an epithet of Vishnu
N. of Viṣṇu, MBh. [ID=109144]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
नियमniyama
नियम (niyama) is a Sanskrit word meaning restraining, checking, or controlling, keeping down or lowering, limitation, restriction, reduction or restriction, determination, definition, any fixed rule, law, necessity, or obligation, agreement, contract, promise, vow. Its 30 recorded definitions are grouped into 9 contexts, among them Proper Noun (Figure, Clan, Name), Restraint or Control, Agreement or Promise.
- Etymology
- E. नि before, यम् to refrain, affix घञ् वा ह्रस्वः ।
- Definitions
- 30
Meanings by context
Proper Noun (Figure, Clan, Name)
7 definitions
Necessity or Law personified as a son of Dharma and Dhriti
Necessity or Law personified as a son of Dharma and Dhṛti, Pur. [ID=109145]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
1. Shiva. 2. Vishnu.
नियम (niyama) [Printed book page 522-1]
Niyama1 = Mahāpuruṣa (Mahāpuruṣastava).—Do.2 =
Niyama1 = Mahāpuruṣa (Mahāpuruṣastava).—Do.2 =
Śiva (1000 names2).—Do.2 = Viṣṇu (1000 names).
[ID=7764]— Index to the Names in the Mahabharata
a son of Dhriti
नियम (niyama) [Printed book page 2-243]
Niyama (I) — a son of Dhṛti. Br. II. 9. 59. 10. 34. [ID=7171]
Niyama (I) — a son of Dhṛti. Br. II. 9. 59. 10. 34. [ID=7171]
— The Purana Index
a god of the Abhutaraya group
Niyama (II) — a god of Ābhūtaraya group. Br. II. 36. 55. [ID=7172]
— The Purana Index
a chief clan
Niyama (III) — a mukhya clan. Vā. 100. 19. [ID=7173]
— The Purana Index
a Sukha God
Niyama (IV) — a Sukha God. Br. IV. 1. 19. [ID=7174]
— The Purana Index
Restraint or Control
6 definitions
restraining, checking, or controlling
(H3) [Printed book page 552,1]
नि- (ni-)°यम (°yama) m. restraining, checking, holding back, preventing, controlling, Mn.; MBh. &c. [ID=109132]
नि- (ni-)°यम (°yama) m. restraining, checking, holding back, preventing, controlling, Mn.; MBh. &c. [ID=109132]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
keeping down or lowering
keeping down, lowering (as the voice), RPrāt. [ID=109133]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
1. Restraint, limitation, or restriction. 2. A fixed rule, certainty, or absolute necessity. 3. A contract, promise, or vow. 4. A self-imposed religious observance or minor duty.
नियम (niyama) [Printed book page 141-2]
नियम (niyama) ni-yama, m. restraint, limitation; restriction
to (lc. or prati with ac.); fixed rule,
certainty, absolute necessity (in a particular
case); contract, promise; vow; self-imposed
(-religious) observance, minor (occasional)
duty: ab. necessarily, certainly; in. id.; with
certain limitations; -yamana, n. restraining,
subduing; restriction; -yama-vat, a. practising
religious observances; -yamya, fp. to
Page141-3
be restrained, — subdued; — limited; — restricted;
-yā́na, n. going in, entry; -yānaka, a. (ikā) restraining, checking; restricting. [ID=10616]
नियम (niyama) ni-yama, m. restraint, limitation; restriction
to (lc. or prati with ac.); fixed rule,
certainty, absolute necessity (in a particular
case); contract, promise; vow; self-imposed
(-religious) observance, minor (occasional)
duty: ab. necessarily, certainly; in. id.; with
certain limitations; -yamana, n. restraining,
subduing; restriction; -yama-vat, a. practising
religious observances; -yamya, fp. to
Page141-3
be restrained, — subdued; — limited; — restricted;
-yā́na, n. going in, entry; -yānaka, a. (ikā) restraining, checking; restricting. [ID=10616]
— Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary
1. Restraint or checking.
2. Restriction or limitation.
3. A rule or precept.
4. Certainty or ascertainment.
5. An agreement, vow, or promise.
6. A mandatory rule replacing an optional one.
7. A self-imposed religious observance.
8. Secondary religious duties such as purity, austerity, and study.
9. The second step of yoga involving mental restraint.
10. A poetic convention.
नियम (yama) (niyama) [Printed book page 382-01]
नियम (yama) (niyama) m. 1. Restraining, checking, restraint, M. viii.122; 2. restriction, limitation; 3. rule, precept; 4. certainty, ascertainment; 5. agreement, engagement, vow, promise; 6. a rule or precept which enjoins what would, in its absence, be only optional (in Mīmānsa phil.); See परिसंख्या (parisaṃkhyā) and विधि (vidhi); 7. any self-imposed religious observance, R. i.94; 8. duties prescribed to Brāhmaṇas but not so obligatory as यम (yama); (they are thus given by Atri- शौचमिज्या तपो दानं स्वाध्यायोपस्थनिग्रहः । व्रतमौनोपवासं च स्नानं च नियम (yama) (niyama)ा दश (śaucamijyā tapo dānaṃ svādhyāyopasthanigrahaḥ . vratamaunopavāsaṃ ca snānaṃ ca niyamā daśa)); 9. the second of the eight steps of meditation in Yoga, the restraint of the mind; 10. a common place in poetry, a poetic convention, (e.g. the peacock’s cry in the rains).
(नियम (yama) (niyama)ेन (niyamena) ‘as a rule, invariably.’) [ID=19528]
नियम (yama) (niyama) m. 1. Restraining, checking, restraint, M. viii.122; 2. restriction, limitation; 3. rule, precept; 4. certainty, ascertainment; 5. agreement, engagement, vow, promise; 6. a rule or precept which enjoins what would, in its absence, be only optional (in Mīmānsa phil.); See परिसंख्या (parisaṃkhyā) and विधि (vidhi); 7. any self-imposed religious observance, R. i.94; 8. duties prescribed to Brāhmaṇas but not so obligatory as यम (yama); (they are thus given by Atri- शौचमिज्या तपो दानं स्वाध्यायोपस्थनिग्रहः । व्रतमौनोपवासं च स्नानं च नियम (yama) (niyama)ा दश (śaucamijyā tapo dānaṃ svādhyāyopasthanigrahaḥ . vratamaunopavāsaṃ ca snānaṃ ca niyamā daśa)); 9. the second of the eight steps of meditation in Yoga, the restraint of the mind; 10. a common place in poetry, a poetic convention, (e.g. the peacock’s cry in the rains).
(नियम (yama) (niyama)ेन (niyamena) ‘as a rule, invariably.’) [ID=19528]
— Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary
1. Restraining or preventing. 2. Restriction. 3. Certainty. 4. A voluntary religious observance such as fasting or pilgrimage.
नियम (niyama) [Printed book page 0476-a]
नियम (niyama) ni-yam + a, m. 1. Restrain-
नियम (niyama) ni-yam + a, m. 1. Restrain-
ing, preventing, Man. 8, 122. 2. Re-
striction, MBh. 1, 6452. 3. Certainty,
Pañc. ii. d. 53. 4. Any religious
observance voluntarily practised, as
fasting, pilgrimage, Man. 4, 204. — Comp.
Sa-, adj. being engaged in a religious
observance, Kir. 5, 40.
