# गुण (guṇa)

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

गुण (guṇa) is a Sanskrit word meaning a single thread, strand, rope, or string, a garland, a bow-string, a sinew, the string of a musical instrument or chord, a multiplier or coefficient in algebra. Its 45 recorded definitions are grouped into 15 contexts, among them String, Cord, or Rope, General Quality or Attribute, Secondary or Subordinate Element.

- **Root:** ग्रह् (grah)
- **Etymology:** E. गुण to address or advise, affix क्त — E. guṇa to address or advise, affix kta
- **SLP1:** `guRa`  **IAST:** guṇa  **Devanagari:** गुण
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/guna/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### String, Cord, or Rope (11 definitions)
- A single thread, strand, rope, or string  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 357,1] गुण (guṇa) m. (√ ग्रह् (grah), Uṇādi-sūtra (Title) ) a single thread or strand of a cord or twine ( e.g. त्रि - ग् (tri-g) ° (°), q.v. ), string or thread, rope, Taittirīya-saṃhitā (Title) vii; Mṛcchakaṭikā (Title); Kumāra-sambhava (Title); Raghuvaṃśa (Title) [ ID=65497 ]
- a garland  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a garland, Horace H. Wilson, author of first Sanskrit-English dictionary in 1819 (Author) [ ID=65498 ]
- a bow-string  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a bow-string, Rāmāyaṇa (Title) iii, 33, 16 ( चाप - (cāpa-) ), Raghuvaṃśa (Title) ix, 54; Ṛtusaṃhāra (Title); Hitopadeśa (Title) [ ID=65499 ]
- a sinew  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in geom. ) a sinew [ ID=65500 ]
- The string of a musical instrument or chord  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the string of a musical instrument, chord, Śiśupāla-vadha (Title) iv, 57 : ifc. ( f( आ (ā) ). ) with numerals ‘fold, times’ (see चतुर् - (catur-), त्रि - (tri-), दश - (daśa-), द्वि - (dvi-), पञ्च - (pañca-); rarely the numeral stands by itself along with गुण (guṇa) [ e.g. विशिष्टो दशभिर् गुण (guṇa) ैः (viśiṣṭo daśabhir guṇaiḥ), ‘of ten times higher value’, Manu-smṛti (Title) ii, 85 ] Atharva-veda (Title) x, 8, 43; Mahābhārata (Title) iii, 15649; Harivaṃśa (Title) 509; [ गुण (guṇa) = भाग (bhāga) ] Pāṇini (Author) v, 2, 47, Kāśikā-vṛtti (Title) ) [ ID=65501 ]
- 1. Strand, thread, string, or rope. 2. Wick, bowstring, or lutestring. 3. Species. 4. Subordinate element or accessory. 5. Secondary dish or seasoning. 6. Remote object of a verb. 7. Property, quality, or elemental quality. 8. Fundamental quality. 9. Virtue, merit, or excellence. 10. High degree or excess. 11. External articulation of letters. 12. First strong grade of vowels. 13. A multiplier indicating fold or times.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गुण (guṇa) [Printed book page 084-3 ] गुण (guṇa) guṇ-á, strand, thread, string, rope; wick; bow-string; lute-string; species; constituent of policy (of which there are six or four), subordinate element, accessory; secondary dish, seasoning; remote object ( of a verb ); property, quality; elemental quality ( sound, feeling, colour, taste, smell ); fundamental quality (sattva, rajas, tamas); good quality, virtue, merit, excellence; high degree of ( —° = excessive); external articulation ( of letters ); first strong grade of vowels (a, ar, al, e, o); time ( with numberals ); multiple: almost always —° a. after numerals = - fold ( lit. having so many strands), so many times as much as or more than ( in. or ab. ). [ ID=6996 ]
- 1. A thread, string, or rope. 2. A bow-string. 3. A sinew. 4. The string of a musical instrument. 5. A secondary element or subordinate part. 6. A quality, attribute, or property in general. 7. Good quality, virtue, merit, excellence, or eminence. 8. An adjective or word subordinate to another in a sentence. 9. Excess, abundance, or superfluity. 10. An organ of sense. 11. A subordinate dish. 12. A cook. 13. An epithet of Bhima. 14. Abandoning or leaving. 15. An ingredient or constituent of nature, being any of the three properties of satva, rajas, and tamas. 16. An object of sense, being sound, touch, form, taste, or smell. 17. The chord of an arc. 18. The grammatical substitution of e, o, ar, and al for i, u, ri, and li. 19. Quality as one of the seven categories of the Vaisheshikas. 20. Quality as a property of sentiment in rhetoric. 21. Repetition or multiplication, expressed as fold or times. 22. Property as the meaning of a class of words. 23. A proper course of action in politics. 24. Need or use. 25. Efficacy or good effect. 26. The number three.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गुण (guṇa) [Printed book page 244-17 ] गुण (guṇa) m. 1. A thread, a string, a rope, यतः परेषां गुण (guṇa) ग्रहीताऽसि (yataḥ pareṣāṃ guṇagrahītā'si) Bh.V. i.9; 2. a bow-string, कनकपिंगताडिद्गुण (guṇa) संयुतम् (kanakapiṃgatāḍidguṇasaṃyutam) R. ix.54; 3. a sinew; 4. the string of a musical instrument, Sis. iv.57; 5. a secondary clement, a subordinate part; 6. a quality, an attribute, a property in general, M. ix.22; 7. good quality, virtue, merit, excellence, eminence, R. i.9, 22; 8. an adjective, a word subordinate to another in a sentence; 9. excess, abundance, superfluity; 10. an organ of sense; 11. a subordinate dish, M. iii.226; 12. a cook; 13. an epithet of Bhīma; 14. abandoning, leaving; 15. an ingredient or constituent of nature, any of the three properties belonging to all created things; (they are सत्व (satva), रजस् (rajas) and तमस् (tamas) ), R. iii.27, Bg. xiv.5; 16. an object of sense (they are शब्द (śabda), स्पर्श (sparśa), रूप (rūpa), रस (rasa) and गंध (gaṃdha) ); 17. the chord of an arc (in Geometry); 18. the substitution of ए (e), ओ (o), अर् (ar) and अल् (al) for इ (i), उ (u), ऋ (ṛ) and ऌ (ḷ) (short or long) (in gram.); 19. quality considered as one of the seven categories ( पदार्थाः (padārthāḥ) ) of the Vaiśeshikas; (according to them these qualities are 24 in number); 20. quality considered as a property of sentiment (in rhetoric) ( गुण (guṇa) is thus defined by Mammata- ये रस (rasa) स्यांगिनो धर्माः शौर्यादय इ (i) वात्मनः । उ (u) त्कर्षहेतवस्ते स्युरचलस्थितयो गुण (guṇa) ाः (ye rasasyāṃgino dharmāḥ śauryādaya ivātmanaḥ. utkarṣahetavaste syuracalasthitayo guṇāḥ) K.Pr. viii. According to Danḍin, Vāmana and some other writers, Guṇas are properties of शब्द (śabda) and अर् (ar) थ (artha). They enumerate ten Guṇas under each of these heads. According to Mammata, माधुर्यौजः प्रस (rasa) ादाख्यास्त्रयस्ते न पुनर्दश (mādhuryaujaḥ prasādākhyāstrayaste na punardaśa) K.Pr. viii.); 21. repetition, multiplication (in this sense, the word occurs generally at the end of compounds and is translatable by ‘fold,’ ‘times,’ e.g. आहारो द्विगुण (guṇa) ः स्त्रीणां बुद्धिस्तासां चतुर्गुण (guṇa) ा । षड्गुण (guṇa) ो व्यवसायश्च कामश्चाष्टगुण (guṇa) ः स्मृतः (āhāro dviguṇaḥ strīṇāṃ buddhistāsāṃ caturguṇā. ṣaḍguṇo vyavasāyaśca kāmaścāṣṭaguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ) Chāṇakya. ), R. ii.25, M. ii.85; 22. property, considered as the meaning of a class of words (in gram., and Mīmānsa); (according to grammarians, the meaning of words is fourfold, viz., जाति (jāti), गुण (guṇa), क्रिया (kriyā) and द्रव्य (dravya); गौः शुक्लश्चलो डित्थः (gauḥ śuklaścalo ḍitthaḥ) are the instances given to illustrate these meanings); 23. a proper course of action (in politics); the proper courses of action for a king in foreign politics are- (1) संधि (saṃdhi) (alliance), (2) विग्रह (vigraha) (war), (3) यान (yāna) (march), (4) स्थान (sthāna) (halt), (5) आसन (āsana) (strategem), (6) द्वैधीभाव (dvaidhībhāva) (aid of other kings), Sis. ii.26, M. vii.160; 24. need, use, (with an inst.); 25. efficacy, good effect; 26. the number ‘three’ (in math.). [ ID=12211 ]
- 1. A string. 2. A bow-string. 3. A lute-string. 4. Time or fold. 5. Species. 6. A subordinate element. 7. An accompanying dish. 8. Quality of a subject. 9. The three fundamental qualities of sattva, rajas, and tamas. 10. A good quality, virtue, excellence, or gain. 11. Excess. 12. One of the six expedients in government.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गुण (guṇa) [Printed book page 0265-a ] गुण (guṇa) guṇa (for guṣ + na, from guṣ in ved. guṣ-p; cf. puṣ and puṣ-p ), m. 1. A string, Ragh. 2, 83. 2. A bow-string, Rām. 3, 33, 16. 3. A lute- string, Śiś. 4, 57. 4. Time; daśa guṇās, Ten times, Man. 2, 85; in this signification it is almost always the latter part of a comp. adj. and preceded by numerals, e. g. aṣṭaguṇa, i. e. aṣṭan-, Eight-fold, Man. 8, 400. dvi-, a. Two- fold, double, Cāṇ. 78. b. Twice as many, MBh. 3, 14316. c. Folded, Yājñ. 1, 232. With an abl., As many times more as are denoted by the numeral, e. g. mūlyāt pañcaguṇa, i. e. pañcan-, Five times the value, Man. 8, 289; tvattaḥ śataguṇo bale, A hundred times stronger than thou, Rām. 6, 95, 11; also comparat., e. g. dviguṇatara, Doubled, Pañc. 57, 15. 5. Species, MBh. 12, 6847. 6. A subordinate ele- ment. 7. An accompanying dish, Man. 3, 226. 8. Quality of a subject, Man. 3, 36; 1, 76-78. 9. The three fundamental qualities: sattva, rajas, and tamas, Man. 12, 24. 10. A good quality, virtue, Man. 9, 141; excellence, Ragh. 3, 30; gain, Pañc. ii d. 21. 11. Excess, MBh. 3, 14746. 12. One of the six expedients in government, Man. 7, 160. — Comp. A-, m. a bad property, Man. 3, 22. Ati-, adj. ex- traordinary, Rām. 4, 41, 79.; Dhanus-, Page0265-b+ 43 a bow-string, Ṛt. 6, 1 (read -mālam and -guṇam ). Tathā-, adj. having such qualities, Rām. 2, 22, 19. Tri-, I. m. pl. the three principal qualities, Bhāg. P. 4, 24, 28. II. adj. 1. consisting of three strings, Kumāras. 5, 10. 2. three times as many, Man. 5, 137., Nis-, adj., f. ṇā, 1. without a string, Mṛc- ch. 131 17. 2. without qualities, MBh. 1, 2432. 3. devoid of virtue, Rām. 2, 33, 11. Muktā-, m. a string of pearls, Megh. 47. Vi-, adj. 1. void of all qualities. 2. void of distinguishing qualities, Śiś. 9, 12. 3. worthless, bad. 4. imperfect, Man. 10, 97 (im- perfectly performed). Viveka-vi-, adj. contrary to reason, unreasonable, Rājat. 5, 352. Viśeṣa-, m. a special quality, Bhāṣāp. 26, 89; 90. Śruti-viṣaya-, adj. having as its special property that which is the object of hearing, i. e. sound, epithet of the ether, Śāk. d. 1. Sa-, adj. endowed with qualities, Vedāntas. in Chr. 202, 18. [ ID=4479 ]
- 1. Thread, cord, rope, or string. 2. Division, species, or kind. 3. Anything secondary or unessential. 4. Quality, peculiarity, or attribute. 5. Good quality, virtue, excellence, or merit.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गुण (guṇa) [Printed book page 153 ] गुण (guṇa) m. thread, cord, rope, string ( adj. —° after a num. = fold or — times, lit. threaded); division, species, kind; anything secondary or unessential, e.g. the seasoning of a dish ( opp. अन्न (anna) ), ( g. ) the secondary object ( cf. गणकर्मन् (gaṇakarman) ), the articulation ( opp. स्थान (sthāna) ), the secondary gradation ( opp. वृद्धि (vṛddhi) ); (ph.) the quality, peculiarity or attribute ( opp. द्रव्य (dravya) or स्वभाव (svabhāva) ), one of the five attributes or the three qualities; good quality, virtue, excellence; merit, high degree, pl. the six or four measures of royal policy. Abstr. गुण (guṇa) ता (guṇatā) f., ° त्व (°tva) n. [ ID=9519 ]
- 1. A thread or string, especially a bowstring. 2. A quality or attribute. 3. One of the three pervading qualities of nature: goodness, passion, and darkness. 4. A virtue or excellence.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > गुण (guṇa) [Printed book page 150-b ] guṇá, m. —1. a single thread of a cord; a string; esp. bow-string; —2. quality; adscititious quality, as distinguished from the real nature ( svabhāva, ‘ingenium’), 22 20; —3. as philosophical technical term, one of the three pervading qualities of all nature, to wit, sattva, ‘goodness,’ rajas, ‘passion,’ and tamas, ‘darkness,’ 66 8 ff.; —4. as specialization of mg 2, a good quality, virtue, 1 4, 12, etc.; excellence. [for play on mgs 1 and 4, see nirguṇa and 18 5.] [ ID=1371 ]
