# अक्षर (akṣara)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/akshara

अक्षर (akṣara) is a Sanskrit word meaning imperishable, unalterable, a sword, Shiva, Vishnu, a syllable. Its 64 recorded definitions are grouped into 13 contexts, among them Deity or Supreme Being, Imperishable, Unalterable, Firm, Eternal (Adjectival Quality), Linguistic Unit or Written Record.

- **Etymology:** E. अशू to pervade, and सर Uṇādi affix — E. aśū to pervade, and sara Uṇādi affix
- **SLP1:** `akzara`  **IAST:** akṣara  **Devanagari:** अक्षर
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akshara
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/akshara/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** आक्षार (ākṣāra), अक्षार (akṣāra), अक्षरा (akṣarā)

## Meanings by context

### Deity or Supreme Being (12 definitions)
- Shiva  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Śiva, L. [ ID=580 ]
- Vishnu  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Viṣṇu, L. [ ID=581 ]
- an epithet of Brahma  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 3,2] N. of Brahma [ ID=589 ]
- Shiva  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रः (raḥ) 1 Śiva
- Vishnu  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रः (raḥ) 2 Viṣṇu
- The highest deity or Godhead, the indestructible spirit, Brahma  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 3 The highest deity or Godhead, the indestructible spirit, Brahma ( परमब्रह्मन्, मूलकारणं (paramabrahman, mūlakāraṇaṃ) ); अक्षरं (raṃ) परमं ब्रह्म (akṣaraṃ paramaṃ brahma) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 8. 3; कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवं (karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavaṃ) 3. 15; यथा सतः पुरुषात्केशलोमानि (yathā sataḥ puruṣātkeśalomāni) तथाक्षरात्संभवतीह विश्वं (tathākṣarātsaṃbhavatīha viśvaṃ) Chān. Up
- 1. A name of Shiva. 2. A name of Vishnu. 3. Brahma or the supreme being. 4. Eternal beatitude or liberation from rebirth. 5. Religious austerity. 6. Moral merit. 7. The sky or atmosphere. 8. A letter of the alphabet. 9. A plant. 10. Water. 11. Unalterable, imperishable, or undecayable.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 004 ] अक्षर (akṣara) m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) 1 A name of ŚIVA. 2 A name of VIṢṆU. n. ( - रं (-raṃ) ) BRAHM, the supreme being, (in this sense it is sometimes mas. ) 2 Eternal beatitude, or exemption from further transmigration. 3 Religious austerity. 4 Moral merit. 5 The sky or atmosphere. 6 A letter of the alphabet. 7 A plant. ( Achyranthes aspera.) 8 Water (in the dialect of the Vedas.) mfn. ( - रः (-raḥ)- रा - रं (-raṃ) (-raḥ-rā-raṃ) ) 1 Unalterable. 2 Unperishable, undecayable. E. अशू (aśū) to pervade, and सर (sara) Uṇādi affix. [ ID=154 ]
- 1. Shiva or Vishnu. 2. Brahm. 3. A letter. 4. Unalterable.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 003-b ] अ - क्षर (a-kṣara) ( रः ) ((raḥ)) 1. m. Shiva, Vishnu; n. Brahm; a letter; a. ( र - रा - रं (ra-rā-raṃ) ) unalterable. [ ID=120 ]
- 1. Shiva. 2. Vishnu.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) (II) m. 1. Śiva; 2. Vishṇu. [ ID=142 ]
- 1. An epithet of Shiva. 2. An epithet of Vishnu. 3. Brahma the supreme being. 4. Eternal beatitude or final liberation. 5. Religious austerity. 6. Moral merit. 7. The sky or atmosphere. 8. A letter of the alphabet. 9. A plant. 10. Water. 11. Unalterable. 12. Undecaying.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 003-b ] अक्षर (akṣara) m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) 1. A name of SIVA. 2. A name of VISHNU. n. ( - रं (-raṃ) ) BRAHMA the supreme being, (in this sense it is sometimes mas.) 2. Eternal beatitude, or exemption from further transmigration. 3. Religious austerity. 4. Moral merit. 5. The sky or atmosphere. 6. A letter of the alphabet. 7. A plant. (Achyranthes aspera.) 8. Water (in the dialect of the Vedas.) mfn. ( - रः (-raḥ)- रा - रं (-raṃ) (-raḥ-rā-raṃ) ) 1. Unalterable. 2. Unperishable, undecayable. E. अशू (aśū) to pervade, and सर (sara) Unadi affix. [ ID=153 ]
- imperishable  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 029-1 ] *Akṣara (“imperishable”): (= Kṛṣṇa) XII, 1626, 1635; XII, 2328 ( °sātmatām ), 2323 (id.), 2351 ( °saṃmitāḥ lokāḥ ); (= Hiraṇyagarbha) XII, 11232 ( eko ); (= Viṣṇu?) XII, 13115; (= Kṛṣṇa?) XII, 13285(?); (= Śiva) XIII, 1193 ( paramaṃ Brahma? ); (= Viṣṇu) XIII, 6951 (1000 names), 7000 (1000 names). [ ID=375 ]
- 1. an epithet of Hari 2. Brahma  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Akṣara (II) — an epithet of Hari — (ety.) 1 is Brahma. 2 [ Footnote: 1) M. 248. 39.] [ Footnote: 2) Vā. 32. 1.] [ ID=31 ]

