# गोविन्द (govinda)

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

गोविन्द (govinda) is a Sanskrit word meaning Krishna or Vishnu, Brihaspati, an epithet of Vishnu, the fourth month, a chief herdsman, the name of a prince. Its 20 recorded definitions are grouped into 8 contexts, among them Epithet of Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu, Name of a mountain or hill, Cross-references or non-definitional notes.

- **Etymology:** E. गो language, here the language of the Vedas especially, and विन्द who knows, from विद to know, with श affix; also गो heaven, a cow, विद to obtain, by whom heaven is obtained, or who obtains felicity by protecting kine — E. go language, here the language of the Vedas especially, and vinda who knows, from vida to know, with śa affix; also go heaven, a cow, vida to obtain, by whom heaven is obtained, or who obtains felicity by protecting kine
- **SLP1:** `govinda`  **IAST:** govinda  **Devanagari:** गोविन्द
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Govinda
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/govinda/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** गोविंद (goviṃda)

## Meanings by context

### Epithet of Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu (9 definitions)
- Krishna or Vishnu  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 366,3] गो (go) — विन्द (—vinda) a m. ( Pāṇini (Author) iii, 1, 138, Vārtt. 2) ‘= - विद् (-vid) (or fr. Prākṛt gov'-inda = गो (go) पे (gope) न्द्र (ndra) ?)’, Kṛṣṇa (or Viṣṇu), Mahābhārata (Title); Harivaṃśa (Title); Bhagavad-gītā (Title); Bhāgavata-purāṇa (Title) ( cf. Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) p. 405 ) [ ID=67567 ]
- 1. An appellation of Krishna or Vishnu. 2. A name of Vrihaspati. 3. A cowkeeper or owner of cattle.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गो (go) विन्द (vinda) (govinda) [Printed book page 301 ] गो (go) विन्द (vinda) (govinda) m. ( - न्दः (-ndaḥ) ) 1 One of the most usual appellations of KṚṢṆA or VIṢṆU in that form. 2 A name of VṚHASPATI, regent of JUPITER. 2 A cowkeeper, one who protects, cherishes or owns cattle. E. गो (go) language, here the language of the Vedas especially, and विन्द (vinda) who knows, from विद (vida) to know, with श (śa) affix; also गो (go) heaven, a cow, विद (vida) to obtain, by whom heaven is obtained, or who obtains felicity by protecting kine. [ ID=14086 ]
- 1. Krishna or Brihaspati. 2. A cow-keeper.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गोविन्द (govinda) [Printed book page 263-a ] गो - विन्द (go-vinda) ( न्दः ) ((ndaḥ)) 1. m. Krishna, Vri- haspati; a cow-keeper. [ ID=13541 ]
- 1. An appellation of Krishna or Vishnu. 2. A name of Vrihaspati, regent of Jupiter. 3. A cow-keeper or owner of cattle.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गो (go) विन्द (vinda) (govinda) [Printed book page 248-a ] गो (go) विन्द (vinda) (govinda) m. ( - न्दः (-ndaḥ) ) 1. One of the most usual appellations of KṚṢṆA or VISHNU in that form. 2. A name of VRIHASPATI, regent of JUPITER. 3. A cow-keeper, one who protects, cherishes or owns cattle. E. गो (go) language, here the language of the Vedas especially, Page248-b+ 60 and विन्द (vinda) who knows, from विद् (vid) to know, with श (śa) affix; also गो (go) heaven, a cow, विद् (vid) to obtain, by whom heaven is obtained, or who obtains felicity by protecting kine. गां वेदमयीं वाणीं, भुवं धेनुं स्वर्गं वा (gāṃ vedamayīṃ vāṇīṃ, bhuvaṃ dhenuṃ svargaṃ vā) विन्द (vinda) ति । (vindati.) [ ID=14077 ]
- 1. A name of Krishna. 2. The name of a mountain.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गोविन्द (govinda) [Printed book page 0273-b ] गोविन्द (govinda) govinda, i. e. go-vid + a, m. 1. A name of Kṛṣṇa, MBh. 5, 2572. 2. The name of a mountain, MBh. 6, 460. — Comp. Gīta-, m. title of an idyllic drama. [ ID=4605 ]
- an epithet of Krishna-Vishnu  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गोविन्द (govinda) [Printed book page 158 ] गोविन्द (govinda) m. E. of Kṛṣṇa-Viṣṇu ( lit. = गोविद् (govid) ). [ ID=9817 ]
- Krishna  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > गोविन्द (govinda) [Printed book page 312-2 ] Govinda 1 = Kṛṣṇa (Viṣṇu), q.v. [ ID=4241 ]
- an epithet of Krishna  
  *The Purana Index*
  > गोविन्द (govinda) [Printed book page 1-554 ] Govinda (I) — the name given to Kṛṣṇa by Indra the lord of Gokula; 1 the Yādava king; went in search of maṇi by tracing the steps of Prasenajit when he was supposed to have killed him for the sake of the jewel, and came upon a place where Prasena and his horses were dead; proceeding he saw a dead lion and further a cave of a bear in the Vindhyas and heard the talk of a muse fondling the son of the bear; overhearing he heard: “dont cry„ Syamantaka is yours”. Then he entered the mouth of the cave and saw Jāmbavān, the king of bears; had hand-to-hand fight for 21 days; the followers of Kṛṣṇa returned to Dvāravatī and spread the news that Kṛṣṇa was dead; defeating the bear he got the hand of his daughter Jāmbavatī with the maṇi and returned home; gave it to Śakrajit in an assembly. 2 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. X. 27. 23, 28; Br. III. 33. 8.] [ Footnote: 2) Vā. 96. 32-50.] [ ID=4374 ]
- an epithet of Vishnu  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Govinda (II) — an epithet of Viṣṇu. Vi. I. 4. 43; 14. 15; 19. 37; V. 5. 18; 12. 12; 13. 23; 16. 3; 18. 1; 20. 11; 23. 12; 29. 20; 30. 55; 31. 17; 33. 24; 37. 66; 38. 46; VI. 8. 36. [ ID=4375 ]