- 1. A single thread or strand of a cord, rope, garland, bow-string, sinew, or musical chord. 2. A multiplier, coefficient, fold, or times. 3. A division, subdivision, species, or kind. 4. A secondary element, subordinate part, auxiliary act, side-dish, or unessential property. 5. An attribute, property, or characteristic in general, including those of the five elements or created things. 6. A constituent of nature according to the Sankhya philosophy. 7. A term for the number three. 8. A good quality, virtue, merit, excellence, or proper course of action in politics. 9. A peculiar property of letters pronounced with external utterance. 10. A secondary gradation of a vowel. 11. Consistency of plan or elegance of expression in rhetoric. 12. An organ of sense. 13. A cook. 14. An epithet of Bhima.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > गुण (guṇa) [Printed book page 0291-a ] गुण (guṇa) guṇa, as, m. (said to be fr. rt. grah ), a single thread or strand of a cord or twine (e. g. tri-guṇa, consisting of three threads or strands), a string or thread, a rope in general; a garland; a bow-string; a sinew; the string of a musical instru- ment, a chord; (at the end of a compound after a Page0291-b+ 81 numeral) fold, times, &c. (e. g. tri-guṇa, three-fold; dvi-guṇa, two-fold, double; catur-guṇa, four-fold; sapta triguṇāni dināni, twenty-one days; mūl- yāt pañcaguṇo daṇḍaḥ, a fine five times more than the value; duṣṭo daśaguṇam, ten times worse; dviguṇatvam i, to become double; viśiṣṭo daśabhir guṇaiḥ, of ten times higher value); a multiplier, a co-efficient (in arithmetic); division, subdivision, species, kind (e. g. gandhasya guṇāḥ, the different kinds of smell); a secondary element, a subordinate or unessential part of any action, an auxiliary act (e. g. sarva-guṇa, reaching to all sub- ordinate parts, hence ‘valid throughout’); a secondary dish (opposed to anna, i. e. rice or the chief dish), a side-dish; quality, the unessential part of anything (opposed to the substance); a quality, a peculiarity, an attribute or property in general, an attribute of the five elements, (each element has its own peculiar quality or qualities as well as organ of sense; thus 1. ether has śabda or sound for its Guṇa and the ear for its organ; 2. the air has tangibility and sound for its Guṇas and the skin for its organ; 3. fire or light has shape or colour, tangibility, and sound for its Guṇas, and the eye for its organ; 4. water has flavour, shape, tangibility, and sound for its Guṇas, and the tongue for its organ; 5. earth has the pre- ceding Guṇas, with the addition of its own peculiar Guṇa of smell, and the nose for its organ); an in- gredient or constituent of nature (according to the Sāṅkhya philosophy, which makes nature to consist in the equipoise of three Guṇas called sattva, rajas, and tamas, i. e. goodness, passion, and darkness, or virtue, foulness, and ignorance); a term for the number three (taken from the three qualities of the Sāṅkhya system); a property or characteristic of all created things (according to the Nyāya philosophy, which makes twenty-four Guṇas, viz. 1. rūpa, shape, colour; 2. rasa, savour; 3. gandha, odour; 4. sparśa, tangibility; 5. saṅkhyā, number; 6. parimāṇa, dimension; 7. pṛthaktva, severalty; 8. saṃyoga, conjunction; 9. vibhāga, disjunction; 10. paratva, remoteness; 11. aparatva, proximity; 12. gurutva, weight; 13. dravatva, fluidity; 14. sneha, viscidity; 15. śabda, sound; 16. buddhi or jñāna, under- standing or knowledge; 17. sukha, pleasure; 18. duḥkha, pain; 19. icchā, desire; 20. dveṣa, aversion; 21. prayatna, effort; 22. dharma, merit or virtue; 23. adharma, demerit; 24. saṃskāra, faculty); an epithet; a good quality, virtue, merit, excellence, eminence, high degree, proper course of action in politics, (the six proper courses of action for a king in foreign politics are peace, war, march, halt, stratagem, and recourse to the protection of a mightier king; besides these the four Upāyas, or means of conquering an enemy, are sometimes called Guṇas; see upāya ); the peculiar property of the letters which are pronounced with the vāhya- prayatna or external utterance, (these properties are eleven in all, viz. vivāra, expansion of the throat; saṃvāra, contraction; śvāsa, sighing; nāda, sounding; ghoṣa, soft sound or low murmur; a-ghoṣa, absence of that murmur; alpa-prāṇa, slight aspiration; mahā-prāṇa, strong aspiration; and the three accents); a secondary or subordinate gradation of a vowel (in opposition to the highest gradation or vṛddhi ), the vowels a, e, o (with ar, al ); the merit of a composition in rhetoric, i. e. consistency of plan, elegance of expression, &c. an organ of sense; a cook; an epithet of Bhīma [cf. guṇa-kāra ]; ( ā ), f., N. of a grass, = dūrvā; a kind of perfume, = māṃsa-rohiṇī; N. of a princess; [cf. gauṇa, nir-guṇa, vi-guṇa, sa-guṇa; cf. also Hib. gaoine, ‘goodness, honesty.’] —Guṇa-karaṇḍa- vyūha, as, m. title of a Buddhist work; [cf. ka- raṇḍa-vyūha. ] —Guṇa-karman, a, n. an unessen- tial secondary action; (in grammar) the secondary or less immediate object of an action. —Guṇa- karma-vibhāga, as, ā, am, distinguishing an action and an attribute; ( as ), m. separation of an action and an attribute. —Guṇa-kāra, as, ī, am, one who counts &c. productive of good qualities, profitable; Page0291-c+ 81 ( as ), m. one who prepares side-dishes or any secon- dary article of food, such as sweetmeats &c. an epithet of Bhīma-sena, who performed the duties of a cook while the Pāṇḍava princes were servants to Virāṭa. —Guṇa-kiraṇāvalī, f., N. of a literary work. —Guṇa-ketu, us, m., N. of a Buddha. —Guṇa-keśī, f., N. of a daughter of Mātali, who was the charioteer of Indra. —Guṇa-gāna, am, n. praising the virtues of another, panegyric, praise. —Guṇa-gṛdhnu, us, us, u, desiring or possessing good qualities. —Guṇa-gṛhya, as, ā, am, capable of good qualities, admiring virtue, attached to merit. —Guṇa-grahaṇa, am, n. acknowledging or appre- ciating merit. —Guṇa-grāma, as, m. an assemblage of virtues or merits. —Guṇa-grāhaka, as, ā, am, or guṇa-grāhin, ī, iṇī, i, capable of appreciating merit; one who can appreciate good qualities. —Guṇa-ghātin, ī, inī, i, destroying merit, a de- tractor, a calumniator, envious, censorious. —Guṇa- candra, as, m., N. of a man; N. of a disciple of Deva-sūri, who was the author of a commentary called Tattva-prakāśaka-vṛtti. —Guṇa-jña, as, ā, am, one who knows how to appreciate men or things, knowing or judging of their merits. —Guṇa- tas, ind. according to the three chief qualities of all existing beings, from the side of the good qualities or virtues; according to property or quality; according to desert; according to the Guṇas or properties of the letters pronounced with the Vāhya-prayatna. —Guṇa-tā, f. subordination, dependence; virtue, excellence, the possession of good qualities; the possession of attributes or qualities in general; mul- tiplication. —Guṇa-traya or guṇa-tritaya, am, n. the three constituent properties of nature, or sattva, rajas, and tamas. —Guṇatrayābhāsa (°ya-ābh°), as, m. life. —Guṇa-tva, am, n. the condition of a rope or string; subordination; excellence; the pos- session of qualities; multiplication. —Guṇa-deva, as, m., N. of a son of Guṇāḍhya. —Guṇa-doṣa, au, m. pl. innocence and guilt, virtue and