### Imperishable, Unalterable, Firm, Eternal (Adjectival Quality) (12 definitions)
- imperishable  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 3,2] अ - क्षर (a-kṣara) mfn. imperishable [ ID=577 ]
- unalterable  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > unalterable [ ID=578 ]
- 1. Imperishable or indestructible. 2. An epithet of the Supreme and individual soul. 3. The unconcerned spirit.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 0007-b ] अक्षर (akṣara) a. [ न क्षरत (ta) ीत (ta) ि; क्षर् चलने (na kṣaratīti; kṣar calane) अच् - न (ac-na). त (ta).] 1 Imperishable, indestructible, undecaying, epithet of the Supreme as well as the Individual soul; यमक्षरं क्षेत (ta) ्रविदो (yamakṣaraṃ kṣetravido) विदुस्त (ta) मात (ta) ्मानमात (ta) ्मन्यवलोकयंत (ta) ं (vidustamātmānamātmanyavalokayaṃtaṃ) Kumārasambhava (Bombay) 3. 50; द्वाविमौ (dvāvimau) पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च ॥ क्षरः सर्वाणि (puruṣau loke kṣaraścākṣara eva ca.. kṣaraḥ sarvāṇi) भूत (ta) ानि कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यत (ta) े ॥ (bhūtāni kūṭastho'kṣara ucyate..) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 15. 16; यस्मात (ta) ्क्षरमत (ta) ीत (ta) ोहमक्षरादपि चोत (ta) ्त (ta) मः । (yasmātkṣaramatītohamakṣarādapi cottamaḥ.) अत (ta) ोस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथित (ta) ः पुरुषोत (ta) ्त (ta) मः (atosmi loke vede ca prathitaḥ puruṣottamaḥ); the unconcerned (Spirit); अक्षर (akṣara) ं परमं ब्रह्म (akṣaraṃ paramaṃ brahma)
- Fixed, firm, unalterable  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 0007-b ] अक्षर (akṣara) a. [ न क्षरत (ta) ीत (ta) ि; क्षर् चलने (na kṣaratīti; kṣar calane) अच् - न (ac-na). त (ta).] 2 Fixed, firm, unalterable
- Continuance, permanence.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 9 Continuance, permanence
- 1. Imperishable. 2. A word, syllable, sacred syllable om, sound, or letter. 3. A document or epistle. 4. The supreme deity.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 002-2 ] अक्षर (akṣara) a-kṣára, a. imperishable; n. word, syllable, the sacred syllable (om); sound, letter; document, epistle; the supreme deity; -cyutaka, n. supplying an omitted syllable ( a game ); -cchandas, n. syllabic metre; -mālā, f. wreath of letters ( written by fate on the forhead ), i-kā, f. id.; -varjita, pp. illiterate; -vinyāsa, m. writing; -śikṣā, f. alphabet. [ ID=187 ]
- Imperishable  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 003-06 ] अक्षर (akṣara) (I) a. (f. रा (rā) ) Imperishable. [ ID=141 ]
- 1. Imperishable. 2. A word. 3. A syllable. 4. The holy syllable om. 5. A letter. 6. A vowel.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 0002-b ] अक्षर (akṣara) a-kṣara. I. adj., f. rā. Im- perishable. II. n. 1. A word. 2. A syllable. 3. The holy syllable om. 4. A letter. 5. A vowel. — Comp. An-, adj. one who utters what ought not to be said. Eka-, adj. monosyllabic, Man. 2, 83. Ghuṇa-, n. a figure bored by a woodworm, and by accident Page0003-a+ 39 resembling a letter, Rājat. 4, 167 ( Pañc. 42, 12, read ghuṇākṣara ). Catur-, n. four syllables. Tryakṣara, i. e. tri-, adj. triliteral, Man. 11, 265. Ṣaḍakṣara, i. e. ṣaṣ-, adj. contain- ing six syllables, Pañc. i. d. 184. [ ID=30 ]
