Verified
Grammatical Analysis
Arahat: [m.] an enlightened one; a liberated person; a saint. Etymologically broken down by commentaries into:
- Āraka (distant), meaning one who is far removed from defilements.
- Ari (enemies) + hata (slain), meaning one who has destroyed the internal enemies of defilements.
- Araha (worthy), meaning one who is fully worthy of receiving the highest offerings and veneration from devas and humans.
Orthodox Definition
An Arahat (or Arahant) is a person who has attained the absolute pinnacle of spiritual development in the Theravāda path. An Arahat has completely destroyed all ten fetters (saṃyojana), including the subtlest traces of conceit (māna), restlessness (uddhacca), and basic ignorance (avijjā).
As a non-learner (asekha), an Arahat has fully accomplished the holy life, laid down the burden, and eradicated all forms of latent defilements (asavakkhaya).
While an Arahat remains alive, they continue to experience sensory inputs and physical conditions, but their mind remains entirely unshakeable, free from greed, anger, or delusion. Crucially, the actions performed by an Arahat no longer generate karmic seeds (kamma-vipāka); their volitions are classified merely as functional actions (kiriya-citta). Upon the death of their physical body (anupādisesa-nibbāna), the process of rebirth ceases entirely.
Quote
‘‘Arahattamaggakkhaṇe dassanaṭṭhena sammādiṭṭhi…pe… avikkhepaṭṭhena sammāsamādhi rūparāgā arūparāgā mānā uddhaccā avijjāya mānānusayā bhavarāgānusayā avijjānusayā vuṭṭhāti, tadanuvattakakilesehi ca khandhehi ca vuṭṭhāti, bahiddhā ca sabbanimittehi vuṭṭhāti.
“At the moment of the Arahantship path (arahatta-magga), right view, by way of seeing… right concentration, by way of non-distraction, arises from craving for form (rūparāga), craving for formless existence (arūparāga), conceit (māna), restlessness (uddhacca), ignorance (avijjā), the underlying tendency of conceit (mānānusayā), the underlying tendency of craving for existence (bhavarāgānusayā), and the underlying tendency of ignorance (avijjānusayā); and it arises from the defilements and aggregates that follow it, and it arises from all external signs.”— Visuddhimagga (du)
Textual References
- Sutta: Kitāgiri Sutta (MN 70) – Clear technical definitions distinguishing the Arahat from those who are still learners (sekha).
- Canonical: Dhammapada (Arahanta Vagga - Chapter 9) – Exalting the pristine qualities and complete freedom of the enlightened ones.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter VII) – Comprehensive etymological and doctrinal exegesis on the attributes of an Arahat.