vice. —Guṇa-doṣa-parīkṣaṇa, am, n. test or in- vestigation of merits and defects. —Guṇa-dhara, as, ā, am, possessing good qualities. —Guṇa- dharma, as, m. the virtue or duty incident to the possession of certain qualities, as clemency is the virtue and duty of royalty &c. —Guṇa-padī, f. hav- ing feet thin as cords. —Guṇa-pūga, am, n. great merit. —Guṇa-prakarṣa, as, m. great merit, ex- cellence. —Guṇa-prabha, as, m., N. of a Buddhist teacher. —Guṇa-priya, as, ā, am, attached to merit, fond of excellence. —Guṇa-bhadra, as, m., N. of the author of the Ātmānuśāsana; N. of a literary work. —Guṇa-bhuj, k, k, k, enjoying or endowed with qualities. —Guṇa-bhedatas, ind. according to the difference of quality &c. —Guṇa-bhoktṛ, tā, trī, tṛ, perceiving the properties of things. —Guṇa- bhraṃśa, as, m. the loss of all good qualities or me- rits. —Guṇa-mati, is, m., N. of a Buddhist teacher. —Guṇa-maya, as, ī, am, consisting of single threads; produced by or consisting of the three constituent properties of nature (see guṇa ), resting on them, containing them, endowed with properties; possessed of merit or virtues. —Guṇa-mahat, t, n. great merit, superior qualities. —Guṇa-yukta, as, ā, am, possessed of virtues or properties. —Guṇa- ratna, am, n. the pearl of good qualities, title of a short collection of sentences by Bhava-bhūti. —Guṇaratna-kośa-stotra, am, n., N. of a hymn by Parāśara-bhaṭṭa. —Guṇa-rāga, as, m. delighting in the good qualities of others. —Guṇa-rāja-pra- bhāsa, as, m., N. of a Buddha. —Guṇa-rāśi, is, m. an epithet of Śiva; N. of a Buddha. —Guṇa- lakṣaṇa, am, n. mark or indication of internal property. —Guṇa-layanikā or guṇa-layanī, f. a tent. —Guṇa-lubdha, as, ā, am, desirous of merit; attached to excellence; patronising merit. —Guṇa- vacana, am, n. an attributive; an adjective. —Guṇa- vat, ān, atī, at, endowed with qualities; endowed with good qualities, with virtues or merits or excel- lences; excellent, perfect; ( ān ), m., N. of a son of Guṇavatī; ( tī ), f., N. of a daughter of Su-nābha, the Page0292-a+ 81 wife of Śāmba and mother of Guṇa-vat. —Guṇavat- tama, as, ā, am, most excellent. —Guṇavat-tara, as, ā, am, more excellent, excellent. —Guṇavat-tā, f. or guṇavat-tva, am, n. the state of possessing qualities, the possession of good qualities, or of virtues; excellence. —Guṇa-varṇana, am, n. the describing the merits of another person. —Guṇa- vartin, ī, inī, i, being on the path of virtue. —Guṇa-varman, ā, m., N. of a man. —Guṇa- vācaka, as, ikā, am, denoting a quality; (with śabda ) an attributive noun, an adjective. —Guṇa- vāda, as, m. pointing out good qualities or merits. —Guṇa-vidha, as, ā, am, possessed of different qualities. —Guṇa-vivecanā, f. discernment in appre- ciating the merits of a person, a just sense of merit. —Guṇa-viśeṣa, as, m. a different property. —Guṇa- viṣṇu, us, m., N. of a scholiast. —Guṇa-vistara, as, ā, am, abounding in excellent qualities. —Guṇa- vṛkṣa or guṇa-vṛkṣaka, as, m. a mast or post to which a ship or boat is fastened. —Guṇa-vṛtti, is, f. a secondary or essential condition or relation (opposed to mukhyā vṛttiḥ ); character or style of qualities or merits. —Guṇa-vaicitrya, am, n. variety of qualities. —Guṇa-vaiśeṣya, am, n. pre-eminence of merit or of any property. —Guṇa-śata, am, n. a hundred excellent qualities. —Guṇa-śabda, as, m. an adjective. —Guṇa-śīla, as, ā, am, virtuous. —Guṇa-ślāghā, f. encomium, praise. —Guṇa-saṅ- kīrtana, am, n. celebration of qualities. —Guṇa- saṅkhyāna, am, n. the theory of the three essential properties. —Guṇa-saṅga, as, m. association with properties or qualities. —Guṇa-saṅgraha, as, m. a collection of merits or properties; acknowledging or appreciating of merit. —Guṇa-samudra, am, n. an ocean of virtues. —Guṇa-sampad, t, f. great merit, perfection. —Guṇa-sāgara, as, ā, am, endowed with all good qualities; ( as ), m. an ocean of good qualities, one endowed with all virtues; an epithet of Brahmā; N. of a Buddha. —Guṇa-stuti, is, f. panegyric, encomium. —Guṇa-sthāna-prakaraṇa, am, n. title of a Buddhist and Jaina work. —Guṇa- hīna, as, ā, am, void of merit, free from properties; poor (as food). —Guṇākara (°ṇa-āk°), as, m. a mine or multitude of merits, one endowed with all virtues; a N. of Buddha Śākya-muni, the founder of the Buddhist religion; an epithet of Śiva; N. of a poet; ( as, ā, am ), possessing all excellences. —Gu- ṇākṣara (°ṇa-ak°), probably for ghuṇākṣara, q. v. —Guṇāguṇa-jña (°ṇa-ag°), as, ā, am, a judge of merit and demerit. —Guṇāgradhara (°ṇa-ag°), as, m., N. of a man. —Guṇāḍhya (°ṇa-āḍh°), as, ā, am, rich in virtues or excellences; ( as ), m., N. of a Brāhman, = Mālyavat in a former birth. —Guṇātīta (°ṇa-at°), as, ā, am, freed from or beyond all properties. —Guṇātman (°ṇa-āt°), ā, ā, a, having qualities. —Guṇādhāra (°ṇa-ādh°), as, m. a re- ceptacle of virtues, i. e. a virtuous person. —Guṇā- dhipa (°ṇa-adh°), as, m., N. of a king. —Guṇā- dhiṣṭhānaka (°ṇa-adhiṣṭhāna), am, n. the re- gion of the breast where the girdle is fastened. —Guṇā- nurāga (°ṇa-an°), as, m. delight or pleasure in the good qualities of others, approbation. —Guṇā- nurodha (°ṇa-an°), as, m. conformity or suitable- ness to good qualities &c. —Guṇāntara (°ṇa-an°), am, n. a different kind of merit, variety of property or quality. —Guṇānvita (°ṇa-an°), as, ā, am, hav- ing attributes or qualities; excellent, good, endowed with virtues. —Guṇāpavāda (°ṇa-ap°), as, m. de- traction. —Guṇābdhi (°ṇa-ab°), is, m. a Buddha; [cf. guṇa-sāgara. ] —Guṇābhāsa (°ṇa-ābh°), as, m. semblance of qualities. —Guṇāyana (°ṇa-ay°), as, ī, am, one who goes on the path of virtue. —Guṇālaṅkṛta (°ṇa-al°), as, ā, am, adorned with virtues or good qualities. —Guṇālābha (°ṇa- al°), as, m. inefficiency. —Guṇāśraya (°ṇa-āś°), as, ā, am, virtuous, excellent, able, endowed with good qualities. —Guṇeśa (°ṇa-īśa), as, m. a lord of the three qualities; N. of a mountain. —Guṇeśvara (°ṇa-īś°), as, ī, am, having good qualities &c. ( as ), m., N. of a mountain; according to some, Citra- kūṭa or Chatarkot in Bundelcund. —Guṇotkarṣa Page0292-b+ 78 (°ṇa-ut°), as, m. excellence of merit, the being endowed with superior qualities. —Guṇotkīrtana (°ṇa-ut°), am, n. panegyric, eulogium. —Guṇot- kṛṣṭa (°ṇa-ut°), as, ā, am, superior in merit or in good qualities. —Guṇopeta (°ṇa-up°), as, ā, am, endowed with good qualities, rich (as food). —Guṇaugha (°ṇa-ogha), am, n. superior or abun- dant merit. [ ID=17456 ]

