# इन्द्रिय (indriya)

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

इन्द्रिय (indriya) is a Sanskrit word meaning fit for, belonging to, or agreeable to Indra, a companion of Indra, power or force, exhibition of power, bodily or sensory power, virile power. Its 19 recorded definitions are grouped into 4 contexts, among them Organ or Faculty of Sense, Pertaining to the God Indra, Power, Might, Energy.

- **SLP1:** `indriya`  **IAST:** indriya  **Devanagari:** इन्द्रिय
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indriya
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/indriya/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** इंद्रिय (iṃdriya)

## Meanings by context

### Organ or Faculty of Sense (8 definitions)
- A sense organ  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > faculty of sense, sense, organ of sense, AV.; Suśr.; Mn.; Ragh.; Kir. &c. [ ID=29222 ]
- the number five as a symbol for the five senses  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the number five as symbolical of the five senses. (In addition to the five organs of perception, बुद्धी (buddhī) न्द्रियाणि (ndriyāṇi) or ज्ञाने (jñāne) न्द्रियाणि (ndriyāṇi), i.e. eye, ear, nose, tongue, and skin, the Hindūs enumerate five organs of action, कर्मे (karme) न्द्रियाणि (ndriyāṇi) i.e. larynx, hand, foot, anus, and parts of generation; between these ten organs and the soul or आत्मन् (ātman) stands मनस् (manas) or mind, considered as an eleventh organ; in the Vedānta, मनस् (manas), बुद्धि (buddhi), अहंकार (ahaṃkāra), and चित्त (citta) form the four inner or internal organs, अन्तर् - इन्द्रियाणि (ndriyāṇi) (antar-indriyāṇi), so that according to this reckoning the organs are fourteen in number, each being presided over by its own ruler or नियन्तृ (niyantṛ); thus, the eye by the Sun, the ear by the Quarters of the world, the nose by the two Aśvins, the tongue by Pracetas, the skin by the Wind, the voice by Fire, the hand by Indra, the foot by Viṣṇu, the anus by Mitra, the parts of generation by Prajāpati, manas by the Moon, buddhi by Brahman, ahaṃkāra by Śiva, citta by Viṣṇu as Acyuta; in the Nyāya philosophy each organ is connected with its own peculiar element, the nose with the Earth, the tongue with Water, the eye with Light or Fire, the skin with Air, the ear with Ether; the Jainas divide the whole creation into five sections, according to the number of organs attributed to each being.) [ ID=29223 ]
- 1. An organ of sense. 2. Semen.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इन्द्र (indra) िय (indriya) [Printed book page 132 ] इन्द्र (indra) िय (indriya) n. ( - यं (-yaṃ) ) 1 An organ of sense divided into three classes, Jñānendriyas, Karmendriyas, and Antarindriyas, or organs of perception and action, and the internal organs; the first are the eye, ear, nose, tongue, and skin; the second, the organ of speech or larynx, hand, foot, anus, and parts of generation; the last are, Manas the mind or organ of thought; Buddhi the organ of apprehension; Ahaṅkāra the organ of selfishness; and Citta the heart or organ of feeling. 2 Semen virile. mfn. ( - यः - या - यं (-yaṃ) (-yaḥ-yā-yaṃ) ) Done, seen, given, &c. by INDRA. E. इन्द्र (indra) the soul or self, and इयच् (iyac) affix, deriv. irr. what is with difficulty restrained by the soul, or इन्द्र (indra) the deity, and घ (gha) aff. [ ID=6340 ]
- An organ of sense.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इन्द्रिय (indriya) [Printed book page 108-a ] इन्द्रिय (indriya) ( यं ) ((yaṃ)) 1. n. An organ of sense. [ ID=5728 ]
- 1. An organ of sense. 2. Semen. 3. Power or force. 4. Sensory power. 5. The number five in mathematics.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इन्द्रिय (indriya) [Printed book page 118-05 ] इन्द्रिय (indriya) n. 1. An organ of sense (there are two kinds of indriyas, viz., ज्ञानेन्द्रियाणि (jñānendriyāṇi) and कर्मेन्द्रियाणि (karmendriyāṇi); they are- (1) श्रित्रं त्वक्चक्षुषी जिह्वा नासिका ऐव पञ्चमी । (śritraṃ tvakcakṣuṣī jihvā nāsikā aiva pañcamī.) (also मन (mana) according to some); (2) पायूपस्थं हस्तपादं वाक्चैव दशमी स्मृता (pāyūpasthaṃ hastapādaṃ vākcaiva daśamī smṛtā) M. ii.90); 2. semen; 3. power, force; 4. power of the senses; 5. the number ‘5’ (in math.) [ ID=5834 ]
