iv.478; SnA 197.
Yakkhatta
Yakkhatta (nt.) [fr. yakkha] condition of a higher demon or yakkha D ii.57; A ii.39; PvA 117.
Yakkhin"
Yakkhin" (f.) [fr. yakkha, perhaps corresponding directly to Vedic yak+i*", f. of yak+in; adj. persecuting,
taking vengeance, appld to Varu*a at RV. vii.884] a female yakkha, a vampire. Their character is usually
fierce & full of spite & vengeance, addicted to man -- & beast-murder (cp. yakkha 2). They are very much
like Pet"s in habits. With their names cp. those of the yakkhas, as enumd under yakkha 4. -- Vin iii.37; iv.20
(where sexual intercourse with y. is forbidden to the bhikkhus); S i.209 (Piyankara -- m!t!); J i.240 (as a
goat), 395 sq.; ii.127; iii.511; v.21 (eating a baby), 209 (eaten by a y.); vi.336 (desirous of eating a child);
Vism 121 (singing), 382 (four: Piyankara -- m!t!, Uttaram!t!, Phussa -- mitt!, Dhammagutt!), 665 (in
simile); Mhvs 7, 11 (Kuva**!, i. e. bad -- coloured); 10, 53 (Cetiy!); 12, 21 (H!rit! "Charming" or fr. harita
"green" (?)); DhA i.47; ii.35, 36 (a y. in the form of a cow, eating 4 people in successive births). Note. A by
-- form of yakkhin" is yakkh". -- bh!va the state of being a yakkhin" J i.240; ii.128 (yakkhini˚).
Yakkh"
Yakkh" (f.) [direct formation fr. yakkha, like pet" fr. peta; form older than yakkhin" (?)]=yakkhin" S i.11;
Vin iii.121; iv.20; J iv.492; Mhvs 7, 26.
Yagghe