# लक्षण (lakṣaṇa)

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

लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) is a Sanskrit word meaning indicating or expressing indirectly, siberian crane, name of a man, a mark, sign, or symbol, a characteristic, attribute, or quality, a lucky mark or favourable sign. Its 31 recorded definitions are grouped into 14 contexts, among them Mark, Sign, or Characteristic, Named Entity (Person, Animal, etc.), Definition, Record, or Standard.

- **Root:** लक्ष (lakṣa)
- **Etymology:** E. लक्ष् to see, to mark, aff. ल्युट्; or लक्ष् as before, Unādi aff. न and अट् augment; also — E. lakṣ to see, to mark, aff. lyuṭ; or lakṣ as before, Unādi aff. na and aṭ augment; also
- **SLP1:** `lakzaRa`  **IAST:** lakṣaṇa  **Devanagari:** लक्षण
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshana
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/lakshana/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** लाक्षण (lākṣaṇa), लक्षणा (lakṣaṇā)

## Meanings by context

### Mark, Sign, or Characteristic (12 definitions)
- 1. A mark, sign, or symbol. 2. A characteristic, attribute, or quality.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) n. ( ifc. f( आ (ā) ). ) a mark, sign, symbol, token, characteristic, attribute, quality ( ifc. = ‘marked or characterized by’, ‘possessed of’), Mn.; MBh. &c. [ ID=180385 ]
- a stroke or line, especially one drawn on the sacrificial ground  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) n. a stroke, line ( esp. those drawn on the sacrificial ground), ŚBr.; GṛŚrS. [ ID=180386 ]
- 1. Indicating or expressing indirectly. 2. A mark, sign, or characteristic. 3. A stroke or ritual catchword. 4. An auspicious mark or symptom. 5. A sexual organ. 6. A description, definition, designation, or name. 7. A species or kind. 8. An aim, scope, effect, influence, occasion, or opportunity.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 259-a1 ] लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) lakṣ-aṇa, a. indicating, expressing indirectly; n. mark, token, sign, characteristic, attribute ( sg. often coll. ); stroke; lines drawn on the place of sacrifice; catchword ( rit. ); lucky or auspicious mark; symptom ( of a disease ); characteristic of sex, sexual organ; description, definition; designation, name; species, kind; aim, scope; effect, influence; occasion, opportunity: —° a. characterised by; provided with; taking the form of, appearing as; relating to, coming within the scope of. [ ID=15444 ]
- 1. A mark, spot, name, or appellation. 2. Sight or seeing. 3. An indication, predicate, or defining characteristic. 4. A disease symptom. 5. The younger brother of Rama. 6. The Indian crane. 7. A female Indian crane or goose. 8. An ellipsis. 9. The force or application of a word or phrase.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > लक्ष (lakṣa) ण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 713 ] लक्ष (lakṣa) ण (lakṣaṇa) n. ( - णं (-ṇaṃ) ) 1 A mark, a spot. 2 A name, an appellation. 3 Sight, seeing. 4 An indication, a predicate, any thing by which an object is designated or distinguished. 5 A symptom or any indication of actual disease. m. ( - णः (-ṇaḥ) ) 1 The younger brother of RĀMA. 2 The Indian crane. f. ( - णा (-ṇā) ) 1 The female of the Indian crane. 2 A goose. 3 An ellipsis, a word, &c. understood, though not inserted. 4 The force or application of a word or phrase. E. लक्ष (lakṣa) to see, to mark, aff. ल्युट् (lyuṭ), or लक्ष (lakṣa) as before, Uṇādi aff. न (na), and अट् (aṭ) augment; also with मुट् (muṭ) augment, लक्ष (lakṣa) ्मण (lakṣmaṇa), which in the masc. and fem. forms is the more usual reading. [ ID=32661 ]
- 1. A mark, sign, name, or sight. 2. The younger brother of Rama. 3. A crane or goose. 4. An ellipsis.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 638-a ] लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) ( णं ) ((ṇaṃ)) 1. n. Mark, sign; name; sight; the young brother of Rāma, Indian crane. m. f. ( णा (ṇā) ) Crane; goose; ellipsis. [ ID=32236 ]