- 1. An organ of sense or action, including the mind. 2. Semen virile. 3. Done, seen, or given by Indra.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इन्द्र (indra) िय (indriya) [Printed book page 109-a ] इन्द्र (indra) िय (indriya) n. ( - यं (-yaṃ) ) 1. An organ of sense divided into three classes, Jananendriyas, Karmendriyas, and Antarindriyas, or organs of perception and action, and the internal organs; the first are the eye, ear, nose, tongue, and skin; the second, the organ of speech or larynx, hand, foot, anus, and parts of generation; the last are, Manas the mind or organ of thought; Buddhi the organ of apprehension; Ahankara the organ of selfishness; and Chitta the heart or organ of feeling. 2. Semen virile. mfn. ( - यः - या - यं (-yaṃ) (-yaḥ-yā-yaṃ) ) Done, seen, given, &c. by INDRA. E. इन्द्र (indra) the soul or self, and इयच् (iyac) affix, deriv. irr. what is with difficulty restrained by the soul, or इन्द्र (indra) the deity, and घ (gha) aff. [ ID=6338 ]
- 1. A companion of Indra. 2. Power, force, or bodily vigor. 3. Semen. 4. A sense organ. 5. The number five as a symbol for the five senses.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > इन्द्रिय (indriya) [Printed book page 0141-a ] Indriya, as, ā, am, fit for or belonging to or agreeable to Indra; ( as ), m. a companion of Indra; ( am ), n. power, force, the quality which belongs especially to the mighty Indra; exhibition of power, powerful act; bodily power, power of the senses; virile power; semen virile; faculty of sense, sense, organ of sense; the number five as symbolical of the five senses. (In addition to the five organs of per- ception, buddhīndriyāṇi or jñānendriyāṇi, i. e. eye, ear, nose, tongue, and skin, the Hindūs enu- merate five organs of action, karmendriyāṇi, i. e. larynx, hand, foot, anus, and parts of generation; be- tween these ten organs and the soul or ātman stands manas or mind, considered as an eleventh organ. In the Vedānta, manas, buddhi, ahaṅkāra, and citta form the four inner or internal organs, antar- indriyāṇi, so that according to this reckoning the organs are fourteen in number, each being presided over by its own ruler or niyantṛ; thus, the eye by the Sun, the ear by the Quarters of the world, the nose by the two Aśvins, the tongue by Pracetas, the skin by the Wind, the voice by Fire, the hand by Indra, the foot by Viṣṇu, the anus by Mitra, the parts of generation by Prajāpati, manas by the Moon, buddhi by Brahman, ahaṅkāra by Śiva, citta by Viṣṇu as Acyuta. In the Nyāya philosophy each organ is connected with its own peculiar element, the nose with the Earth, the tongue with Water, the eye with Light or Fire, the skin with Air, the ear with Ether. The Jainas divide the whole creation into five sections, according to the number of organs attributed to each being.) —Indriya-kāma, as, ā, am, Ved. desiring or endeavouring to obtain power. —Indri-yagocara, as, ā, am, perceptible, capable of being ascertained by the senses. —Indriya-grāma, as, m. the assemblage of the organs, the senses or organs of sense collectively. —Indriya-jñāna, am, n. the faculty of perception, sense, consciousness. —Indriya-nigraha, as, m. restraint of the organs of sense. —Indriya-buddhi, is, f. perception by the senses, the exercise of any sense, the faculty of any organ. —Indriya-bodhana, as, ā, am, exciting power, arousing or sharpening the senses; ( am ), n. any excitement of sense, an object of perception, a stimulus, &c. —Indriya-varga, as, m. the assem- blage of organs, the organs of sense collectively. —Indriya-vipratipatti, is, f. perversion of the organs, erroneous or perverted perception. —Indriya- svāpa, as, m. sleep of the senses, unconsciousness, insensibility; the end of the world. —Indriyāgocara (°ya-a-goc°), as, ā, am, imperceptible. —Indri- yātman (°ya-āt°), ā, m. an epithet of Viṣṇu. —Indriyāyatana (°ya-āy°), am, n. the residence of the senses; the body. —Indriyārtha (°ya-ar°), as, m. an object of sense (as sound, smell, &c.), anything exciting the senses. —Indriyā-vat, ān, atī, at, or indriyā-vin, ī, inī, i, Ved. powerful, mighty; sometimes also indriya-vat. —Indriyā- saṅga (°ya-a-s°), as, m. non-attachment to sensual objects, stoicism, philosophy. [ ID=9929 ]
- See above  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > इन्द्रिय (indriya) indriya. See above. [ ID=9930 ]

