# निरुक्त (nirukta)

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

निरुक्त (nirukta) is a Sanskrit word meaning uttered, pronounced, expressed, explained, or defined, declared for, explicitly mentioned or enjoined, containing the name of a god as a verse, distinct and loud, become manifest, fulfilled, or accomplished. Its 25 recorded definitions are grouped into 4 contexts, among them Nominal Senses: Explanation, Etymology, Textual Reference, Adjectival Senses: Spoken, Clear, Manifest, Comprehensive Entries: Adjective & Noun Senses.

- **Root:** वच् (vac)
- **SLP1:** `nirukta`  **IAST:** nirukta  **Devanagari:** निरुक्त
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirukta
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/nirukta/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** निरुक्ता (niruktā)

## Meanings by context

### Nominal Senses: Explanation, Etymology, Textual Reference (9 definitions)
- explanation or interpretation of a word  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > निर् - उक्त (nir-ukta) n. explanation or etymological interpretation of a word, Chāndogya-upaniṣad (Title) viii, 3, 3; Mahābhārata (Title) i, 266 &c. [ ID=109387 ]
- The title of several works, especially a commentary on Yaska's Nighantus.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of sev. works., esp. of a Comm. on the Nighaṇṭus by Yāska. [ ID=109388 ]
- Explanation or derivation  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — क्तं (ktaṃ) 1 Explanation, derivation, etymological interpretation
- Name of one of the six Vedangas, containing glossarial explanation of obscure words, especially those occurring in the Vedas.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — क्तं (ktaṃ) 2 N. of one of the six Vedāṅgas, that which contains glossarial explanation of obscure words, especially those occurring in the Vedas; नाम (nāma) च धातुजमाह निरुक्ते (ca dhātujamāha nirukte) Nir
- the name of a celebrated commentary on the Nighantus by Yaska  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — क्तं (ktaṃ) 3 N. of a celebrated commentary on the Nighaṇṭus by Yāska
- 1. Explanation or etymological interpretation. 2. One of the six Vedangas containing glossarial explanation of obscure Vedic words. 3. Yaska's commentary on the Nighantus.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) (II) n. 1. Explanation, etymological interpretation; 2. name of one of the six Vedāngas, viz., that which contains glossarial explanation of obscure Vedic words; 3. name of Yāska’s commentary on the Nighaṇṭus. [ ID=19836 ]
- the etymological work of Yaska  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 519-1 ] *nirukta (the etymological work of Yāska): XII, 7372, †8944, 13232; XIII, 4108. [ ID=7716 ]
- 1. The commentary of Jatudkarnya. 2. A part of Vishnu. 3. The fourth Samhita.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 2-246 ] Nirukta — the commentary of Jatukarṇya: Its author was Ratḥitara; 1 rearranged by a pupil of Śākapūrṇa under his guidance; 2 part of Viṣṇu; 3 said to be the fourth Samhita; 4 authorship of, attributed to Rathitara. 5 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. XII. 6. 58; Br. II. 35. 3.] [ Footnote: 2) Vi. III. 4. 23.] [ Footnote: 3) Ib. V. 1. 37.] [ Footnote: 4) Vā. 61. 2; 65. 28.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. 60. 65.] [ ID=7201 ]
- The explanation of a word or passage  
  *The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 1-451 ] Nirukta, ‘explanation’ of a word or passage, is found in the Chāndogya Upaniṣad (viii. 3, 3), but does not appear as the name of a work before the later Upaniṣads. It is, however, probable that Yāska's Nirukta is not later than the rise of Buddhism. Cf. Nirvacana. Cf. Weber, Indische Studien, 1, 13, 17; 3, 260 et seq.; Indian Literature, 25, 26, 41, 42, etc.; Macdonell, Sanskrit Literature, 269, 270; Keith, Aitareya Āraṇyaka, 24, 25; Roth, Nirukta, xv. et seq. [ ID=1579 ]