### General Quality or Attribute (5 definitions)
- a quality, peculiarity, or property  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a quality, peculiarity, attribute or property, Lāṭyāyana (Author); Śāṅkhāyana-gṛhya-sūtra (Title); Manu-smṛti (Title) iii, ix, &c. [ ID=65511 ]
- an epithet  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an epithet, Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title) [ ID=65516 ]
- 1. A quality or attribute. 2. A fundamental property of all created things, namely existence, passion, or darkness. 3. A political expedient in government, such as peace or war. 4. Form or shape. 5. A mental quality, such as knowledge. 6. Heroism or valor. 7. Color. 8. An organ of sense. 9. A string. 10. A bowstring. 11. Abandoning. 12. A cook. 13. An epithet of Bhima. 14. Secondary or subordinate status. 15. Excellence or merit. 16. A mathematical coefficient. 17. The chord of an arc. 18. A specific vowel gradation in grammar. 19. A stylistic merit in rhetoric. 20. Multiplication when used with numerals.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गुण (guṇa) m. ( - णः (-ṇaḥ) ) 1 A quality, attribute, or property in general. 2 A property of all created things; three are particularized, the Sattva, Raja, and Tama, or principles of truth or existence, passion or foulness, and darkness or ignorance. 3 A means of defence, one of six expedients in government, as, peace, war, a march, a halt, a stratagem, and recourse to protection: see सन्धि (sandhi), &c. 4 Form, shape, &c. or property of the body. 5 Knowledge, ignorance, &c. or quality of the mind. 6 Heroism, valor, &c. 7 White, black, &c. or the attributes of color. 8 An organ of sense. 9 A string in general. 10 A bow-string. 11 Abandoning, leaving. 12 A cook. 13 A name of BHĪMA. 14 Secondary, subordinate. 15 Excellence, merit, freedom from fault or blemish. 16 (In arithmetic,) The given coefficient of any number. 17 (In geometry,) The chord of an are. 18 (In grammar,) The substitution of e, o, ar and al for i, u, ṛ, ḷ. 19 (In rhetoric,) Consistency of plan, elegance of expression, &c. as the merits of a composition. 20 In composition with numerals, multiplication, as द्विगुण (guṇa) (dviguṇa) twice, त्रिगुण (guṇa) (triguṇa) thrice. f. ( - णा (-ṇā) ) A plant of the fibres of which bow- strings are made: see मूर्व्वा (mūrvvā). E. गुण (guṇa) to address or advise, affix क्त (kta). [ ID=13622 ]
- 1. A quality, property, form, or excellence. 2. A string or chord. 3. An organ of sense. 4. A plant used for bow-strings.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गुण (guṇa) ( णः ) ((ṇaḥ)) 1. m. A quality; a property; a means, a form; an excellence; a string. a chord; an organ of sense. ( णा (ṇā) ) f. Plant from which bow-strings are made. [ ID=13075 ]
- 1. A quality, attribute, or property in general. 2. One of three fundamental properties of all created things: existence, passion, and darkness. 3. A political expedient in government, such as peace or war. 4. Physical form or shape. 5. A mental quality or state. 6. Heroism or valor. 7. A color attribute. 8. An organ of sense. 9. A string or bowstring. 10. Abandoning or leaving. 11. A cook. 12. An epithet of Bhima. 13. Secondary or subordinate status. 14. Excellence, merit, or virtue. 15. A numerical coefficient. 16. The chord of an arc. 17. A grammatical vowel modification. 18. A rhetorical merit or elegance. 19. Multiplication when combined with numerals.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गुण (guṇa) m. ( - णः (-ṇaḥ) ) 1. A quality, attribute, or property in general. 2. A property of all created things; three are particularized, the Satwa, Raja and Tama, or principles of truth or existence, passion or foulness, and darkness or ignorance. 3. A means of defence, one of six expedients in government, as, peace, war, a march, a halt, a stratagem, and recourse to protection: see सन्धि (sandhi) &c. 4. Form, shape, &c. or property of the body. 5. Knowledge, ignorance, &c. or quality of the mind. 6. Heroism, valor, &c. 7. White, black, &c. or the attributes of color. 8. An organ of sense. 9. A string in general. 10. A bow-string. 11. Abandoning, leaving. 12. A cook. 13. A name of Bhima. 14. Secondary subordinate. 15. Excellence, merit, freedom from fault or blemish. 16. (In arithmetic,) The given coefficient of any number. 17. (In geometry,) The chord of an arc. 18. (In grammar,) The substitution of e, o, ar and al for i, u, ri, lri. 19. (In rhetoric,) Consistency of plan, elegance of expression, &c. as the merits of a composition. 20. In composition with numerals, multiplication, as द्विगुण (guṇa) (dviguṇa) twice, त्रिगुण (guṇa) (triguṇa) thrice. f. ( - णा (-ṇā) ) A plant of the fibers of which bow-strings are made: see मूर्व्वा (mūrvvā). E. गुण (guṇa) to address or advice, affix क्त (kta). [ ID=13613 ]

