vaa
the word vaa, indeclinable and enclitic, means or, either.
Be careful not to confuse with va, which is shortened of iva or eva, has two
meanings: (1) only, just, surely; (2) like.
(1) DN2 Sama~n~naphala Sutta CSCD174/PTS1.56
Tattha natthi hantaa vaa ghaatetaa vaa,
there / is not / killer / or / destroyer
There is no killer or destroyer,
sotaa vaa saavetaa vaa, vi~n~naataa vaa vi~n~naapetaa vaa.
hearer / or / speaker / or / knower / or / explainer
hearer or speaker, knower or explainer.
hanti - to kill;
ghaateti - to kill; to destroy;
saaveti - to make hear; to announce; to declare;
vi~n~naata (pp. of vijaanaati) understood; known;
vi~n~naapeti - to inform; to teach.
(2) DN22 Mahasatipatthana Sutta CSCD375/PTS2.292
Iti ajjhatta.m vaa kaaye kaaya-anupassii viharati,
thus / internally / or / [on] body / one who contemplates the
body / maintains
Thus, (he) who contemplates the body maintains (contemplating) on the body
internally,
bahiddhaa vaa kaaye kaayaanupassii viharati,
externally / or / [on] body / one who contemplates the
body / maintains
or maintains (contemplating) on the body externally,
ajjhatta-bahiddhaa vaa kaaye kaayaanupassii viharati.
internally-externally / or / [on] body / one who contemplates the
body / maintains
or maintains (contemplating) on the body internally and externally.
Alternately:
Thus, one (who contemplates the body) lives contemplating the body
internally, externally, or both internally and externally.
(3) DN31 Sigalovada Sutta CSCD273/PTS3.192
"Ete ca sa"ngahaa naassu, na maataa puttakaara.naa
labhetha maana.m puuja.m vaa, pitaa vaa puttakaara.naa.
The text can rearranged into something like this:
"Ete ca sa"ngahaa naassu, na maataa vaa pitaa vaa puttakaara.naa
labhetha maana.m puuja.m.
"And without these [four] acts, no mother or father will receive honour and
respect from children.
ete (m.pl. from etad) these.
sa"ngaha (m.) act, treatment.
assu (3rd pl. potential) may be.
naassu = na assu, may not be, there would not be.
maatar (f.) mother
putta (m.) son; child.
kaara.na (abl.) by means/way of, through
puttakaara.na - from son/child.
labhetha (labhati 3rd sing. opt.) (will) get, receive.
maana (1) pride, conceit, arrogance; (2) honour, respect.
puujaa (f.) honour, worship.
maanapuujaa honour and respect. [see PED maana2]
pitar (m.) father.
Note: The four acts refer to generosity, sweet speech, helpfulness to others,
and impartiality to all.
(4) Dhammapada 98
Gaame vaa yadi vaara~n~ne, ninne vaa yadi vaa thale
[in] village / or / whether / or [in] forest / [in] valley
/ or / whether / or / [on] hill
whether in the village or in the forest, whether in the valley or on the
hill
yadi whether, if.
vaara~n~ne=vaa+ara~n~ne
(5) Dhammapada 385
Yassa paara.m apaara.m vaa paaraapaara.m na vijjati
that / the other shore / this shore / or / both this shore and the opposite
shore / not / exists
(For whom) there does not exist this shore, the other shore, or both this and
the other shore
paara (n.) the opposite shore, the other side.
apaara (n.) this shore, this side.
paara+apaara (n.) both this shore and the opposite shore.
Word List 1:
01. ca | na
| ti | pe
| vaa | kho
| bhikkhave | hoti
| dhammo | so
11. uppajjati | paccayo
| tattha | pa.ticca |
ta.m | dhammaa |
dhamma.m | te |
eva.m | pana
21. tassa | no |
eka.m | bhikkhu |
tii.ni | tesa.m |
me | bhagavaa |
bhante |
dve
31. aya.m | atha |
tena | ya.m |
hetupaccayaa | nava | atthi | yo | ye |
dhammassa
41. bhikkhuu | aamantaa | citta.m | khandhaa | yassa | ruupa.m | pańca |
viharati | aavuso | vuccati