### Pertaining to the God Indra (5 definitions)
- fit for, belonging to, or agreeable to Indra  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 167,2] इन्द्रिय (indriya) mfn. fit for or belonging to or agreeable to Indra, RV.; AV.; VS. [ ID=29215 ]
- a companion of Indra  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > इन्द्रिय (indriya) ( अस् (as) ), m. a companion of Indra (?), Ṛg-veda (Title) i, 107, 2; Atharva-veda (Title) xix, 27, 1 [ ID=29216 ]
- 1. Belonging to or dear to Indra. 2. A companion of Indra. 3. Might, dominion, and power. 4. Vigour and energy. 5. Semen. 6. An organ of sense.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इन्द्रिय (indriya) [Printed book page 046-1 ] इन्द्रिय (indriya) indriyá, a. belonging to, like or dear to Indra; m. companion of Indra; n. Indraʼs might; dominion; mighty deed; vigour, energy; semen virile; organ of sense; -kāma, a. desirous of might; -grāma, m. totality of the senses; -śakti, f. power of the senses; -saṃyamá, m. restraint of the senses. [ ID=4143 ]
- 1. Belonging or agreeable to Indra. 2. A friend of Indra. 3. Strength, might, bodily power, a sense organ, or virile power.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इन्द्रिय (indriya) [Printed book page 075 ] इन्द्रिय (indriya) a. belonging or agreeable to Indra. m. a friend of Indra. — n. Indra's chief quality i.e. strength, might; used also of man's powers, esp. a sense or organ of sense, also the virile power, concr, semen. [ ID=4987 ]
- 1. Belonging to Indra. 2. Great might or power. 3. A sense or organ of sense.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > इन्द्रिय (indriya) [Printed book page 129-b ] indriyá, a. belonging to Indra; as n. —1. the quality pertaining especially to Indra, i. e. great might, power, 73 18, 97 6; —2. in general, one of a man's powers, i. e. a sense or organ of sense. [ índra, 1214b.] [ ID=724 ]

### Power, Might, Energy (4 definitions)
- power or force  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > इन्द्रिय (indriya) ( अम् (am) ), n. power, force, the quality which belongs especially to the mighty Indra, RV.; AV.; VS.; TS.; AitBr.; ŚBr. [ ID=29217 ]
- exhibition of power  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > exhibition of power, powerful act, RV.; VS. [ ID=29218 ]
- bodily or sensory power  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > bodily power, power of the senses [ ID=29219 ]
- 1. Power. 2. Semen. 3. An organ of sense.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > इन्द्रिय (indriya) [Printed book page 0100-b ] इन्द्रिय (indriya) indriya, i. e. indra + iya, n. 1. Power, Chr. 291, 2 = Rigv. i. 83, 2. 2. Semen virile, Man. 4, 220. 3. An organ of sense, Man. 1, 15. — Comp. Antar-, n, the internal sense, i. e. the faculty of thinking. Vedāntas. in Chr. 217, 19. Karmendriya, i. e. karman-, n. an organ of action, e. g. the hand, foot, etc., Man. 2, 91. Jita-, adj. one who has subdued his senses, Rām. 3, 49, 53. Nis-, adj., f. yā, 1. having lost the use of a limb, Man. 9, 201. 2. powerless, Man. 9. 18 (? see Sch.). Buddhi- (or jṅāna- ), n. an organ of perception and intellect, as the mind, eye, ear, etc., Man. 2, 91. Sa-, adj. with the organs of sense, Man. 1, 55. [ ID=1872 ]

### Semen Virile or Virile Power (2 definitions)
- virile power  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > virile power, AV.; VS.; ŚBr. [ ID=29220 ]
- semen virile  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > semen virile, VS.; KātyŚr.; MBh. &c. [ ID=29221 ]

## 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; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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