- 1. The same. 2. Sound, word, syllable, or the sacred Om. 3. Record or writing.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 003 ] अक्षर (akṣara) a. the same; n. sound, word, syllable, esp. the sacred Om; record, writing. [ ID=135 ]
- 1. Imperishable or inalterable. 2. An epithet of Shiva or Vishnu. 3. A sword. 4. Brahma or the supreme being. 5. Eternal beatitude or liberation from rebirth. 6. Penance or religious austerity. 7. Moral merit or law. 8. Sacrifice. 9. A letter of the alphabet or syllable. 10. The sacred syllable om. 11. A vowel. 12. The plant Achyranthes aspera. 13. The sky or atmosphere. 14. Water.  
  *Goldstücker Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अ (a) क्षर (kṣara) (akṣara) [Printed book page 006-b ] अ (a) क्षर (kṣara) (akṣara) Tatpur. I. m. f. n. ( - रः (-raḥ)- रा - रम् (-ram) (-raḥ-rā-ram) ) 1 Imperishable, in- decayable. 2 Inalterable. II. m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) 1 A name of Śiva. 2 A name of Viṣṇu. 3 A sword. III. n. ( - रम् (-ram) ) 1 Brahma, the supreme being (in this sense it is said to be also mascul.). 2 Eternal beatitude or ex- emption from further transmigration. 3 Penance, religious austerity. 4 Moral merit, law. 5 Sacrifice. 6 A letter of the alphabet. 7 A syllable. 8 The syllable om. 9 A vowel. 10 A plant (Achyranthes aspera). 11 The sky or atmosphere. 12 Water (see अ (a) क्षित (akṣita) ). E. अ (a) neg. and क्षर (kṣara). (The gramm. author. derive this word from अ (a) श् ( अ (a) शू ), (aś (aśū),) uṇ. aff. सर (sara) or क्सर (sara) न् (ksaran) ). [ ID=212 ]
- 1. Imperishable. 2. A word, syllable, sound, or letter.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 111-b ] a-kṣára, a. imperishable; as n. word; syllable; the sacred syllable, om, 60 14; sound, letter, 61 4. [ ID=28 ]
- 1. Imperishable or unalterable 2. A sword, Shiva, or Vishnu 3. A syllable, the syllable om, a letter, vowel, sound, word, or speech 4. Brahma, final beatitude, abiding merit, religious austerity, sacrifice, right, justice, the sky, water, or the plant Achyranthes Aspera  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 0003-b ] अक्षर (akṣara) a-kṣara, as, ā, am, imperishable; unalterable; ( as ), m. a sword; Śiva; Viṣṇu; ( am ), n. a syllable; the syllable om; a letter; a vowel, a sound; a word; speech; Brahma; final beatitude; abiding merit, religious austerity; sacrifice; right, justice; the sky; water; a plant (Achyranthes Aspera). —Akṣara-cañcu or akṣara-cuñcu, us, or akṣa- ra-caṇa or akṣara-cana, as, m. a writer, scribe. —Akṣara-cchandas, as, n. metre regulated by the number and quantity of syllables. —Akṣara-jananī, f. a reed or pen. —Akṣara-jīvaka or akṣara- jīvika, as, or akṣara-jīvin, ī, m. a scribe. —Akṣa- ra-jur, ūr, m. a sage, one who knows and enjoys Brahma. —Akṣara-tūlikā, f. a reed or pen. —Akṣara-nyāsa or akṣara-vinyāsa, as, m. array of syllables or letters, writing; scripture; the alphabet. —Akṣara-paṅkti, is, is, i, containing five syllables; ( is ), f., N. of a metre of four lines, each containing one dactyl and one spondee; also called paṅkti or haṃsa. —Akṣara-bhāj, k, k, k, Ved. entitled to a share in the syllables (of a prayer). —Akṣara-mukha, as, m. having the mouth full of syllables, a student, scholar. —Akṣara-vinyāsa, see akṣara-nyāsa. —Akṣara-śas, ind. syllable by syllable. —Akṣa- ra-śūnya, as, ā, am, inarticulate. —Akṣara- saṃsthāna, am, n. scripture, writing. —Akṣarāṅga (°ra-aṅga), am, n. part of a syllable. [ ID=168 ]

