puñña

Puñña, often transliterated as punna, is a term in Buddhism and related Indian traditions that refers to merit or virtuous action. Etymologically derived from the Sanskrit puṇya and the Pali puñña, the word denotes what is morally good and yields positive karmic outcomes.

In Buddhist thought, puñña is cultivated through wholesome actions, most commonly generosity (dāna), ethical conduct (sīla), and mental development (bhāvanā). It can also arise from study, proper intention, respectful conduct, and rituals perceived as meritorious. The accumulation of puñña is linked to the law of karma: wholesome actions increase favorable conditions in future existences, including better rebirths, and may support progress on the Buddhist path.

Many traditions teach the transfer or dedication of merit to others, notably the deceased, to assist their welfare. This practice strengthens social and ethical duties and broadens the scope of merit beyond the individual.

Different Buddhist traditions frame puñña in various ways. In Theravada, merit is central to lay and monastic practice and is explicitly connected to rebirth and the eventual liberation from samsara. Mahayana and Vajrayana perspectives often present merit as a supportive faculty that can be mobilized for compassionate aims, sometimes emphasizing collective merit and the transformation of merit into wisdom through intention and practice.

Some modern interpretations warn against equating merit with personal gain or using it to justify social status, stressing instead that merit arises from ethical conduct and compassion. Across traditions, puñña remains one component of the broader karmic framework (kamma) that underlies ethical life in Buddhist thought.

See also: Karma, Pāpa, Dāna, Sīla.