<p>You can only search the suttas (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/search?query=arati" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>) until you find an unambiguous contextual example.</p>
<p>For example, <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an6.113/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 6.133 Arati Sutta</a> is not unambiguous but points to 'resentment' inciting revenge:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? arati,
cruelty (vihiṁsā) and unprincipled conduct (adhammacariyā). These are the three things. To give
up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You
should develop rejoicing to give up arati, harmlessness to give
up cruelty and principled conduct to give up unprincipled conduct.
These are the three things you should develop to give up those three
things.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn9.4/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 9.4</a> appears more clear and points to &quot;dissatisfaction&quot;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Seeing so many vacated seats today, <strong>Arati</strong> viya mejja khāyati, it
seems to me that they must have become <strong>dissatisfied [unappreciative]</strong>. Bahuke disvāna
vivitte āsane; They were so learned, such brilliant speakers! Te
cittakathā bahussutā, Where have these disciples of Gotama gone?” Kome
gotamasāvakā gatā”ti</p>
</blockquote>
<p>You keep examining suttas as above until conclusive (if possible). In fact, the above method is the only method of understanding the True Dhamma.</p>
<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn5.1/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 5.1</a> below is clearer:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Sensual pleasures are like swords and stakes; Sattisūlūpamā kāmā, the
aggregates are their chopping block. khandhāsaṁ adhikuṭṭanā; What you
call sensual <strong>delight</strong> Yaṁ tvaṁ kāma<strong>rati</strong>ṁ brūsi, has become <strong>non delight</strong>
for me.” <strong>arati</strong> mayha sā ahū”ti.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Based on the above, it appears &quot;discontentment&quot; is the most general meaning.</p>
<p>Again, <a href="https://suttacentral.net/snp3.2/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Snp 3.2</a> below supports &quot;discontent&quot; because it is contented to sensual pleasures and hunger &amp; thirst:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Sensual pleasures are your first army, Kāmā te paṭhamā senā, the
second is called <strong>discontent</strong>, Dutiyā <strong>arati</strong> vuccati; hunger and thirst
are the third, Tatiyā khuppipāsā te, and the fourth is said to be
craving. Catutthī taṇhā pavuccati. Your fifth is dullness and drowsiness, Pañcamaṁ thinamiddhaṁ te,
the sixth is said to be
cowardice, Chaṭṭhā bhīrū pavuccati; your seventh is doubt, Sattamī
vicikicchā te, contempt and obstinacy are your eighth. Makkho thambho
te aṭṭhamo.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Again, <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an1.11-20/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 1.13</a> below clearly points to &quot;discontentment&quot; or &quot;lack of joy&quot;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that gives rise to dullness
and drowsiness, or, when they have arisen, makes them increase and
grow like <strong>discontent [unappreciativeness]</strong>, sloth, yawning, sleepiness after eating, and
mental sluggishness. “Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi
samanupassāmi yena anuppannaṁ vā thinamiddhaṁ uppajjati uppannaṁ vā
thinamiddhaṁ bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave,
<strong>arati</strong> tandī vijambhitā bhattasammado cetaso ca līnattaṁ.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The above sutta concludes my search.</p>
<p>In summary, while resentment can be a form of discontentment, it appears the general meaning of 'arati' is 'discontentment' or 'lack of joy/appreciation'.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-10-20T18:20:54.120Z
Kama-rati ("a man stupefied by desire")
blue_ego
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-19T03:19:24.653Z
2024-10-19T09:40:40.813Z
2024-10-19T09:40:40.813Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>I assume it's the same root as in 'ratana' which means 'a gem', 'precious', 'jewel', 'treasure' and with a negative prefix for 'not-precious' with semantic properties of 'disliked', 'unwanted' etc as aratana. The ratana to rati is as aratana to arati.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-10-21T00:00:29.300Z
Interesting take where some etymological confirmation would be handy.
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-19T05:49:30.490Z
2024-10-19T09:27:22.053Z
2024-10-19T09:27:22.053Z
user23657
<p>The Pali term &quot;Arati&quot; is defined in Sutta Central as</p>
<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/define/arati" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://suttacentral.net/define/arati</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>dislike, discontent, aversion</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Others translate it differently, however. Thanissaro Bhikkhu, for example, translates it as &quot;resentment.&quot; What textual evidence is there from the Pali Suttas, as well as the parallels, that supports one or the other of these translations?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-19T03:42:34.880Z
when i lived in Thailand, i recall "envy" was the opposite of "mudita". Possibly Thanissaro was influenced by Thai teachings.
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-12T06:11:17.190Z
@DhammaDhatu I had neither upvoted nor downvoted your answer; however, looking at it now, it seems like a well researched answer, and so I gave it an upvote. I would still be interested to know if there are any suttas which fit “resentment” better than “discontentment.”
Jbag1212
<translation>
Translation of Pali term "Arati"
# Translation of Pali term "Arati"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-03-19)

The Pali term "Arati" is defined in Sutta Central as

<https://suttacentral.net/define/arati>

> dislike, discontent, aversion

Others translate it differently, however. Thanissaro Bhikkhu, for example, translates it as "resentment." What textual evidence is there from the Pali Suttas, as well as the parallels, that supports one or the other of these translations?