### Linguistic Unit or Written Record (12 definitions)
- a syllable  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > अ - क्षर (a-kṣara) n. a syllable [ ID=583 ]
- the sacred syllable om  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the syllable ओम् (om), Mn. [ ID=584 ]
- a letter  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > अ - क्षर (a-kṣara) n. a letter [ m., RāmatUp. ] [ ID=585 ]
- a vowel  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > अ - क्षर (a-kṣara) n. a vowel [ ID=586 ]
- a sound  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a sound [ ID=587 ]
- a word  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a word [ ID=588 ]
- an indelible mark incised on metal or stone  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 1308,2] an indelible mark incised on metal or stone [ ID=588.1 sup ]
- Sound, word, or speech  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रा (rā) Sound, word, speech ( Ved. )
- 1. A letter of the alphabet. 2. A syllable. 3. A word or speech.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 1 ( a ) A letter of the alphabet; अक्षराणामकारोस्मि (akṣarāṇāmakārosmi) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 10. 33; मुद्राक्षराणि, मधुर (mudrākṣarāṇi, madhura) ° (°), त्र्यक्षर (° (°), tryakṣara) &c. ( b ) a syllable; एकाक्षरं (raṃ) परं (raṃ) ब्रह्म (ekākṣaraṃ paraṃ brahma) Manusmṛti 2. 83 the monosyllable; एकमक्षरं (raṃ) (ekamakṣaraṃ) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 10. 25, Manusmṛti 2. 78, 84, 125 (sacred syllable). Hence ( c ) a word or words, speech collectively; प्रतिषेध (pratiṣedha) ° (°) विक्लवाभिरामं (viklavābhirāmaṃ) Śakuntalā (Bombay) 3. 25; अहो (aho) संदीपनान्यक्षराणि (saṃdīpanānyakṣarāṇi) Uttararāmacarita 4; भर्तुरेतानि प्रणयमयान्यक्षराणि (bharturetāni praṇayamayānyakṣarāṇi) Mālavikāgnimitra (Bombay) 3 words; ब्राह्मणसंक्रमिताक्षरेण पितामहेन (brāhmaṇasaṃkramitākṣareṇa pitāmahena) Vikramorvaśīyam (Bombay) 3; अक्षरं (raṃ) वर्णनिर्माणं वर्णमप्यक्षरं (raṃ) विदुः । (akṣaraṃ varṇanirmāṇaṃ varṇamapyakṣaraṃ viduḥ.) अक्षरं (raṃ) न क्षरं (raṃ) विद्यादश्नोतेर्वा सरे ' क्षरं (raṃ) ॥ (akṣaraṃ na kṣaraṃ vidyādaśnotervā sare 'kṣaraṃ..)
- 1. A document or sacred writing. 2. Writing in general.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 2 A document (letter &c.), sacred writing; writing in general (in pl. ); तत्र (tatra) भुक्तिः प्रमाणं स्यान्न साक्षी नाक्षराणि च (bhuktiḥ pramāṇaṃ syānna sākṣī nākṣarāṇi ca) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 3. 94; तत्र (tatra) भवत्या अक्षराणि विसृष्टानि स्युः (tatrabhavatyā akṣarāṇi visṛṣṭāni syuḥ) Vikramorvaśīyam (Bombay) 2
- 1. A syllable. 2. A vowel. 3. Final beatitude. 4. Brahman. 5. The sky.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) (III) n. 1. A syllable, अक्षर (akṣara) ाणामकारोऽस्मि (akṣarāṇāmakāro'smi) Bg. x.33; 2. a vowel; 3. final beatitude; 4. Brahman (n.); 5. the sky. [ ID=143 ]
- 1. That which rises out of the neck of Brahma during the contemplation of creation. 2. A system of letters formed by Brahma.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Akṣara (III) — rises out of the neck of Brahmā in the con- templation of creation. 1 A system of letters formed by Brahmā. 2 [ Footnote: 1) Vā. 26. 14.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. XII. 6. 43-44.] [ ID=32 ]

