sutta please. u can start with Dhp 333 & SN 55.1
based on my research, we will not find paṭilābha used in way to describe sense bases growing on an embryo or leaves growing on a tree
paṭilābha appears to means a person acts willfully to obtain something they did not previously have
Dhp 333 wrote:333. Good is virtue until life's end, good is faith that is steadfast, good is the acquisition (paṭilābha) of wisdom, and good is the avoidance of evil.
SN 55.1 wrote:And between the gaining (paṭilābha) of the four continents and the gaining (paṭilābha) of these four qualities (four factors of stream-entry), the gaining of the four continents is not equal to one sixteenth of the gaining of these four qualities.
AN 8.2 wrote:“Mendicants, there are eight causes and reasons that lead to acquiring the wisdom fundamental to the spiritual life, and to its increase, growth, and full development once it has been acquired.
“Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, hetū aṭṭha paccayā ādibrahmacariyikāya paññāya appaṭiladdhāya paṭilābhāya, paṭiladdhāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā saṁvattanti
MN 98 refers to the below as "knowing dependent origination":AN 8.46 wrote:“Sir, Anuruddha, we are the deities called ‘Loveable’. We wield authority and control over three things.
“mayaṁ, bhante anuruddha, manāpakāyikā nāma devatā tīsu ṭhānesu issariyaṁ kārema vasaṁ vattema.
We can turn [get] any color we want.
Mayaṁ, bhante anuruddha, yādisakaṁ vaṇṇaṁ ākaṅkhāma tādisakaṁ vaṇṇaṁ ṭhānaso paṭilabhāma;
We can get any voice that we want.
yādisakaṁ saraṁ ākaṅkhāma tādisakaṁ saraṁ ṭhānaso paṭilabhāma;
We can get any pleasure that we want.
yādisakaṁ sukhaṁ ākaṅkhāma tādisakaṁ sukhaṁ ṭhānaso paṭilabhāma.
While MN 98 does not mention "paṭilabhā", based on the above quote from MN 98:Who makes his living among men By stealing, you should know Is called a robber, Vasettha; He is not a brahmin.
Who makes his living among men By archery, you should know Is called a soldier, Vasettha; He is not a brahmin.
Who makes his living among men By priestly craft, you should know Is called a chaplain, Vasettha; He is not a brahmin.
Whoever governs among men The town and realm, you should know Is called a ruler, Vasettha; He is not a brahmin.
* to be a category of being called a "robber", one must obtain (paṭilabhā) the sense object of booty or stolen goods
* to be a category of being called an "archer", one must obtain (paṭilabhā) the sense object of hitting the target with arrows
* to be a category of being called a "priest", one must obtain (paṭilabhā) the sense object of devotees
* to be a category of being called a "ruker", one must obtain (paṭilabhā) the sense object of power & jurisdiction
Therefore returning to SN 12.2:
If you don't believe "jati" can mean "identity", there is MN 86:And what, bhikkhus, is birth (social identity)? The birth of the various beings into the various categories of beings, their being born, entering, production, the manifestation of their aggregates, the obtaining of their sense objects. This is called birth
To obtain (paṭilābha) the Noble Birth, Angulimala was required to obtain (paṭilābha) certain wisdoms & virtues.“In that case, Aṅgulimāla, go to that woman and say this:
“Tena hi tvaṁ, aṅgulimāla, yena sā itthī tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ itthiṁ evaṁ vadehi:
‘Ever since I was born in the noble birth, sister, I don’t recall having intentionally taken the life of a living creature. By this truth, may both you and your baby be safe.’”
‘yatohaṁ, bhagini, ariyāya jātiyā jāto, nābhijānāmi sañcicca pāṇaṁ jīvitā voropetā, tena saccena sotthi te hotu, sotthi gabbhassā’”ti.