<p>Etymologically, <code>tapa-niya</code> comes from the word for strong glowing and burning heat, like that of a big fire or sun. It also means the practice of self-torture done by the yogis. So I suppose metaphorically it refers to blaming oneself, torturing oneself, "giving oneself a heat", "beating-up oneself".</p>

<p>While <code>vi-ppati-sara</code> <em>I think</em> means something like "acknowledge result of one's wrongdoing", "realize one's mistake", "admit responsibility", "take blame", "plead guilty", "repent" etc.</p>

<p>So both tapaniya and vippatisara can be used to indicate regret and remorse - but one emphasizes the self-blaming aspect while the other emphasizes going back in time to look at one's past action.</p>

<p><code>Udhacca-kukkucca</code>, <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/27031/43">as I explained in another answer</a>, indicates something completely different -- obsessive wavering about right/wrong action, a <em>scruples</em>. While the previous two words pertain to someone experiencing results of one's past unskillful action, this one pertains to someone's state of worry and anxious wavering while choosing a course of action (including the no-action), even if it's actually the right choice.</p>

<p>Note, that Udhacca-kukkucca is completely different from 'vicikiccha' which is generic scepticism about something external, not anxious wavering about one's action. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-24T20:24:28.183Z
Thank you @Medhiṇī - 'vicikiccha' is "doubt" in a very different sense, it is scepticism (e.g. towards a teacher) - not questioning one's own choices in terms of right/wrong. As for Udhacca-kukkucca, I am familiar with the traditional explanation of these two words according to post-Pali-Canon commentaries and while I think it is correct as far as dictionary meaning of each word, it is incorrect as far as the overall meaning that Buddha has put in it. If you disagree, can you show an example of Pali Sutta where udhacca and/or kukucca are used with reference to the past?
Andriy Volkov
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2018-06-24T20:41:30.353Z
Same here: experience, instructions of live teacher, then Pali Canon, then commentaries. Remorse is a different Pali word altogether: tapaniya and vipattisara, which has nothing to do with Udhacca-kukkucca. Alright, let's agree to disagree - since arguing about word definitions is the silliest mistake one can make.
Andriy Volkov
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2018-06-26T13:54:56.353Z
Without a doubt!
Andriy Volkov
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2018-06-24T18:30:17.020Z
2018-06-25T02:12:33.847Z
2018-06-25T02:12:33.847Z
Andriy Volkov
<p>The Pali word for remorse or regret in the definition of the five hindrances (in <a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn10/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 10</a>) is "kukucca". Sometimes, this word is also translated as worry or anxiety. This word usually appears together with "uddhacca".</p>

<p>However, the Pali word translated as remorse in <a href="https://suttacentral.net/iti30/en/ireland" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Itivuttaka 30</a> is "<a href="https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tapaniya#pali" rel="nofollow noreferrer">tapanīya</a>" (according to <a href="https://suttacentral.net/iti30/pli/ms" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this Pali version</a>).</p>

<p>In <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an11.1/en/thanissaro" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 11.1</a>, <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an11.2/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 11.2</a>, <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an5.41/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 5.41</a>, Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation has the word "remorse", while <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an11.1/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sujato Bhikkhu's translation</a> has the word "regret". The Pali term for this is "<a href="https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vippatisara#pali" rel="nofollow noreferrer">vippaṭisāra</a>". This can also be found in <a href="https://suttacentral.net/ud8.5/en/anandajoti" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Udana 8.5</a>.</p>

<p>What is the difference between these terms?</p>

<pali-canon><philosophy><pali>
Different Pali words for remorse or regret
# Different Pali words for remorse or regret

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-24)

The Pali word for remorse or regret in the definition of the five hindrances (in [MN 10](https://suttacentral.net/mn10/en/sujato)) is "kukucca". Sometimes, this word is also translated as worry or anxiety. This word usually appears together with "uddhacca".

However, the Pali word translated as remorse in [Itivuttaka 30](https://suttacentral.net/iti30/en/ireland) is "[tapanīya](https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tapaniya#pali)" (according to [this Pali version](https://suttacentral.net/iti30/pli/ms)).

In [AN 11.1](https://suttacentral.net/an11.1/en/thanissaro), [AN 11.2](https://suttacentral.net/an11.2/en/sujato), [AN 5.41](https://suttacentral.net/an5.41/en/sujato), Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation has the word "remorse", while [Sujato Bhikkhu's translation](https://suttacentral.net/an11.1/en/sujato) has the word "regret". The Pali term for this is "[vippaṭisāra](https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/vippatisara#pali)". This can also be found in [Udana 8.5](https://suttacentral.net/ud8.5/en/anandajoti).

What is the difference between these terms?

**Tags:** pali-canon, philosophy, pali


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-06-24. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Etymologically, `tapa-niya` comes from the word for strong glowing and burning heat, like that of a big fire or sun. It also means the practice of self-torture done by the yogis. So I suppose metaphorically it refers to blaming oneself, torturing oneself, "giving oneself a heat", "beating-up oneself".

While `vi-ppati-sara` *I think* means something like "acknowledge result of one's wrongdoing", "realize one's mistake", "admit responsibility", "take blame", "plead guilty", "repent" etc.

So both tapaniya and vippatisara can be used to indicate regret and remorse - but one emphasizes the self-blaming aspect while the other emphasizes going back in time to look at one's past action.

`Udhacca-kukkucca`, [as I explained in another answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/27031/43), indicates something completely different -- obsessive wavering about right/wrong action, a *scruples*. While the previous two words pertain to someone experiencing results of one's past unskillful action, this one pertains to someone's state of worry and anxious wavering while choosing a course of action (including the no-action), even if it's actually the right choice.

Note, that Udhacca-kukkucca is completely different from 'vicikiccha' which is generic scepticism about something external, not anxious wavering about one's action.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Thank you @Medhiṇī - 'vicikiccha' is "doubt" in a very different sense, it is scepticism (e.g. towards a teacher) - not questioning one's own choices in terms of right/wrong. As for Udhacca-kukkucca, I am familiar with the traditional explanation of these two words according to post-Pali-Canon commentaries and while I think it is correct as far as dictionary meaning of each word, it is incorrect as far as the overall meaning that Buddha has put in it. If you disagree, can you show an example of Pali Sutta where udhacca and/or kukucca are used with reference to the past?  
> **username_1**: Same here: experience, instructions of live teacher, then Pali Canon, then commentaries. Remorse is a different Pali word altogether: tapaniya and vipattisara, which has nothing to do with Udhacca-kukkucca. Alright, let's agree to disagree - since arguing about word definitions is the silliest mistake one can make.  
> **username_1**: Without a doubt!  

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