Mucchañcikatā
Mucchañcikatā,(°añji°) is probably the correct reading for puñcikatā.-- We find puñcikatā at Dhs.1136,1230; Vbh.351,361 (v.l.pucchañji°); DhsA.365; mucchañci° at Nd1 8 & Nd2 p.152; pucchañji° at VbhA.477.The meaning is “agitation,” as seen from expln of term at DhsA.365 (“wagging of a dog’s tail,” pucchaṁ cāleti),and VbhA.477 (“lābhan’âlābhanaka-ṭhāne vedhanā kampanā nīcavuttatā”).-- The etym.expln is difficult; we may take it as a (misunderstood) corruption of *mucch-aṅgi-kata i.e.mucchā+aṅga+kṛ “being made stiff-of-limbs,” or “swoon.” Psychologically we may take “swoon” as the climax of agitation,almost like “hysterics.” A similar case of a similar term of swooning being interpreted by Bdhgh as “wavering” (cal) is chambhitatta “paralysis,” expld as “sakalasarīra calanaṁ” at DA.I,50.-- The expression mucchañcikatā reminds us of the term kaṭukañcukatā.(Page 535)