**Tags:** translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: when i lived in Thailand, i recall "envy" was the opposite of "mudita". Possibly Thanissaro was influenced by Thai teachings.  
> **username_0**: @DhammaDhatu I had neither upvoted nor downvoted your answer; however, looking at it now, it seems like a well researched answer, and so I gave it an upvote. I would still be interested to know if there are any suttas which fit “resentment” better than “discontentment.”  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-03-19. Score: 1

You can only search the suttas ([here](https://suttacentral.net/search?query=arati)) until you find an unambiguous contextual example.

For example, [AN 6.133 Arati Sutta](https://suttacentral.net/an6.113/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin) is not unambiguous but points to 'resentment' inciting revenge:

> Mendicants, there are these three things. What three? arati,
> cruelty (vihiṁsā) and unprincipled conduct (adhammacariyā). These are the three things. To give
> up these three things you should develop three things. What three? You
> should develop rejoicing to give up arati, harmlessness to give
> up cruelty and principled conduct to give up unprincipled conduct.
> These are the three things you should develop to give up those three
> things.

[SN 9.4](https://suttacentral.net/sn9.4/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin) appears more clear and points to "dissatisfaction":

> Seeing so many vacated seats today, **Arati** viya mejja khāyati, it
> seems to me that they must have become **dissatisfied [unappreciative]**. Bahuke disvāna
> vivitte āsane; They were so learned, such brilliant speakers! Te
> cittakathā bahussutā, Where have these disciples of Gotama gone?” Kome
> gotamasāvakā gatā”ti

You keep examining suttas as above until conclusive (if possible). In fact, the above method is the only method of understanding the True Dhamma.

[SN 5.1](https://suttacentral.net/sn5.1/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin) below is clearer:

> Sensual pleasures are like swords and stakes; Sattisūlūpamā kāmā, the
> aggregates are their chopping block. khandhāsaṁ adhikuṭṭanā; What you
> call sensual **delight** Yaṁ tvaṁ kāma**rati**ṁ brūsi, has become **non delight**
> for me.” **arati** mayha sā ahū”ti.

Based on the above, it appears "discontentment" is the most general meaning.

Again, [Snp 3.2](https://suttacentral.net/snp3.2/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin) below supports "discontent" because it is contented to sensual pleasures and hunger & thirst:

> Sensual pleasures are your first army, Kāmā te paṭhamā senā, the
> second is called **discontent**, Dutiyā **arati** vuccati; hunger and thirst
> are the third, Tatiyā khuppipāsā te, and the fourth is said to be
> craving. Catutthī taṇhā pavuccati. Your fifth is dullness and drowsiness, Pañcamaṁ thinamiddhaṁ te,
> the sixth is said to be
> cowardice, Chaṭṭhā bhīrū pavuccati; your seventh is doubt, Sattamī
> vicikicchā te, contempt and obstinacy are your eighth. Makkho thambho
> te aṭṭhamo.

Again, [AN 1.13](https://suttacentral.net/an1.11-20/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin) below clearly points to "discontentment" or "lack of joy":

> Mendicants, I do not see a single thing that gives rise to dullness
> and drowsiness, or, when they have arisen, makes them increase and
> grow like **discontent [unappreciativeness]**, sloth, yawning, sleepiness after eating, and
> mental sluggishness. “Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi
> samanupassāmi yena anuppannaṁ vā thinamiddhaṁ uppajjati uppannaṁ vā
> thinamiddhaṁ bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya saṁvattati yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave,
> **arati** tandī vijambhitā bhattasammado cetaso ca līnattaṁ.

The above sutta concludes my search.

In summary, while resentment can be a form of discontentment, it appears the general meaning of 'arati' is 'discontentment' or 'lack of joy/appreciation'.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Kama-rati ("a man stupefied by desire")  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-04-19. Score: 0

I assume it's the same root as in 'ratana' which means 'a gem', 'precious', 'jewel', 'treasure' and with a negative prefix for 'not-precious' with semantic properties of 'disliked', 'unwanted' etc as aratana. The ratana to rati is as aratana to arati.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Interesting take where some etymological confirmation would be handy.  

---

