upadhi: 'substratum of existence'. In the Com. there are enumerated 4 kinds: the 5 groups (khandha, q.v.), sensuous desire (kāma), mental defilements (kilesa, q.v.), kamma (q.v.). In the Suttas it occurs frequently in Sn. (vv. 33, 364, 546, 728), and, with reference to Nibbāna, in the phrase "the abandoning of all substrata" (sabbūpadhi-paṭinissaggānupassanā; D. 14). See viveka  (3).

Buddhist Dictionary, Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines, by NYANATILOKA MAHATHERA

Upadhi.-A Pacceka Buddha, whose name occurs in a list of names. ApA.i.107.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from

Upadhi [fr. upa + dhā, cp. upadahati & BSk. upadhi Divy 50, 224, 534] 1. putting down or under, foundation, basis, ground, substratum (of rebirth) S i.117, 124, 134, 186; A ii.24 (˚sankhaya); iii.382 (id.); iv.150 (˚kkhaya); It 21, 69; Sn 364, 728 (upadhī -- nidānā dukkha = vaṭṭa -- dukkhaŋ SnA 505), 789, 992; Nd1 27, 141; Nd2 157; Vbh 338; Nett 29; DhA iv.33. -- (2) clinging to rebirth (as impeding spiritual progress), attachment (almost syn. with kilesa or taṇhā, cp. nirupadhi & anupadhi); S A. = pañcakkhandhā, S ii.108. At M i 162 (cp. Sn 33 = S i.6 = i.107) wife and children, flocks and herds, silver and gold are called upadhayo. upadhi is the root of sorrow ib. 454; S ii.108; Sn 728 = 1051 = Th i.152 and the rejection of all upadhis is Nibbāna D ii.36. (cp. S i.136; iii.133; v.226; A i.80; M i.107 = ii.93; Vin i.5, 36 = J i.83 = Mvst ii.444; It 46, 62); D iii.112 calls that which has upadhi ignoble (= non -- Aryan). At S i.117 = Divy 224 upadhi is called a bond (saŋgo). Cp. opadhika. -- The upadhis were later systematized into a set of 10, which are given at Nd2 157 as follows: 5 taṇhɔ upadhis (taṇhā, diṭṭhi, kilesa, kamma, duccarita), āhār -- upadhi, paṭigh˚, catasso upādinnā dhātuyo u. (viz. kāma, diṭṭhi, sīlabbata, attavāda; see D iii.230), cha ajjhattikāni āyatanāni u., cha viññāṇa -- kāyā u. Another modified classification see at Brethren p. 398.

Pali-English Dictionary, TW Rhys Davids, William Stede,

upa-dhí m. the act of putting to, adding, addition Lāṭy

• the part of the wheel between the nave and the circumference RV. ii, 39, 4 AV. vi, 70, 3 Kāṭh

• fraud, circumvention MBh. R. Yājñ. Kir. &c

• condition

• peculiarity, attribute (Buddh

• upâ-dhi)

• support MW

Sanskrit-English Dictionary, by M. Monier William

upa-dhí p. 199, col. 3

Sanskrit-English Dictionary, by M. Monier William

Material basis, substratum.

Sarvastivada Abhidharma, Sanskrit-English Glossary, by Bhikkhu KL Dhammajoti