# नल (nala)

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

नल (nala) is a Sanskrit word meaning a species of reed, a measure of length, the 50th year of the 60-year cycle of Jupiter, name of a divine being mentioned with Yama, of a Daitya, a son of Nishadha and father of Nabha. Its 36 recorded definitions are grouped into 10 contexts, among them A type of reed, Other figures named Nala, King Nala of Niṣadha.

- **Root:** नल् (nal)
- **Etymology:** E. नल to shine, affix अच् — E. nala to shine, affix ac
- **SLP1:** `nala`  **IAST:** nala  **Devanagari:** नल
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nala
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/nala/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** णल (ṇala), नाला (nālā), नाल (nāla), नला (nalā), नळ (naḻa)

## Meanings by context

### A type of reed (10 definitions)
- a species of reed  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 530,2] नल (nala) m. ( cf. नड (naḍa), न L अ (naLa) ) a species of reed, Amphidonax Karka (8-12 feet high), Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa (Title); Mahābhārata (Title) &c. [ ID=104380 ]
- 1. A kind of reed. 2. A king and husband of Damayanti.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 137-2 ] नल (nala) nala, m. kind of reed ( Amphidonax karka ); N. of a king, husband of Damayantī. [ ID=10337 ]
- 1. A reed. 2. The name of a king, hero of the Naishadha. 3. A prince, son of Virasena. 4. A deified progenitor. 5. A monkey chief. 6. A demon. 7. Red arsenic. 8. A perfume. 9. The water lily. 10. Smell or odor.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > नल (nala) m. ( - लः (-laḥ) ) 1 A reed, ( Arundo karka, Rox.) 2 The name of a king, son of NIṢADHA, and hero of several poetical works famous amongst the Hindus, especially the poem called Naiṣadha. 3 Another prince, the son of VĪRASENA. 4 A deified progenitor or Pitṛdeva. 5 The name of a monkey chief. 6 A demon. f. ( - ली (-lī) ) Red arsenick. 2 A perfume, commonly called by the same name of Nali. n. ( - लं (-laṃ) ) 1 The water lily, ( Nelumbium speciosum.) 2 Smell, odour. E. नल (nala) to shine, affix अच् (ac). [ ID=21196 ]
- 1. A reed, a king, a monkey, or a demon. 2. Red arsenic or perfume. 3. Water-lily or colour.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 407-a ] नल (nala) ( लः ) ((laḥ)) 1. m. A reed; name of a king; of a monkey; of a demon. f. ( ली (lī) ) Red arsenic; perfume. n. ( लं (laṃ) ) Water-lily; colour. [ ID=20681 ]
- 1. A kind of reed. 2. Name of a celebrated king of the Nishadas. 3. Name of a monkey-chief in the army of Rama.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 371-03 ] नल (nala) (I) m. 1. A kind of reed; 2. name of a celebrated king of the Nishādas (See App. II.); 3. name of a monkey-chief in the army of Rāma. [ ID=18984 ]
- 1. A reed. 2. A king, son of Nishadha and hero of famous poems. 3. A prince, son of Virasena. 4. A deified progenitor. 5. A monkey chief. 6. A demon. 7. Red arsenic. 8. A perfume. 9. The water lily. 10. Smell.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > नल (nala) r. 10th cl. ( - लः (-laḥ) ) 1. A reed, (Arundo karka, Rox.) 2. The name of a king, son of NISHADHA, and hero of several poetical works famous amongst the Hindus, especially the poem called Naishadha. 3. Another prince, the son of VĪRASENA. 4. A deified progenitor or Pitrideva. 5. The name of a monkey chief. 6. A demon. f. ( - ली (-lī) ) Red arsenic. 2. A perfume, commonly called by the same name of Nali. n. ( - लं (-laṃ) ) 1. The water lily, (Nelumbium speciosum.) 2. Smell, odour. E. नल (nala) ् (nal) to shine, affix अच् । (ac.) [ ID=21182 ]