[ID=7517]— Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary
1. Restraining, check, or control.
2. Restriction or limitation.
3. A fixed rule, law, or obligation.
4. Certainty or ascertainment.
5. An agreement, contract, promise, or vow.
6. A self-imposed religious observance or voluntary penance.
7. A minor vow.
8. A conventional expression or commonplace in poetry.
नियम (niyama) [Printed book page 0490-c]
Ni-yama, as, m. restraining, holding back, check- ing, keeping back; taming, subduing, preventing, confining; restraint, restriction, restriction to (with loc.); limitation; fixing, defining, definition; keeping down, lowering (as the tone of the voice); fixed rule or law, necessity, obligation; rule, precept (e. g. strīṇām Prākṛta-bhāṣaṇam eva niyamaḥ, the usage of women is to speak only Prākṛt); certainty, ascertainment; agreement, contract, engagement, assent, promise, vow; any self-imposed restraint or religious observance voluntarily practised, as fast- ing, watching, pilgrimage, praying, &c. voluntary penance, meritorious or supererogatory piety; a lesser vow, minor observance (as opposed to yama, a greater vow which must always be observed); (in rhetoric) a common-place in poetry, any conventional expres- sion or usual comparison (as notice of the birch in describing the Himālaya, of the sandal tree in de- scribing the Malaya mountains, of the peacock's cry in the rains, of the koïl in spring, &c.); Necessity or Fixed Law personified as a son of Dharma by Dhṛti; (ena or āt), ind. by a fixed rule, necessarily, surely, certainly. —Niyama-niṣṭhā, f. rigid ob- servance of prescribed rites. —Niyama-pattra, am, n. a written agreement or stipulation. —Niyama- para, as, ā, am, observing fixed rules; relating to or corroborative of a rule. —Niyama-pāla, as, m. ‘observer of vows,’ N. of a sage from whom the Nepalese derive the name of their country, (properly Nipāl.) —Niyama-bhaṅga, as, m. breach of a stipulation or contract. —Niyama-vat, ān, atī, at, practising or observing religious observances; (atī), f. (a woman) having the monthly courses. —Niyama- sthiti, is, f. a state of self-restraint, steady observance of religious obligations, asceticism. [ID=24872]
Ni-yama, as, m. restraining, holding back, check- ing, keeping back; taming, subduing, preventing, confining; restraint, restriction, restriction to (with loc.); limitation; fixing, defining, definition; keeping down, lowering (as the tone of the voice); fixed rule or law, necessity, obligation; rule, precept (e. g. strīṇām Prākṛta-bhāṣaṇam eva niyamaḥ, the usage of women is to speak only Prākṛt); certainty, ascertainment; agreement, contract, engagement, assent, promise, vow; any self-imposed restraint or religious observance voluntarily practised, as fast- ing, watching, pilgrimage, praying, &c. voluntary penance, meritorious or supererogatory piety; a lesser vow, minor observance (as opposed to yama, a greater vow which must always be observed); (in rhetoric) a common-place in poetry, any conventional expres- sion or usual comparison (as notice of the birch in describing the Himālaya, of the sandal tree in de- scribing the Malaya mountains, of the peacock's cry in the rains, of the koïl in spring, &c.); Necessity or Fixed Law personified as a son of Dharma by Dhṛti; (ena or āt), ind. by a fixed rule, necessarily, surely, certainly. —Niyama-niṣṭhā, f. rigid ob- servance of prescribed rites. —Niyama-pattra, am, n. a written agreement or stipulation. —Niyama- para, as, ā, am, observing fixed rules; relating to or corroborative of a rule. —Niyama-pāla, as, m. ‘observer of vows,’ N. of a sage from whom the Nepalese derive the name of their country, (properly Nipāl.) —Niyama-bhaṅga, as, m. breach of a stipulation or contract. —Niyama-vat, ān, atī, at, practising or observing religious observances; (atī), f. (a woman) having the monthly courses. —Niyama- sthiti, is, f. a state of self-restraint, steady observance of religious obligations, asceticism. [ID=24872]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)
Agreement or Promise
4 definitions
agreement, contract, promise, vow
agreement, contract, promise, vow, R.; Kathās. [ID=109137]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
1. An agreement, contract, or promise. 2. A voluntary religious observance, penance, or piety. 3. A general religious obligation. 4. Certainty. 5. A rule or precept. 6. A usage or practice. 7. A conventional poetic expression.
नि (ni)यम (yama) (niyama) [Printed book page 470]
नि (ni)यम (yama) (niyama) m. (-मः (-maḥ))
नि (ni)यम (yama) (niyama) m. (-मः (-maḥ))
1 Agreement, contract, engagement, assent, promise.
2 Any religious observance voluntarily practised, as fasting, watching, pilgrimage, praying, &c.; voluntary penance, meritorious or supererogatory piety.
3 A religious observance or obligation in general.
4 Certainty, ascertainment.
5 Rule, precept.
6 Usage, practice.
7 Common places in poetry, conventional expression, as notice of the Birch in describing the Himālaya, of the Sandal tree in describing the Malaya mountain, the whiteness of vesture, blackness of hair, the cry of the peacock in the rains, of the Koïl in spring, &c.
E. नि (ni) before यम (yama) to refrain, affix अच् (ac).
[ID=21818]— Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary
1. Agreement or covenant. 2. Religious observance. 3. Certainty. 4. Precept. 5. Practice.
नियम (niyama) [Printed book page 419-b]
नि-यम (ni-yama) (मः) ((maḥ)) 1. m. Agreement, covenant; religious observance; certainty; precept; practice. [ID=21296]
नि-यम (ni-yama) (मः) ((maḥ)) 1. m. Agreement, covenant; religious observance; certainty; precept; practice. [ID=21296]
— Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary
1. An agreement, contract, or promise. 2. A voluntary religious observance or penance. 3. A general religious obligation. 4. Certainty. 5. A rule or precept. 6. A usage or practice. 7. A conventional expression or poetic convention.
