Pali Dictionary

gopaka

{gua-pa.ka.} 

UMK-USL p37
n. one who looks after; one who cares for -

PTS p255
gopaka -- a guardian, watchman
cp. khetta-gopaka -- a field watcher -- PTS p238

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gopālaka

{gua-pa-la.ka.} 

PTS p455
pālaka -- (-°) [fr. pā] a guardian, a herdsman

PTS p455
pāla -- (-°) [fr. pā, see pāleti] a guard, a keeper, guardian, protector. Used as: vihāra pāla , dhamma pāla , See also go pāla , loka pāla .

UKT: cp. rakkha -- (adj.) (-°) [fr. base rakkh] guarding or to be guarded -- PTS p560

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gopālaka-nimitta

{gua-pa-la.ka. ni.mit~ta.} 

UMK-USL p37
n. tell-tale signs used by a cow-herd.
UKT: explanation: a commoner such as a cow-herd by looking at certain signs or behaviors made by field-animals could predict the weather. For example if he were to see land-crabs making their burrows (or nests) on higher ground, he would forecast a season of heavy-rains and floods (which would submerge their burrows if the burrows were on lower ground). Another example I have become familiar with during my child-hood days in the town where I was born is the way the weaver-birds made their nests. If they made the nests on the lower-most parts of the toddy palms, the town-folk would forecast a rainy-season of heavy rains and high-winds.

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gopālaka-uposatha

{gua-pa-la.ka. u-pau-tha.hta.} 

UMK-USL p37
n. observing the eight precepts in the manner of a cowherd --

PTS p150
u-po-sa-tha --
UKT note based on PTS: [Vedic upavasatha , the eve of Soma sacrifice, day of preparation]. At the time of the rise of Buddhism, the word had come to mean the four stages of the moon's waxing and waning, viz. 1st, 8th, 15th, 23rd nights of the lunar month. These days were set as weekly sacred day -- a Sabbath. On these sacred days, pre-Buddhistic reforming communities and later the Buddhists expounded their views. The Buddhist monks set the 15th day of the lunar month for recitation of Pāṭimokkha. Though not mandatory, laymen also take the Uposatha Sīla (Eight Precepts) vows on these sacred days. Three kinds of uposatha:
gopālaka-uposatha ;
nigaṇṭha-uposatha ;
ariya-uposatha .

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