### Secondary or Subordinate Element (5 definitions)
- requisite  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > ‘requisite’, see ° णो (°ṇo) पे (pe) त (ta) [ ID=65506 ]
- a secondary element or subordinate part of any action  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a secondary element, subordinate or unessential part of any action ( e.g. सर्व - गुण (sarva-guṇa) mfn. ‘reaching to all subordinate parts’, hence ‘valid throughout’, Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title) ), Śāṅkhāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title); Āśvalāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title); Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title); Rāmāyaṇa (Title) v, 1, 71 [ ID=65507 ]
- an auxiliary act  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an auxiliary act, Śāṅkhāyana-brāhmaṇa (Title) xxvi, 4 [ ID=65508 ]
- a side-dish  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a secondary dish (opposed to अन्न (anna) i.e. rice or the chief dish), side-dish, Manu-smṛti (Title) iii, 224 ff. [ ID=65509 ]
- the secondary or less immediate object of an action  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (= - कर्मन् (-karman), in Gr. ) the secondary or less immediate object of an action, Pāṇini (Author) i, 4, 51, Sch. [ ID=65510 ]

### Philosophical or Elemental Qualities (4 definitions)
- an attribute of the five elements, each possessing specific qualities and corresponding sense organs  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an attribute of the 5 elements (each of which has its own peculiar quality or qualities as well as organ of sense; thus 1. ether has शब्द (śabda), or sound for its Guṇa and the ear for its organ; 2. the air has tangibility and sound for its Guṇas and the skin for its organ; 3. fire or light has shape or colour, tangibility, and sound for its Guṇas, and the eye for its organs; 4. water has flavour, shape, tangibility, and sound for its Guṇas, and the tongue for its organ; 5. earth has the preceding Guṇas, with the addition of its own peculiar Guṇa of smell, and the nose for its organ), Manu-smṛti (Title) i, 20 and 76 - 78; Mahābhārata (Title) xii, 6846 ff.; Śakuntalā (Title) i, 1; Bhāgavata-purāṇa (Title) iii, 5, 35 [ ID=65512 ]
- 1. A constituent of nature representing goodness, passion, or darkness. 2. A quality of all existing beings.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in Sāṃkhya phil. ) an ingredient or constituent of Prakṛti, chief quality of all existing beings ( viz. सत्त्व (sattva), रजस् (rajas), and तमस् (tamas) i.e. goodness, passion, and darkness, or virtue, foulness, and ignorance; cf. Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) pp. 31; 36; 163 ), Manu-smṛti (Title) i; iii, 40; xii, 24 ff.; Sāṃkhyakārikā (Title); Bhagavad-gītā (Title) xiii f. [ ID=65513 ]
- a property or characteristic of all created things  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a property or characteristic of all created things (in Nyāya phil. twenty-four Guṇas are enumerated, viz. 1. रूप (rūpa), shape, colour; 2. रस (rasa), savour; 3. गन्ध (gandha), odour; 4. स्पर्श (sparśa), tangibility; 5. संख्या (saṃkhyā), number; 6. परिमाण (parimāṇa), dimension; 7. पृथक्त्व (pṛthaktva), severalty; 8. संयोग (saṃyoga), conjunction; 9. विभाग (vibhāga), disjunction; 10. परत्व (paratva), remoteness; 11. अपरत्व (paratva) (aparatva), proximity; 12. गुरुत्व (gurutva), weight; 13. द्रवत्व (dravatva), fluidity; 14. स्नेह (sneha), viscidity; 15. शब्द (śabda), sound; 16. बुद्धि (buddhi) or ज्ञान (jñāna), understanding or knowledge; 17. सुख (sukha), pleasure; 18. दुःख (duḥkha), pain; 19. इच्छा (icchā), desire; 20. द्वेष (dveṣa), aversion; 21. प्रयत्न (prayatna), effort; 22. धर्म (dharma), merit or virtue; 23. अधर्म (dharma) (adharma), demerit; 24. संस्कार (saṃskāra), the self-reproductive quality) [ ID=65515 ]
- 1. Three fundamental qualities or natures: goodness and purity, passion and activity, and darkness and inertia. 2. Twelve qualities. 3. Twenty-six specific virtues and states including meditation, truth, non-violence, and wisdom.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > गुण (guṇa) [Printed book page 1-536 ] Guṇas — three kinds of persons according to their nature; hence Guṇatrayam; satva prakṛti, rājasa prakṛti and tāmasa prakṛti. Their different characteristics. A muni Page1-537+ 32 serves satva and conquers rajas and tamas. 1 If the three states are normal it is prakṛti, pradhāna or avyakta. If in a condition of agitation, three deities Brahma, Viṣṇu and Śiva are the result. 2 Twelve qualities; 3 twenty-six in num- ber; yoga, sāmkhya, tapas, vidyā, vidhi, kriyā, ṛtam, satyam, ahimsā, dhyānam, sānti, avidyā, mati, dhṛti, kānti, smṛti, medha, lajjā, śuddhi, sarasvati, tuṣti, puṣti etc., all in Brahmā. 4 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. XI. 25. 9-35.] [ Footnote: 2) M. 3. 14-6.] [ Footnote: 3) Vā. 62. 24.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. 23. 54.] [ ID=4233 ]