नि (ni)यम (niyama) [Printed book page 392-b]
नि (ni)यम (niyama)
नि (ni)यम (niyama)
m. (-मः (-maḥ))
1. Agreement, contract, engagement, assent, promise. 2. Any religious observance voluntarily practised, as fasting, watching, pilgrimage, praying, &c. voluntary penance, meritorious or supererogatory piety.
3. A religious observance or obligation in general.
4. Certainty, ascertainment.
5. Rule, precept. 6. Usage, practice.
7. Common places in poetry, conventional expression, as notice of the Birch in describing the Himālaya, of the Sandal tree in describing the Malaya mountain, the whiteness of vesture, blackness of hair, the cry of the peacock in the rains, of the kokila in spring, &c,
E. नि (ni) before, यम् (yam) to refrain, affix घञ् वा ह्रस्वः । (ghañ vā hrasvaḥ .)
[ID=21805]— Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary
Limitation or Restriction
4 definitions
limitation, restriction
limitation, restriction (°मेन (°mena) ind. with restrictions i.e. under certain conditions, Car.) [ID=109134]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
reduction or restriction, determination, definition
reduction or restriction to (with loc. or प्रति (prati)), determination, definition, GṛŚrS.; Prāt.; MBh.; Rājat. [ID=109135]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
under certain conditions
(H3C) [Printed book page 552,1]
नि- (ni-)°यमेन (°yamena) ind., with restrictions i.e. under certain conditions, Car. [ID=109145.1]
नि- (ni-)°यमेन (°yamena) ind., with restrictions i.e. under certain conditions, Car. [ID=109145.1]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
1. Limitation or restriction. 2. Definition or statement. 3. Fixed rule or law. 4. Promise or vow. 5. Voluntary restraint or minor duty. 6. A commonplace.
नियम (niyama) [Printed book page 272]
नियम (niyama) m. = prec. + limitation, restriction to (loc. or प्रति (prati)); definition, statement; fixed rule or law, strict necessity; promise, vow; voluntary restraint, minor duty ((r.)); common-place ((rh.)). Instr. & abl. necessarily, absolutely, by all means. [ID=16505]
नियम (niyama) m. = prec. + limitation, restriction to (loc. or प्रति (prati)); definition, statement; fixed rule or law, strict necessity; promise, vow; voluntary restraint, minor duty ((r.)); common-place ((rh.)). Instr. & abl. necessarily, absolutely, by all means. [ID=16505]
— Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary
Religious Observance or Spiritual Discipline
3 definitions
any act of voluntary penance or meritorious piety
any act of voluntary penance or meritorious piety (esp. a lesser vow or minor observance dependent on external conditions and not so obligatory as यम (yama), q.v.), TĀr.; Mn.; MBh.; Kāv. &c. [ID=109138]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
restraint of the mind
restraint of the mind (the 2nd of the 8 steps of meditation in Yoga) [ID=109142]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
performing five positive duties
performing five positive duties, Monier-Williams’ Buddhism in its connexion with Brāhmaṇism and Hindūism: and in its contrast with Christianity (Title) 239 [ID=109143]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
Certainty or Necessity
2 definitions
as a rule, necessarily, invariably, surely
नि- (ni-)°यमेन (°yamena) ind., as a rule, necessarily, invariably, surely [ID=109145.15]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
as a rule, necessarily, invariably, surely
(H3C) [Printed book page 552,1]
नि- (ni-)°यमात् (°yamāt) ind., as a rule, necessarily, invariably, surely [ID=109145.2]
नि- (ni-)°यमात् (°yamāt) ind., as a rule, necessarily, invariably, surely [ID=109145.2]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
Specialized Technical Meanings
2 definitions
a specific process applied to minerals, especially quicksilver
a partic. process applied to minerals (esp. to quicksilver w.r. °याम (°yāma)), Cat. [ID=109139]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
a rule or precept specifying something otherwise optional
(in Mīmāṃsā phil.) a rule or precept (laying down or specifying something otherwise optional) [ID=109141]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
Poetic or Rhetorical Convention
1 definition
a common-place or conventional expression
(in rhet.) a common-place, any conventional expression or usual comparison [ID=109140]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
Rule, Law, or Established Practice
1 definition
Any fixed rule, law, necessity, or obligation
any fixed rule or law, necessity, obligation (°मेन (°mena) ind. and °मात् (°māt) ind. as a rule, necessarily, invariably, surely), Var.; R.; Suśr. &c. [ID=109136]
— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)
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Definitions on this page come from 11 works: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, 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.