### Adjectival Senses: Spoken, Clear, Manifest (8 definitions)
- uttered, pronounced, expressed, explained, or defined  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 553,3] निर् - उक्त (nir-ukta) mfn. (√ वच् (vac) ) uttered, pronounced, expressed, explained, defined, Brāhmaṇa (Literary category); Upaniṣad (Literary category); Mahābhārata (Title) &c. [ ID=109381 ]
- declared for  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > declared for ( nom. ), Mahābhārata (Title) [ ID=109382 ]
- explicitly mentioned or enjoined  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > explicitly mentioned or enjoined, Āśvalāyana-gṛhya-sūtra (Title) [ ID=109383 ]
- distinct and loud  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > distinct, loud ( opp. to उपा (upā) ंशु (ṃśu) ), Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title) [ ID=109385 ]
- become manifest, fulfilled, or accomplished  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > interpreted i.e. become manifest, fulfilled, accomplished (as a word), Mahābhārata (Title) ix, 1316 [ ID=109386 ]
- Expressed, pronounced, explained, or defined  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 0631-b ] निरुक्त (nirukta) a. 1 Expressed, pronounced, explained, defined
- Loud, distinct  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 0631-b ] निरुक्त (nirukta) a. 2 Loud, distinct
- 1. Explained or defined. 2. Loud or distinct.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 386-20 ] निरुक्त (nirukta) (I) a. (f. क्ता (ktā) ) 1. Explained, defined; 2. loud, distinct. [ ID=19835 ]

