Atthapaṭisambhida and Dhammapaṭisambhida

Discrimination of Meaning

Analytical Insight of Consequence & Discrimination of Law or Analytical Insight of Origin – knowledge related to the meanings and classifications which enables one to discern or explain internal and external consequences of a preceding condition (paccaya) analyzed with infinite continuities with additional states yet to arise which demonstrates a greater understanding of impermanence, suffering, and not-self (knowing the cause and effect of the dhammas).  This knowledge is gained from the experiences in the realm of senses, has functionality, and arises based on conditions.   Meaning, as rendered from the Visuddhimagga, is: “a term for the fruit of a cause.  For in accordance with the cause it is served, arrived at, reached, therefore is called ‘meaning’ (or purpose).  But in particular the five things, namely: (1) anything conditionally produced, (2) nibbana, (3) the meaning of what is spoken, (4) kammaresult, and (5) functional consciousness – should be understood as meaning.  When anyone reviews that meaning, any knowledge of his, falling within the category concerned with meaning, is the discrimination of meaning.” Here are some illustrated differences: 

“Knowledge about suffering is the discrimination of meaning; knowledge about the origin of suffering is the discrimination of law.  ...Knowledge about ageing and death is the discrimination of meaning; knowledge about the origin of ageing and death is the discrimination of law...”

Niruttipaṭisambhida: 

Discrimination of Language or Analytical Insight of Philology should be understood as meaning.  When anyone reviews that meaning, any knowledge of his, falling within the category concerned with meaning, is the discrimination of meaning.

mundane and limited to sound... is reasoned-knowledge concerned with the studying, thinking, and listening to the utterance of the natural enunciated language (the spoken words, the sounds or tones as the object, not the concepts) which enables the capacity of effecting the discerning, the explaining, or clarifying the definition of the language used.  When the sound is heard, reasoned-discrimination occurs as to the naturalness of the sound.

Paṭibhaṇapatisambhida:

"Means the discrimination of meaning." Discrimination of Intelligence or Analytical Insight of Knowledge – concerned with development of the illumitive insight or intelligence (perspicuity) which involves the full and correct understanding of the previous categories capable of affecting the discerning, the explaining, the definition of the previously developed knowledge or intelligence.  Discrimination of Intelligence has a measureless object when reviewing supramundane profitable and resultant kinds of knowledge.  There are two planes to operate from: the plane of the student (sekkhabhumi) and the plane of the teacher (asekkha-bhumi).