- 1. A mark, sign, characteristic, or indication. 2. An attribute or quality. 3. An accurate definition. 4. A mark of good or bad fortune. 5. A symptom of disease. 6. A fixed rate. 7. A designation or appellation. 8. A subject, head, or topic. 9. A cause or occasion. 10. An effect or operation. 11. Excellence, qualification, virtue, or merit. 12. An auspicious mark on the body.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 617-03 ] लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) (I) n. 1. A mark, a sign, token, a characteristic, an indication ( पुरुषलक्षण (lakṣaṇa) (puruṣalakṣaṇa) ‘the organ of virility’), अव्याक्षेपो भविष्यंत्याः कार्यसिद्धेर्हि लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) म् (avyākṣepo bhaviṣyaṃtyāḥ kāryasiddherhi lakṣaṇam) R. x.6, दृष्टशुभगर्भलक्षण (lakṣaṇa) ा (dṛṣṭaśubhagarbhalakṣaṇā) R. xix.55, Megh. ii.17; 2. an attribute, a quality; 3. an accurate definition (in phil.); 4. a mark indicative of good or bad fortune, क्व तद्विधस्त्वं क्व च पुण्यलक्षण (lakṣaṇa) ा (kva tadvidhastvaṃ kva ca puṇyalakṣaṇā) K.S. v.73, M. xi.53; 5. a symptom of disease; 6. a fixed rate, M. viii.406; 7. designation, appellation, तेषां दिक्षु प्रथितविदिशालक्षण (lakṣaṇa) ां राजधानीम् (teṣāṃ dikṣu prathitavidiśālakṣaṇāṃ rājadhānīm) Megh. i.24; 8. subject, head, topic; 9. cause, occasion; 10. effect, operation; 11. excellence, qualification, virtue, merit, ककुत्स्थ इत्याहितलक्षण (lakṣaṇa) ोऽभूत् (kakutstha ityāhitalakṣaṇo'bhūt) R. vi.71; 12. an auspicious mark on the body of a person; (they are 32 in number). [ ID=32323 ]
- 1. Neuter: A mark or spot, a name, sight, an indication or distinguishing feature, and a disease symptom. 2. Masculine: The younger brother of Rama, and the Indian crane. 3. Feminine: The female Indian crane, a goose, an ellipsis, and the force or application of a word or phrase.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 611-b ] लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) n. ( - णं (-ṇaṃ) ) 1. A mark, a spot. 2. A name, an appellation. 3. Sight, seeing. 4. An indication, a predicate, any thing by which an object is designated or distinguished. 5. A symptom or any indication of actual disease. m. ( - णः (-ṇaḥ) ) 1. The younger brother of RĀMA. 2. The Indian crane. f. ( - णा (-ṇā) ) 1. The female of the Indian crane. 2. A goose. 3. An ellipsis, a word, &c. understood, though not inserted. 4. The force or application of a word or phrase. E. लक्ष् (lakṣ) to see, to mark, aff. ल्युट्; (lyuṭ;) or लक्ष् (lakṣ) as before, Unādi aff. न (na) and अट् (aṭ) augment; also with मुट् (muṭ) augment, लक्ष् (lakṣ) मण, (lakṣmaṇa,) which in the masc. and fem. forms is the more usual reading. [ ID=34024 ]
- 1. Seeing or sight. 2. A characteristic, holy, or lucky mark or spot. 3. Form. 4. A name. 5. An indication or definition. 6. Settlement. 7. A symptom of actual disease. 8. The Indian crane. 9. Metonymy. 10. A goose.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 0783-b ] लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) lakṣaṇa, i. e. lakṣ + ana, I. n. 1. Seeing, sight. 2. A character- istic mark, Pañc. iii. d. 130; Bhartṛ. 2, 70; a spot. 3. A holy mark, Hit. 99, 7; a lucky mark, Daśak. in Chr. 197, 11. 4. Form, Bhāg. P. 5, 20, 38. 5. A name, Pañc. iii. d. 35 (read yātrālakṣaṇam, called yātrā ). 6. An indication, a definition, Man. 1, 112. 7. Settlement, 8, 406. 8. A symptom of actual disease. II. m. 1. The In- dian crane. 2. A proper name. III. f. nā. 1. Metonymy, as distinguished from a word's literal meaning, Vedāntas. in Chr. 212, 16; Bhāṣāp. 81. Cf. Sā- hitya, Darp. ii. 2. The female of the Indian crane. 3. A goose. — Comp. A-, I. n. a mark of ill fortune, Man. 4, 156. II. adj., f. ṇā, 1. without distinguishing marks, Man. 1, 5. 2. inauspicious, Ragh. 14, 5. Ajahallakṣaṇā, i. e. a-jahat- ( vb. 2. hā ), f. using a word in an elliptic meaning, without depriving it of its original signification; e. g. śoṇa, adj. ‘of a chesnut colour,’ in the sense of ‘a horse of a chesnut colour,’ Vedāntas. in Chr. 214, 11. Kṛta-, adj. brandished, Man. 9, 239. Ṛgyajuḥsāmalakṣaṇa, i. e. ṛc-yajus-sāman-, adj. named Ṛc, Yājus, and Sāman, Man. 1, 23. Jñāna-, adj., f. ṇā, one of the three transcen- dental perceptions, Bhāṣāp. 62, cf. 64. Page0784-a+ 44 Dvi-, adj. of two kinds, Man. 7, 163. Nirlakṣaṇa, i. e. nis-, adj. not distin- guished, unimportant, Rām. 2, 113, 5 Gorr. Rājalakṣaṇa, i. e. rājan-, n. 1. royal insignia. 2. any natural mark indicating royalty. Lakṣita-, adj., f. ṇā, in which are evident the marks (of a town), Bhāg. P. 4, 25, 13. Vi-, see s. v. Viśeṣa-, n. characteristic mark or sign. Sāmānya-, f. ṇā, one of the three transcendental perceptions, Bhāṣāp. 62, 63. Su-, I. adj. having auspicious marks, Rām. 3, 49, 57. II. n. determining. III. f. ṇā, a proper name. [ ID=12278 ]