- 1. A kind of reed. 2. A proper name, including the hero of the Nala and Damayanti episode.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 0460-a ] नल (nala) nala (for naḍa, q. cf. ), m. 1. A kind of reed, Amphidonax karka Lindl., MBh. 6, 4898. 2. A proper name, Hariv. 823; the hero of the epi- sode Nala and Damayantī. [ ID=7243 ]
- 1. A kind of reed grass. 2. The name of several kings and mythical beings.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 263 ] नल (nala) m. a kind of reed-grass; N. of sev. kings & my hol. beings; f. ई (ī) a kind of fragrant substance. [ ID=15941 ]
- 1. A reed. 2. A prince of Nishadha.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 180-b ] nala, m. reed; Nala, name of a prince of Nishadha. [ cf. naḍá, Vedic naḻá. ] [ ID=2254 ]
- 1. A species of reed. 2. A king of the Nishadhas and husband of Damayanti. 3. A son of Yadu. 4. A monkey-chief who built a bridge for Rama to Lanka. 5. A Daitya. 6. A medical author. 7. A particular astrological constellation. 8. A kind of fragrant perfume or red arsenic. 9. The blossom of the lotus, or an odor.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 0472-a ] नल (nala) nala, as, m. (for naḍa, q. v.), a species of reed, Amphidonax Karka, eight to twelve feet high [cf. naḍa, nāla, deva-nala ]; N. of a king of the Niṣadhas or of the country called Niṣadha, son of Vīra-sena and husband of Damayantī and hero of the celebrated tale called Nala and Damayantī; a son of Niṣadha and father of Nabha or Nabhas; a descendant of the latter Nala, son of Su-dhanvan and father of Uktha [cf. naḍa ]; N. of a son of Yadu; N. of a monkey-chief, son of Tvaṣṭṛ or Viśva- karman, who made a bridge for Rāma from the continent to Laṅkā; N. of a Daitya; N. of a medical author; (in astrology) N. of a particular form of constellation in which all the planets or stars are grouped in double mansions; a deified proge- nitor, wrongly written for nalva; (ī), f. a kind of fragrant substance, a perfume ( = naṭī ); red arsenic, = manaḥ-silā, kunaṭī; (am), n. the blossom of Nelumbium Speciosum (?); smell, odour; [cf. rt. nal. ] —Nala-kānana, ās, m. pl., N. of a people, (this word may perhaps be separated into nalaka-ānana; also read nala-kālaka, nabha-kānana. ) —Nala- kīla, as, m. the knee. —Nala-kūbara and nala- kūvara, as, m., N. of a son of Kuvera. —Nala- campū, ūs, f., N. of a work by Tri-vikrama-bhaṭṭa, also called Damayantī-kathā, describing the fortunes of Nala and Damayantī in a highly artificial mixed style, half prose, half verse; [cf. campū. ] —Nala- da, am, ā, n. f. Indian spikenard, Nardostachys Ja- tamansi (= jaṭāmāṃsī); (am), n. the root of Andro- pogon Muricatus ( = uśīra ); the honey or nectar of a flower; ( ā ), f., N. of a daughter of Raudrāśva. —Nala-paṭṭikā, f. a sort of mat made with reeds, a coarse mat. —Nala-pura, am, n., N. of a town. —Nala-mīna, as, m. a species of sprat or (according to some) a shrimp or prawn; (also read tala-mīna. ) —Nala-setu, us, m. ‘Nala's bridge,’ the causeway constructed by the monkey Nala, (a name given to the rocks between Ramisseram and Ceylon, com- monly called Adam's bridge.) —Naleśvara-tīrtha (°la-īś°), am, n., N. of a sacred bathing-place. —Na- lottama (°la-ut°), as, m. a species of reed (= deva- nala). —Nalodaya (°la-ud°), as, m. ‘Nala's rise,’ N. of an artificial poem ascribed to Kāli-dāsa and describing the restoration of the fallen Nala to pros- perity and power. —Nalopakhyāna (°la-up°), am, n. ‘the story of Nala (and Damayantī),’ N. of a celebrated episode of the Mahā-bhārata. [ ID=23956 ]