### Comprehensive Entries: Adjective & Noun Senses (7 definitions)
- 1. Explanation or etymological interpretation. 2. Specifically, the title of Yaska's commentary on the Nighantus.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 142-2 ] निरुक्त (nirukta) nir-ukta, pp. √vac; n. explanation; etymological interpretation; esp. T. of Yāskaʼs commentary on the Nighaṇṭus; -ukti, f. etymological explanation; -uñchana, n. = nī-rājana; -uttara, a. having no superior; unable to give an answer; -utsava, a. devoid of festivals; -utsāha, a. destitute of energy, unenterprising, spiritless: -tā, f. cowardice; -utsuka, a. unconcerned; having no desire for (prati); -utseka, m. modesty; a. unpretentious, modest; -udara, a. trunkless; -uddeśam, ad. without making any statement; udyama, a. avoiding exertion, indolent; -udyoga, a. id.; -udvigna, pp. untroubled, unagitated: -manas, a. having oneʼs mind undisturbed; -udvega, a. free from agitation, calm; -unmāda, a. free from arrogance; -upakārin, a. unable to render a service; -upakriya, a. rendering no service; -upadrava, a. unassailed by mischances or calamities, prosperous, faring well; free from danger, sage: -tā, f. security; -upadhi, a. free from guile, honest; blameless; -upapatti, a. unsuitable; -upapada, a. unaccompanied by a secondary word; -upaplava, a. undisturbed, uninterrupted; -upabhoga, a. not enjoying; -upama, a. having no equal; -upayoga, a. useless; -upākhya, a. indescribable: -tva, n. abst. ɴ.; -upāya, a. futile; -uṣṇa-tā, f. coldness: -ṃ nī, make cold, kill; -uṣṇīṣa, a. turbanless, bareheaded. [ ID=10648 ]
- 1. Said or described. 2. Obscure or obsolete. 3. A Vedanga providing glossarial explanation of obscure Vedic terms. 4. Explanation of letter agreement or disagreement. 5. Analysis of a derivative or compound word.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 473 ] निरुक्त (nirukta) mfn. ( - क्तः - क्ता - क्तं (-ktaṃ) (-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) ) 1 Said, described. 2 Obscure, obsolete. n. ( - क्तं (-ktaṃ) ) 1 One of the Vedāṅgas or works considered as supplementary to and connected with the Vedas, forming part of scriptural or sacred science: glossarial explanation of obscure terms, especially those occurring in the Vedas. 2 Explanation of the concord or disagreement of letters, &c. 3 Separation or analysis of a derivative or compound word. E. निर् (nir) negative or affirmative prefix, उक्त (ukta) spoken, said. [ ID=21926 ]
- 1. A Vedic glossary or derivation. 2. Said, obscure, or obsolete.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 421-b ] निरु _ क्त (niru_kta) ( क्तं ) ((ktaṃ)) 1. n. A glossary of the Vedas; derivation. a. Said; obscure; obsolete. [ ID=21402 ]
- 1. Said or described. 2. Obscure or obsolete. 3. A Vedanga work providing glossarial explanation of obscure Vedic terms. 4. Explanation of the concord or disagreement of letters. 5. Separation or analysis of a derivative or compound word. 6. The commentary of Yaska on the Nighantus. 7. Loud or distinct.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 395-a ] निरुक्त (nirukta) mfn. ( - क्तः - क्ता - क्तं (-ktaṃ) (-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) ) 1. Said, described. 2. Obscure, obsolete. n. ( - क्तं (-ktaṃ) ) 1. One of the Vedāngas or works considered as supplementary to and connected with the Vedas, forming a part of the scriptural or sacred science: glossarial explanation of obscure terms especially those occurring in the Vedas. 2. Explanation of the concord or disagreement of letters, &c. 3. Separation or analysis of a derivative or compound word. 4. The name of the Yāskās commentary on the Nighantus. 5. Loud, Distinct. E. निर् (nir) negative or affirmative prefix, उक्त (ukta) spoken, said. [ ID=21912 ]
- 1. Uttered, pronounced, or explained. 2. An explanation, etymological interpretation, or the title of a work.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 273 ] निरुक्त (nirukta) a. uttered, pronounced, declared as (2 nom. ), explained, distinctly said or enjoined; n. explanation, etymological interpretation, T. of a work. [ ID=16623 ]
- 1. Spoken out, loud, or clear. 2. Explanation or etymological interpretation. 3. The title of a commentary to the Vedic Glossary.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 182-a ] nír-ukta, a. spoken out; loud; clear; as n. explanation; etymological interpretation of a word; esp. Nirukta, title of a commentary to the nighaṇṭavas or Vedic Glossary. [ √vac + nis. ] [ ID=2312 ]
- 1. Uttered, pronounced, or explained. 2. An explanation or etymological interpretation of a word. 3. One of the six Vedangas containing a glossarial explanation of obscure Vedic terms. 4. The well-known commentary on the Nighantus by Yaska.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > निरुक्त (nirukta) [Printed book page 0494-b ] निरुक्त (nirukta) nir-ukta, as, ā, am (fr. rt. vac with nis ), uttered, pronounced, expressed, explained, de- fined; loud, distinct; ( am ), n. explanation or ety- mological interpretation of a word; N. of one of the six Vedāṅgas or works considered as connected with the Vedas; glossarial explanation of obscure terms, (especially those occurring in the Vedas); N. of a well-known commentary on the Nighaṇṭus by Yāska; [cf. nairukta, nairuktika. ] —Nirukta-kāra, as, m. ‘Nirukta-composer,’ N. or epithet of a com- Page0494-c+ 73 mentator on Kāli-dāsa's Megha-dūta. —Nirukta- kṛt, t, m. epithet of a pupil of Śāka-pūrṇi. —Ni- rukta-ja, as, m., N. of a class of sons enumerated in Mahā-bh. Anuśāsana-p. 2615. —Nirukta-pari- śiṣṭa, am, n., N. of a work supplementary to the Nirukta. —Nirukta-vat, ān, m. ‘possessing the Ni- rukta, author of the Nirukta,’ an epithet of Yāska. —Nirukta-vṛtti, is, f. ‘commentary on the Ni- rukta,’ N. of a commentary on Yāska's Nirukta by Durgācārya. [ ID=25117 ]

### Specific Adjectival Application: Verse Naming a Deity (1 definition)
- containing the name of a god as a verse  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > containing the name of a god (as a verse), Śāṅkhāyana-brāhmaṇa (Title) [ ID=109384 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Apte Practical 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; 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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