- 1. Aim or goal. 2. A mark, sign, characteristic, or attribute. 3. A favorable mark or the genitals. 4. An accurate description, definition, name, or kind. 5. Intention or direction. 6. Cause or occasion.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 456 ] लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) a. = prec. a.; f. आ (ā) aim, goal, indirect indication ( (rh.) ). — n. mark, sign, token, characteristic, attribute, lucky or favourable mark, the genitals; accurate description, definition, designation, appellation, name, kind, species; aim, intention, direction; cause, occasion; adj. —° appearing as, relating to. [ ID=27328 ]
- 1. A mark, token, characteristic, attribute, or mark of excellence. 2. A name or designation. 3. A form or kind.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 232-b ] lakṣaṇá, n. —1. mark, token; characteristic; attribute, 66 11; character, 101 12; essential characteristic, 41 14; special mark; esp. lucky mark, mark of excellence, 62 7, 98 7, 8; mark in the sense of determinant at 58 23; —2. ( like Eng. designation) name, 57 14; —3. form, kind, 65 12. [ fr. the denom. lakṣaya ( 1150. 2a), or rather fr. the simpler but very rare form of the same denom. (1054), √lakṣa. ] [ ID=3593 ]
- 1. A mark, sign, symbol, or characteristic. 2. Character, attribute, or quality. 3. A stroke, line, or spot. 4. A favourable sign or lucky mark. 5. A symptom of disease. 6. A definition or accurate description. 7. A fixed tariff or settled rate. 8. A name, designation, or appellation. 9. An aim, intention, scope, or object. 10. Form or kind. 11. An indirect indication, hint, metonymy, or ellipsis.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 0857-b ] Lakṣaṇa, am, n. a mark, distinctive mark, sign, symbol, token, indication, characteristic (often at the end of comps., e. g. puruṣa-l°, the mark or organ of virility; at the end of adj. comps. the fem. is in ā and rarely in ī ); character, attribute, quality; stroke, line, spot; a lucky mark, favourable sign; a symptom or indication of disease; an accurate mark, accurate description, definition; settled rate, fixed tariff (Manu VIII. 406); a designation, appel- lation, name, (sometimes at the end of comps., e. g. Ṛg-yajuḥ-sāma-lakṣaṇa, named Ṛg, Yajur, Page0857-c+ 81 and Sāma); aiming at, aim, intention, scope, object, signification; form, kind; subject, head, term, pro- vince; effect, operation influence; cause, occasion; observation, sight, seeing; ( as ), m. the Indian crane, Ardea Sibirica; a proper N.; = lakṣmaṇa, the brother of Rāma; ( ā ), f. aim, object, view; an indirect indication or hint, elliptical mode of expres- sion, ellipsis, a word or phrase understood though not expressed, metonymy; indirect application of a word (as distinguished from its literal meaning); = lakṣmaṇā, the female of the Ardea Sibirica; a goose; N. of an Apsaras. —Lakṣaṇa-jña, as, ā, am, sign-knowing, understanding marks (especially those on the body), able to interpret or explain them. —Lakṣaṇa-tva, am, n. the being a mark or definition. —Lakṣaṇa-bhraṣṭa, as, ā, am, deprived of good marks, fallen into misfortune, un- lucky. —Lakṣaṇa-lakṣaṇā, f., N. of a particular mode of expression by ellipsis or by metonymy. —Lakṣaṇa-vat, ān, atī, at, possessing marks or signs, marked, distinguished, characterized, ( triṃśal- lakṣaṇa-vat, having thirty marks or character- istics.) —Lakṣaṇa-vāda-rahasya, am, n., N. of a short philosophical treatise. —Lakṣaṇa-saṅgra- ha, as, m., N. of a work. —Lakṣaṇa-sannipāta, as, m. the impressing or fixing of a mark, branding, stigmatizing. —Lakṣaṇa-samuccaya, as, m., N. of a work. —Lakṣaṇānvita (°ṇa-an°), as, ā, am, endowed with good marks, lucky. —Lakṣaṇoru (°ṇa-ūru), us, ūs, u, having good marks on the thighs? (Pāṇ. IV. 1, 70). [ ID=40020 ]
- A mark made on cattle by branding to distinguish ownership  
  *The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 2-229 ] Lakṣaṇa 1 or Lakṣman 2 denotes the ‘mark’ made on cattle by branding to distinguish ownership. According to the Maitrā- yaṇī Saṃhitā, 3 it was to be made under the Nakṣatra Revatī, clearly because of the property indicated in the name (‘wealthy’) of that Nakṣatra. See Aṣṭakarṇī. [ Footnote: 1) Gobhila Gṛhya Sūtra, iii. 6, 5. Cf. Śāṅkhāyana Gṛhya Sūtra, iii. 10; Weber, Indische Studien, 5, 35; 13, 466.] [ Footnote: 2) Av. vi. 141, 2; Maitrāyaṇī Saṃ- hitā, iv. 2, 9.] [ Footnote: 3) Loc. cit. ] [ ID=2738 ]