### Grammar, Phonetics, or Rhetoric Term (3 definitions)
- the merit of composition  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 357,1] the merit of composition (consistency, elegance of expression, &c.), Kāvyādarśa (Title) i, 41 f.; Kāvyaprakāśa (Title) viii; Sāhitya-darpaṇa (Title) viii [ ID=65518 ]
- the eleven peculiar properties of letters  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the peculiar properties of the letters (11 in number, viz. the 8 बाह्य - प्रयत्नास् (bāhya-prayatnās) [ q.v. ] and the 3 accents), Kāśikā-vṛtti (Title) on Pāṇini (Author) i, 1, 9 and 50 ( cf. - मात्र (-mātra) ) [ ID=65519 ]
- the first gradation of a vowel  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the first gradation of a vowel, the vowels अ (a) (with अ (a) र् (ar), अ (a) ल् (al), Pāṇini (Author) i, 1, 51 ), ए (e), ओ (o), Nirukta, by Yāska (Title) x, 17; Ṛg-veda-prātiśākhya (Title) xi, 6; Pāṇini (Author) [ ID=65520 ]

### Verbal Root 'guṇ' (to invite, advise, multiply) (3 definitions)
- 1. To invite. 2. To advise. 3. To multiply.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गुण (guṇa) [Printed book page 291 ] गुण (guṇa) r. 10th cl. ( गुण (guṇa) यति (guṇayati) ) 1 To invite. 2 To advise. 3 To multiply. [ ID=13621 ]
- 1. To invite. 2. To advise. 3. To multiply.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गुण (guṇa) [Printed book page 254-a ] गुण (guṇa) ( क, त् ) गोणयति ((ka, t) goṇayati) 10. a. To invite; to advise; to multiply. [ ID=13074 ]
- 1. To invite. 2. To advise. 3. To multiply.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > गुण (guṇa) [Printed book page 239-b ] गुण (guṇa) r. 10th cl. ( गुण (guṇa) यति (guṇayati) ) 1. To invite. 2. To advise. 3. To multiply. [ ID=13612 ]

