[100] Therein, which is the eye base (cakkhāyatana)? The eye which is the sensitivity (pasāda) derived from the four great elements (mahābhūta) …¹ this too is an empty village — this is called the eye base.
Therein, which is the ear base (sotāyatana), the nose base (ghānāyatana), the tongue base (jivhāyatana), the body base (kāyāyatana)? The body which is the sensitivity derived from the four great elements … this too is an empty village — this is called the body base.
Therein, which is the mind base (manāyatana)? In one way (ekavidhena): the mind base is associated with contact (phassa). In two ways (duvidhena): there is mind base with root (sahetuka); there is without root (ahetuka). In three ways (tividhena): there is wholesome (kusala); there is unwholesome (akusala); there is indeterminate (abyākata). …² Thus in many ways (bahuvidhena) is the mind base. This is called the mind base.
Therein, which is the form base (rūpāyatana)? The form which, derived from the four great elements, is visible colour (vaṇṇanibhā) … this too is the form element (rūpadhātu) — this is called the form base.
Therein, which is the sound base (saddāyatana), the odour base (gandhāyatana), the taste base (rasāyatana), the tangible base (phoṭṭhabbāyatana)? The earth element (paṭhavī-dhātu) … this too is the tangible element (phoṭṭhabba-dhātu) — this is called the tangible base.
Therein, which is the dhamma base (dhammāyatana)? The feeling aggregate (vedanākkhandha), the perception aggregate (saññākkhandha), the volitional-formations aggregate (saṅkhārakkhandha); and that form which is invisible (anidassana), non-impinging (appaṭigha), included in the dhamma base; and the unconditioned element (asaṅkhatā dhātu).
Therein, which is the feeling aggregate? In one way: the feeling aggregate is associated with contact … Thus in many ways is the feeling aggregate. This is called the feeling aggregate.
Therein, which is the perception aggregate? In one way: the perception aggregate is associated with contact … Thus in many ways is the perception aggregate. This is called the perception aggregate.
Therein, which is the volitional-formations aggregate? In one way: the volitional-formations aggregate is associated with mind (citta) … Thus in many ways is the volitional-formations aggregate. This is called the volitional-formations aggregate.
Therein, which is the form that is invisible, non-impinging, included in the dhamma base? The femininity faculty (itthindriya) … edible food (kabaḷiṅkārāhāra) — this is called the form that is invisible, non-impinging, included in the dhamma base.
Therein, which is the unconditioned element? The destruction of lust (rāgakkhaya), the destruction of hatred (dosakkhaya), the destruction of delusion (mohakkhaya) — this is called the unconditioned element.
This is called the dhamma base.
The Analysis According to Abhidhamma (Abhidhamma-bhājanīya)
[Siam Raṭṭha edition footnotes — ¹ "To be seen in the Dhammasaṅgaṇī [516]." ² "To be seen in the Khandhavibhaṅga [74]."]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.