### Named Entity (Person, Animal, etc.) (4 definitions)
- Siberian crane  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) m. Ardea Sibirica, L. [ ID=180382 ]
- Name of a man  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a man, Rājat. (often confounded with, लक्ष्मण (lakṣmaṇa) ) [ ID=180383 ]
- the Indian crane  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) (II) m. the Indian crane. [ ID=32324 ]
- An elephant, son of Anjana.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) [Printed book page 3-109 ] Lakṣaṇa — an elephant, son of Añjanā. Br. III. 7. 339. [ ID=11859 ]

### Definition, Record, or Standard (3 definitions)
- An accurate description, definition, or illustration  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > accurate description, definition, illustration, Mn.; Sarvad.; Suśr. [ ID=180391 ]
- settled rate or fixed tariff  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > settled rate, fixed tariff, Manu-smṛti (Title) viii, 406 [ ID=180392 ]
- Reference or quotation.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > reference, quotation, Pāṇini (Author) i, 4, 84 [ ID=180396 ]

### Indirect or Figurative Meaning (2 definitions)
- indicating or expressing indirectly  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 892,1] लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) mfn. indicating, expressing indirectly, Vedāntas. [ ID=180381 ]
- See the main entry  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2B) [Printed book page 892,1] लक्षणा (lakṣaṇā) a f. See s.v. [ ID=180384 ]

### A Spoon (1 definition)
- a spoon  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a spoon (?), Divyāv. [ ID=180390 ]

### Aim, Goal, or Object (1 definition)
- The act of aiming, aim, goal, scope, or object.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the act of aiming at, aim, goal, scope, object ( ifc. = ‘concerning’, ‘relating to’, ‘coming within the scope of’), APrāt.; Yājñ.; MBh.; BhP. [ ID=180395 ]

### Auspicious Mark/Sign (1 definition)
- A lucky mark or favourable sign  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a lucky mark, favourable sign, GṛŚrS.; Mn.; MBh. &c. [ ID=180387 ]

### Cause or Occasion (1 definition)
- cause, occasion, opportunity  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > cause, occasion, opportunity, R.; Daś. [ ID=180398 ]

### Effect or Influence (1 definition)
- effect, operation, or influence  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > effect, operation, influence, ib. i, 1, 62 &c. [ ID=180397 ]

### Form, Species, or Kind (1 definition)
- a form, species, or kind  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a form, species, kind, sort ( ifc. = ‘taking the form of’, ‘appearing as’), Mn.; Śaṃk.; BhP. [ ID=180394 ]

### Name or Designation (1 definition)
- A designation, appellation, or name.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a designation, appellation, name ( ifc. = ‘named’, ‘called’), Mn.; MBh.; Kāv. [ ID=180393 ]

### Sexual Organ (1 definition)
- A sexual organ.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a sexual organ, Mahābhārata (Title) xiii, 2303 [ ID=180389 ]

### Sight or Observation (1 definition)
- sight, seeing  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > observation, sight, seeing, W. [ ID=180399 ]

### Symptom of Disease (1 definition)
- a symptom or indication of disease  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a symptom or indication of disease, Cat. [ ID=180388 ]

## 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; The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects; 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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