### Other figures named Nala (10 definitions)
- name of a divine being mentioned with Yama  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a divine being mentioned with Yama, Karmapradīpa (Title) (= पितृ - देव (pitṛ-deva), or - दैव (-daiva), Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author); a deified progenitor, Horace H. Wilson, author of first Sanskrit-English dictionary in 1819 (Author) ) [ ID=104384 ]
- of a Daitya  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a Daitya, Brahma-purāṇa (Title) [ ID=104385 ]
- a son of Nishadha and father of Nabha  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a son of Niṣadha and father of Nabha or Nabhas, Harivaṃśa (Title); Raghuvaṃśa (Title); Viṣṇu-purāṇa (Title) [ ID=104387 ]
- a descendant of Nala  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a descendant of the latter Nala ( s° of Su-dhanvan and f° of Uktha), Harivaṃśa (Title); Viṣṇu-purāṇa (Title) [ ID=104388 ]
- a son of Yadu  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a son of Yadu, Purāṇas (Literary category) [ ID=104389 ]
- a medical author  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a medic. author, Catalogue(s) [Cologne Addition] (Title) [ ID=104391 ]
- a son of Yadu  
  *The Purana Index*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 2-212 ] Nala (I) — a son of Yadu. Bhā. IX. 23. 20; Vi. IV. 11. 5. [ ID=6955 ]
- a son of Agni  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Nala (II) — a Vanara son of Agni born by the wife of Kanakabindu. Br. III. 7. 229. [ ID=6956 ]
- a nephew of Hiranyakashipu  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Nala (IV) — a nephew of Hiraṇyakaśipu. M. 6. 26. [ ID=6958 ]
- the son of Taittiri who performed an ashvamedha sacrifice  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Nala (VII) — also known as Nandanodaradundubhi, son of Taittiri, performed aśvamedha, and in the middle of the atirātra rite Punarvasu appeared and became his son. M. 44. 63-5. [ ID=6961 ]