### Akṣara Compounds & Derived Concepts (10 definitions)
- meaning of words  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — अर्थः (arthaḥ) [ ष (ṣa). त (ta).] meaning (of words); किं (kiṃ) त (ta) ावत (ta) ् गीत (ta) ्याअवगत (ta) ोऽक्ष (ṣa) रार्थः (tāvat gītyāavagato'kṣarārthaḥ) Śakuntalā (Bombay) 5
- Not found.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — चं ( चुं ) चुः (caṃ(cuṃ)cuḥ)
- meter, sacred text, or desire  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — छंदस् (chaṃdas) n
- 1. A metre regulated by the number of syllables. 2. Resolute and of unshaken resolve, an epithet of the Supreme Spirit.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — वृत्तं (vṛttaṃ) 1 a metre regulated by the number of syllables it contains; छंदस्तु द्विविधं प्रोक्तं वृत्तं (vṛttaṃ) (chaṃdastu dvividhaṃ proktaṃ vṛttaṃ) जातिरिति द्विधा । वृत्तमक्षरसंख्यातं जातिर्मात्राकृता (jātiriti dvidhā. vṛttamakṣarasaṃkhyātaṃ jātirmātrākṛtā) भवेत् ॥ (bhavet..) 2 of unshaken resolve, resolute ( अक्षरं निश्चलं छंदोऽभिप्रायो यस्य (akṣaraṃ niścalaṃ chaṃdo'bhiprāyo yasya) ); an epithet of परमात्मन् (paramātman)
- 1. Writing or arrangement of letters. 2. The alphabet. 3. Scripture. 4. A tantric ritual of touching parts of the body while reciting letters.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — ( वि ) न्यासः ((vi) nyāsaḥ) [ ष (ṣa). त (ta). भावे घञ् (bhāve ghañ) ] writing, arrangement of letters; भूर्जपत (ta) ्रगत (ta) ो (bhūrjapatragato ) ° सः (°saḥ) Vikramorvaśīyam (Bombay) 2. 2. the alphabet. 3 scripture. 4 हृदयाद्याधारस्पर्शपूर्वकं त (ta) दक्ष (ṣa) राणां (hṛdayādyādhārasparśapūrvakaṃ tadakṣarāṇāṃ) स्मरणोच्चारणरूपस्त (ta) ंत (ta) ्रप्रसिद्धो वर्णन्यासः (smaraṇoccāraṇarūpastaṃtraprasiddho varṇanyāsaḥ)
- 1. Having five syllables. 2. A metre of four lines with five syllables each.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — पंक्ति (paṃkti) a. 1 having 5 syllables ( पंक्ति (paṃkti) = Gr. pentas five) सु मत् पद् वग दे इत्येष वै यज्ञोऽक्षरपंक्ति (paṃkti) ः (su mat pad vaga de ityeṣa vai yajño'kṣarapaṃktiḥ) Ait. Br. ( तान्येतान्यक्षराणि होतृजपादौ प्रयोक्तव्यानि (tānyetānyakṣarāṇi hotṛjapādau prayoktavyāni) ). 2 N. of a metre of four lines ( द्विपदा विराज् (dvipadā virāj) ) each having five syllables (one dactyl and one spondee)
- having a share in the syllables  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — भाज् (bhāj) a. having a share in the syllables (of a prayer?)
- 1. The beginning of the alphabet. 2. The letter a.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — खं (khaṃ) [ ष (ṣa). त (ta).] the beginning of the alphabet; the letter अ (a)
- illiterate  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — वर्जित (varjita) a. unlettered, illiterate, not knowing how to read or write
- distinct articulation of syllables  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — व्यक्त (ta) िः (vyaktiḥ) f. [ ष (ṣa). त (ta) ]. distinct articulation of syllables