### Organ of Sense or Related Concept (2 definitions)
- an organ of sense  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an organ of sense, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=65521 ]
- the five senses, the five pranas, and the mind of the mukta leave him, and a jnanin does not take another body  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 1-537 ] Guṇa śarīra — the five senses and the five prāṇas and the mind of the mukta leave him; a jñānin does not take another body like the seeds burnt. Vā. 102. 105-06. [ ID=4234 ]

### Political or Strategic Expedient (2 definitions)
- the six subdivisions of action for a king in foreign politics  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the 6 subdivisions of action for a king in foreign politics ( viz. peace, war, march, halt, stratagem, and recourse to the protection of a mightier king), Manu-smṛti (Title) vii, 160; Yājñavalkya (Author) i, 346; Mahābhārata (Title) ii, 155 [ ID=65504 ]
- means of conquering an enemy  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > = उपा (upā) य (ya) ( q.v., denoting the 4 ways of conquering an enemy), Rāmāyaṇa (Title) v, 81, 41 [ ID=65505 ]

### Specific Person or Occupation (2 definitions)
- a cook  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a cook ( cf. - कार (-kāra) ), Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=65522 ]
- an epithet of Bhima  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Bhīma-sena ( cf. - कार (-kāra) ), Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=65523 ]

### Specific Plant or Botanical Term (2 definitions)
- Sanseviera Roxburghiana  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1B) [Printed book page 357,1] गुणा (guṇā) ( आ (ā) ), f. Sanseviera Roxburghiana, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=65524 ]
- the plant mamsarohini  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the plant मांसरोहिणी (māṃsarohiṇī), Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=65525 ]

### Virtue, Merit, or Excellence (2 definitions)
- good quality, virtue, merit, and excellence  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > good quality, virtue, merit, excellence, Manu-smṛti (Title); Mahābhārata (Title) &c. [ ID=65517 ]
- power, might  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 1326,2] also ‘power, might’; आत् (āt), ‘by virtue of’, ‘in consequence of’, ‘by means of’ [ ID=65517.1 ]

### Multiplier or Mathematical Co-efficient (1 definition)
- a multiplier or coefficient in algebra  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a multiplier, co-efficient (in alg. ) [ ID=65502 ]

### Other Specific Meanings or References (1 definition)
- the name of a princess  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a princess, Rājataraṃgiṇī (Title) iv, 695 ( cf. निर् - (nir-), वि - (vi-), स - (sa-); गौण (gauṇa).) [ ID=65526 ]

### Species, Kind, or Subdivision (1 definition)
- subdivision, species, or kind  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > subdivision, species, kind ( e.g. गन्धस्य गुणाः (gandhasya guṇāḥ), the different kinds of smell, Mahābhārata (Title) xii, 6847 ) [ ID=65503 ]

### The Number Three (or Six) (1 definition)
- the number three  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (hence) the number ‘three’, Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā (Title) iic, 1 [ ID=65514 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; 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