### King Nala of Niṣadha (4 definitions)
- a king of the Nishadhas, son of Virasena and husband of Damayanti  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a king of the Niṣadhas (son of Vīra-sena and husband of Damayantī), Mahābhārata (Title); Purāṇas (Literary category) [ ID=104386 ]
- king of the Nishadhas, son of Virasena, and husband of Damayanti  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 499-1 ] Nala 1, king of the Niṣadhas, son of Vīrasena, and husband of Damayantī. § 5 (Anukram.): I, 1 α, 224 (in Nārada's enumeration).—§ 6 (do.): I, 1 α, 229 (the same? in Sañjaya's enumeration).—§ 11 (Parvasaṅgr.): I, 2, 436 ( °sya caritaṃ, i.e. Nalopākhyānaparvan).—§ 240 (Vaivāhikap.): I, 199, 7351 ( Damayantī yathā N°e ).—§ 267 (Yamasabhāv.): II, 8, 322 (in the palace of Yama).—§ 343 (Nalopākhyānap.): III, 52, 2068 (son of the Niṣadha king Vīrasena), 2071.— § 344 (do.): III, 53, 2072 ( Vīrasenasutaḥ ), 2086, 2087 ( Naiṣadhasya ), 2089, 2091, 2098, 2101, 2102.—§ 345 (do.): III, 54, 2130, 2131, 2134; 55, 2135, 2141, 2150, 2153, (2156); 56, 2160, 2164, 2177, 2181, (2184); 57, 2201, 2202, 2203, 2210, 2220, 2225, 2231, 2236 (in his marriage with Damayantī N. had the children Indrasena and Indrasenā). —§ 346 (do.): III, 58, 2242, 2245, 2246, 2249, 2250, 2252; 59, 2257, 2258, 2260, 2262, 2271; 60, 2274, 2276, 2277, 2280, 2281, 2286, 2290, 2292 ( °sārathiḥ, i.e. Vārṣṇeya), 2295.—§ 347 (do.): III, 61, 2301, 2304, 2308, 2311, 2320, (2326); 62, (2333), 2335, 2340, 2349, 2350, 2357, 2358, 2360; 63, 2362; 64, 2410, 2419, 2429, 2430, 2433 ( Niṣadhādhipateḥ ), 2434, 2435, 2450 ( Puṇyaślokaḥ ), 2453, 2455, 2477 ( Niṣadhādhipatiḥ ), 2480, 2485, 2487, 2488, 2492, 2495, 2504, 2513 ( °patnī, i.e. Damayantī), 2524 ( Naiṣadhaḥ ), 2525, 2527; 65, 2573.—§ 348 (do.): III, 66, 2608, 2609, 2610, 2611, 2613, 2616, 2620, 2622, 2633. —§ 349 (do.): III, 67, 2634 ( Naiṣadhaḥ ), 2641, 2645.— § 350 (do.): III, 68, 2654, 2655, 2657, 2659, 2673; 69, 2695 ( Vīrasenasutaḥ ), 2722, 2727, 2741, 2742.—§ 351 (do.): III, 70, 2745 ( Naiṣadhaṃ ), 2761, 2762, 2769; 71, 2773, 2790, 2793, 2799, 2800, 2801, 2804.—§ 352 (do.): III, 72, 2810, 2812, 2813, 2837, 2840 ( Niṣadhādhipatiḥ ), 2845, 2850, 2851.—§ 353 (do.): III, 73, 2854, 2855, 2856, 2860, 2886, 2887, 2888; 74, 2892, 2900, 2902, 2903, 2904, 2905, 2912, 2919; 75, 2921, 2939, 2944; 76, 2952, 2953, 2956, 2957, 2958, 2961 ( Puṇyaślokaṃ ), 2975, 2991, 2996, 2999, 3002, 3003, 3005; 77, 3009, 3010, 3012, 3014, 3016, 3017, (3022), 3028.—§ 354 (do.): III, 78, 3033, 3046, 3047, 3048, 3055; 79, 3065.—§ 355 (do.): III, 79, 3068, 3069, 3072, 3077 ( °sya caritaṃ, i.e. Nalopākhyānaparvan (III, ch. 53—79 )).—§ 391 (Ṛṣyaśṛṅga): III, 113, 10092 ( °sya vai Damayantī yathā ).—§ 552 (Goharaṇap.): IV, 56 ζ, 1769 (came in Indra's chariot to see the encounter).— § 565 (Gālavacarita): V, 117, 3974 ( reme…yathā …Damayantyāṃ N°ḥ ).—§ 608 (Karṇap.): VIII, 91, †4761 (all. to Nalopākhyānaparvan; C. has by error Nelā instead of Nalo ).—§ 761 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 115 δ, 5666 (among the kings who abstained from meat during the month of Kārttika).—§ 775 (do.): XIII, 166 η, 7683 (enumeration). Cf. also the following synonyms:— Naiṣadha (“king of the Niṣadhas”): I, 229 ( N° ); III, 2087, 2092, 2133, 2137, 2143, 2144, 2149, 2172, 2189, 2207, 2213, 2216, 2217, 2225, 2226, 2227, 2228, 2232, 2239, 2254 ( rājā ), 2256, 2266, 2267, 2288, 2303, 2321, 2363, 2370, 2377, 2383, 2385, 2386, 2399, 2458, 2492, 2524 ( N° ), 2618, 2634 ( N° ), 2652 ( rājā ), 2659, 2676, 2678, 2695 ( rājā…Vīrasenasuto Nalaḥ ), 2745, 2846, 2847 ( rājā ), 2862, 2866, 2886, 2888, 2889, 2903, 2947, Page499-b+ 62 2979, 3018, 3019, 3020, 3026, 3030, 3040, 3041, 3043, 3056, 8322; XIII, 3689. Niṣadhādhipa (do.): III, 2209, 2337, 2352, 2427, 2656, 2976, 3061. Niṣadhādhipati (do.): III, 2309, 2433 ( °er bhāryāṃ, i.e. Damayantī), 2477 ( N° ), 2840 ( N° ), 3027. Niṣadharājendra (do.): III, 2134. Niṣadheśvara (do.): III, 2628. Puṇyaśloka : III, 2212, 2215, 2233, 2271, 2272, 2280, 2300, 2313, 2450 ( N° ), 2609 ( N° ), 2695, 2726, 2805 ( °sya sārathiḥ, i.e. Vārṣṇeya), 2868, 2900 ( °sya vai suto Vārṣṇeya iti viśrutaḥ ), 2939, 2951, 2961, 2998, 3056. Vīrasenasuta (“the son of Vīrasena”): III, 601, 2072 ( N° ), 2220, 2466, 2695 ( Naiṣadhaḥ…N°ḥ ), 3033 ( N° ) [ ID=7534 ]
- 1. The son of Nishadha, son of Virasena, and teacher of the game of dice to King Rituparna. 2. Learned in horse lore.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Nala (V) — the son of Niṣadha, hence Naiṣadha; with the son of Vīrasena he made the two Nalas in the Kaśyapa line; 1 taught the game of dice to King Ṛtuparṇa. 2 Learned in Aśvavidyā. Page2-213+ 28 [ Footnote: 1) M. 12. 52, 56; Vā. 88. 202.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. IX. 9; 17; Br. III. 63. 173 and 202, 74. 190; Vā. 88. 174; Vi. IV. 4. 37.] [ ID=6959 ]
- a son of Virasena  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 2-213 ] Nala (VI) — a son of Vīrasena. M. 12. 56. [ ID=6960 ]