### Proper Noun or Specific Technical Term (3 definitions)
- an epithet of a Saman  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 1308,2] अ - क्षर (a-kṣara) (also) m. N. of a Sāman, ĀrṣBr. [ ID=592.1 sup ]
- Father of Suyajña  
  *The Purana Index*
  > अक्षर (akṣara) [Printed book page 1-006 ] Akṣara (I) — Father of Suyajña. Br. III. 70. 23. [ ID=30 ]
- a term for mahan  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Akṣara (IV) — a term for mahān. Vā. 102. 21. [ ID=33 ]

### Religious Practice, Virtue, or Moral Law (3 definitions)
- Religious austerity, penance  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 4 Religious austerity, penance
- Sacrifice  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 5 Sacrifice
- Right, justice  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 10 Right, justice ( Ved. in these two senses)

### A Specific Plant (Achyranthes Aspera) (2 definitions)
- Achyranthes Aspera  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Achyranthes Aspera. [ ID=592 ]
- a plant, Achyranthes Aspera  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 11 N. of a plant, Achyranthes Aspera

### Final Beatitude or Emancipation (2 definitions)
- 1. Final beatitude. 2. Religious austerity. 3. Sacrifice.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > final beatitude religious austerity, sacrifice, L. [ ID=590 ]
- Final beatitude, emancipation from further transmigration.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 8 Final ( pb ) beatitude, emancipation from further transmigration

### Lexicographical Notes or References (2 definitions)
- See akshara below  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1B) [Printed book page 3,2] अ - क्षरा (a-kṣarā) a f. See अक्षरा (akṣarā) below [ ID=582 ]
- (erase Achyranthes Aspera)  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > अ - क्षर (a-kṣara) (erase ‘Achyranthes Aspera’) [ ID=592.2 sup ]

### Sword (2 definitions)
- a sword  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > अ - क्षर (a-kṣara) m. a sword, L. [ ID=579 ]
- A sword  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रः (raḥ) 3 A sword

### Water (2 definitions)
- water  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 3,3] water, Ṛg-veda (Title) i, 34, 4 and i, 164, 42 [ ID=591 ]
- Water  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 6 Water

### Measure of Time (1 definition)
- A measure of time equal to one-fifth of a Kastha.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 12 A measure of time, equal to one-fifth of a Kāṣṭhā

### Sky or Atmosphere (1 definition)
- The sky  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — रं (raṃ) [ अश् - सरः (aś-saraḥ) Uṇādisūtras 3. 70, अशेः सरः; अश्नुते (aśeḥ saraḥ; aśnute) व्याप्नोति वेदादिशास्त्राणि (vyāpnoti vedādiśāstrāṇi).] 7 The sky

## Sources

Definitions from Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Goldstücker Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546