apamārṣṭi

 

The Sanskrit term apamārṣṭi (अपमार्ष्टि, often appearing in past participle

form as apamṛṣṭa) is derived from the verbal root mṛṣṭ (from the

root √mṛś, meaning "to rub" or "to touch lightly") with the prefix apa-, 

which generally conveys an "away," "removal," or "off" sense in Sanskrit.

Etymology and Morphology

apa-: away, off, removing

mṛṣṭa: touched, rubbed, wiped

apamṛṣṭa / apamārṣṭi: literally, "rubbed off," "wiped away," or "cleaned

by friction"

Thus, the word is a past participle describing an action that has been 

completed: the act of rubbing, wiping, erasing, or cleansing.

Lexical Meaning 

According to classical Sanskrit dictionaries (e.g., the Sanskrit Heritage

Dictionary, Macdonell’s Practical Sanskrit Dictionary):

To wipe off or clean by rubbing: This is the primary sense. It can refer to 

the physical act of erasing something, wiping a surface, or removing 

adherent substances.

To efface or obliterate: In a textual or symbolic sense, it may denote 

erasing letters, inscriptions, markings, or stains.

To purify or cleanse: Extended meanings can include the idea of 

purification by friction or cleaning, metaphorically or literally.

Example Usage in Classical Sanskrit

Though rare, textual occurrences outside Buddhist references may

describe:

Cleaning a surface or object: lekhapadāni apamārṣṭāni ("the letters

have been wiped off")

Polishing or rubbing a material until it shines

Removing blemishes or stains from cloth, metal, or other materials

Summary

Excluding any Buddhist ceremonial or metaphysical interpretations, 

apamārṣṭi fundamentally refers to the action or result of rubbing, 

wiping, or cleansing something. It emphasizes physical removal, 

effacement, or purification through friction or contact.

References

Sanskrit Heritage Dictionary: entry for apamārṣṭi / apamṛṣṭa —

“to rub off, wipe, clean”

Macdonell, A.A., Practical Sanskrit Dictionary (1929) — aligns

with above, describing physical effacing or cleansing actions

In essence:

$\text{apam}\bar{\text{a}}\text{rṣṭi}\approx \text{“rubbed off, wiped clean, effaced” (non-Buddhist sense)}$