### Nala the Monkey Chief (3 definitions)
- a monkey-chief  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a monkey-chief (son of Tvaṣṭṛ or Viśva-karman; cf. - सेतु (-setu) ), Mahābhārata (Title); Rāmāyaṇa (Title) [ ID=104390 ]
- a monkey  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > [Printed book page 499-2 ] Nala 2, a monkey. § 535 (Setubandhana): III, 283 β, 16287 (among the allies of Rāma Dāśarathi), 16309 (son of Tvaṣṭṛ), 16311 (Rāma caused him to construct a bridge to Laṅkā), 16313 ( °setuḥ ).—§ 537 (Rāma-Rāvaṇayuddha): III, 285 β, 16372 (fought with the Rākṣasa Tuṇḍa).—§ 541 (Indra- jidvadha): III, 289 α, 16468.—§ 542 (Rāvaṇavadha): III, 290 α, 16500 [ ID=7535 ]
- a vanara chief  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Nala (III) — a Vānara chief. Br. III. 7. 234. [ ID=6957 ]

### A lotus or water lily (2 definitions)
- the blossom of the Nelumbium speciosum flower  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > नल (nala) n. the blossom of Nelumbium Speciosum, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) ( cf. नल (nala) िन (nalina), ° नी (°nī) ) [ ID=104393 ]
- A lotus.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > नल (nala) (II) n. A lotus. [ ID=18985 ]

### Astronomical/astrological term (2 definitions)
- a particular planetary constellation where stars are grouped in double mansions  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a partic. form of constellation in which all the planets or stars are grouped in double mansions, Varāha-mihira [Cologne Addition] (Author) [ ID=104382 ]
- the 50th year of the 60-year cycle of Jupiter  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the 50th year of the cycle of Jupiter which lasts 60 years, Catalogue(s) [Cologne Addition] (Title) [ ID=104383 ]

### Verbal root 'nal' (2 definitions)
- 1. To shine. 2. To bind or confine.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 456 ] नल (nala) r. 10th cl. ( नालयति (nālayati) ) 1 To shine. 2 To bind or confine. [ ID=21195 ]
- 1. To shine. 2. To bind or confine.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > नल (nala) [Printed book page 380-b ] नल (nala) r. 10th cl. ( नालयति (nālayati) ) 1. To shine. 2. To bind or confine. [ ID=21181 ]

### A measure of length/area (1 definition)
- a measure of length  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a measure of length, Mahābhārata (Title) ( v.l. तल (tala) ) [ ID=104381 ]

### Perfume or red arsenic (Nalī) (1 definition)
- 1. A kind of perfume. 2. Red arsenic.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1B) [Printed book page 530,2] नली (nalī) f. a kind of perfume or red arsenic, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) ( cf. नटी (naṭī) ) [ ID=104392 ]

### Smell or odour (1 definition)
- Smell or odour.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > smell, odour, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) ( cf. √ नल् (nal) ). [ ID=104394 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller 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