### Name of a mountain or hill (3 definitions)
- of a mountain  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a mountain, Mahābhārata (Title) vi, 460 [ ID=67573 ]
- a mountain in Krauñcadvīpa  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Govinda 2, a mountain in Krauñcadvīpa. § 575 (Bhūmip.): VI, 12 η, 460 ( girir uttamaḥ ). [ ID=4242 ]
- a hill of the Kraunchadvipa  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 1-555 ] Govinda (III) — a hill of the Krauñcadvīpa. M. 122. 80. [ ID=4376 ]

### Cross-references or non-definitional notes (2 definitions)
- See in the same place.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 368,3] गो - विन्द (go-vinda) b &c. See in the same place [Cologne Addition] (Title) [ ID=68050 ]
- See under go.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > गोविन्द (govinda) [Printed book page 0300-c ] गोविन्द (govinda) go-vinda. See under go, p. 299. [ ID=17699 ]

### Proper name of human individuals (2 definitions)
- the name of a prince  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a prince [ ID=67571 ]
- of several teachers and authors  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of several teachers and authors [ ID=67572 ]

### A chief herdsman or cow-keeper (1 definition)
- a chief herdsman  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > ( fr. Prākṛt gov'-inda = गोपे (gope) न्द्र (ndra) ) a chief herdsman, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=67570 ]

### Epithet of Bṛhaspati (1 definition)
- Brihaspati  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Bṛhaspati ( cf. गोत्र - भिद् (gotra-bhid) ), Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=67568 ]

### Epithet of Śiva (1 definition)
- an epithet of Shiva  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > Govinda 3 = Śiva (1000 names 1 ). [ ID=4243 ]

### Name of a month (1 definition)
- 1. An epithet of Vishnu. 2. The fourth month.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (= Viṣṇu) N. of the 4th month, Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā (Title) cv, 14 [ ID=67569 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; 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