# प्रसाद (prasāda)

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

प्रसाद (prasāda) is a Sanskrit word meaning to be clear or bright, clearness, brightness, and purity, clearness of style, brightness of the face, calmness, tranquillity, and absence of excitement, serenity of disposition. Its 33 recorded definitions are grouped into 8 contexts, among them Clearness, Brightness, Purity, Perspicuity, Kindness, Favour, Grace, Proper Name, Personification, or Title.

- **Roots:** कृ (kṛ), सद् (sad), सृ (sṛ)
- **Etymology:** E. प्र before सद to go, aff. घञ् — E. pra before sada to go, aff. ghañ
- **SLP1:** `prasAda`  **IAST:** prasāda  **Devanagari:** प्रसाद
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prasada
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/prasada/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** प्रासाद (prāsāda)

## Meanings by context

### Clearness, Brightness, Purity, Perspicuity (15 definitions)
- to be clear or bright  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 696,3] प्र - साद (pra-sāda) ( Nom. P. ° सादति (°sādati), to be clear or bright, Śatr. ) [ ID=137836.1 ]
- clearness, brightness, and purity  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > प्र - साद (pra-sāda) a m. ( ifc. f( आ (ā) ). ) clearness, brightness, pellucidness, purity ( cf. अम्बु - प् (ambu-p) ° (°) ), Up.; Kālid. &c. ( Nom. P. ° (°) सादति (° (°)sādati), to be clear or bright, Śatr. ) [ ID=137837 ]
- clearness of style  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 697,1] clearness of style, perspicuity, Pratāp.; Kāvyād.; Sāh. [ ID=137838 ]
- brightness of the face  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > brightness (of the face), Ragh. [ ID=137839 ]
- clarified liquor or a decoction  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > clarified liquor, a decoction, Car. [ ID=137844 ]
- be bright  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > प्रसाद (prasāda) [Printed book page 183-1 ] प्रसाद (prasāda) 1. pra-sāda, den. P. be bright. [ ID=12311 ]
- clearness of water or the voice, brightness, perspicuity of speech or style, radiance of the countenance, calmness of mind, serenity, cheerfulness, good temper, kindness, graciousness, favour, help, aid, gracious gift, food offered to an idol, and remnants of a preceptor's food  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > प्रसाद (prasāda) 2. pra-sāda, m. clearness (of water, the voice); brightness; perspicuity ( of speech or style ); radiance ( of the countenance ); calmness ( of mind ), serenity; cheerfulness, good temper; kindness; graciousness, favour; help, aid; gracious gift; food offered to an idol; remnants of a preceptorʼs food ( which may be eaten without seruple ): -ṃ kṛ, be gracious, show favour; grant the favour of ( inf. or —° ); -sāda-ka, a. making clear, clarifying; cheering, gladdening; -sādana, a. ( ī ) making clear, clarifying; n. making clear, clarification; soothing, calming, tranquilizing; rendering cheerful; gratifying; propitiation; -sādanīya, fp. to be propitiated; -sāda-parāṅmukha, a. ( ī ) indifferent to any oneʼs favour; withdrawing oneʼs favour from ( g. ); -sāda-bhūmi, f. object of favour, favourite; -sādayitavya, fp. to be rendered propitious towards (upari); -sāda-vitta : -ka, a. abounding in favour, standing high in the favour of ( g. or —° ); m. favourite; -sāda‿antara, n. another mark of favour; -sādita, cs. pp. (√sad) pleased, propitiated, well-satisfied; -sādin, a. bright ( eye, face ); clear ( nectar ); perspicuous; cheering, gladdening; -sādī-kṛ, grant ( ac. ) as a favour to ( g. ), graciously present; -sādya, 〈1.〉 cs. gd. having appeased, pleased, or propitiated; 〈2.〉 fp. to be propitiated; -sādhaka, a. ( ikā ) adorning; m. dresser, valet; f. ( ikā ) ladyʼs maid; -sā́dhana, a. accomplishing; n. accomplishment; putting in order, arranging; embellishment, personal adornment, toilet; means of decoration, toilet requisites; ornament of ( —° ): ī, f. comb; -sādhita, pp. accomplished; decorated; -sāra, m. spreading or stretching out, extension; rising, whirling up ( of dust ); opening; -sāraṇa, n. stretching out, extending; development; extension, diffusion, augmentation; vocalization of a semivowel ( gr. ); -sāraṇin, a. containing a semivowel liable to vocalization ( gr. ); -sārita, cs. pp. (√sṛ) extended, diffused; stretched forth, exposed for sale; -sārin, a. breaking forth, issuing from ( —° ); stretching oneself out; extending to ( —° ); -sārya, 〈1.〉 cs. gd. having extended or put forth; 〈2.〉 fp. to be vocalized ( semivowel ). [ ID=12312 ]
- 1. Clearness or brightness. 2. Favor, kindness, or approbation. 3. Well-being. 4. Calmness of mind. 5. Poetry written in an elegant and easy style. 6. Perspicuity. 7. Connection. 8. Food offered to an idol or a spiritual teacher.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > प्र (pra) साद (prasāda) [Printed book page 582 ] प्र (pra) साद (prasāda) m. ( - दः (-daḥ) ) 1 Clearness, cleanness, brightness. 2 Favour, kindness, propitiousness, approbation. 3 Well being, welfare. 4 Composure, calmness of mind. 5 Poetry written in an elegant but an easy style. 6 Perspicuity. 7 Connexion, association. 8 Food that has been offered to an idol, or of which a spiritual teacher has partaken. E. प्र (pra) before सद (sada) to go, aff. घञ् (ghañ). [ ID=26817 ]
- 1. Clearness or perspicuity. 2. Favor or welfare. 3. Composure. 4. Poetry. 5. Connection. 6. Food offered to an idol.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > प्रसाद (prasāda) [Printed book page 521-b ] प्र - साद (pra-sāda) ( दः ) ((daḥ)) 1. m. Clearness; favour; welfare; composure; poetry; perspicuity; connection; idol's food. [ ID=26315 ]
- 1. Clarity or transparency. 2. Composure or repose. 3. Good humor. 4. Favor or kindness. 5. Perspicuity or clearness of style. 6. A propitiatory offering. 7. Remnants of food presented to an idol. 8. Welfare or well-being.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > प्रसाद (prasāda) [Printed book page 482-13 ] प्रसाद (prasāda) m. 1. Limpidness, purity, transparency (as of water), R. xvii.1; 2. composure, repose, absence of excitement, Bg. ii.64, 65; 3. good humour, gool temper; 4. favour, kindness, propitiousness, प्रसाद (prasāda) सौम्यानि सतां सुहृज्जने पतंति चक्षूंषि (prasādasaumyāni satāṃ suhṛjjane pataṃti cakṣūṃṣi) Sak. vi., R. i.91, ii.22; 5. perspicuity, clearness of style, श्रुतमात्रा वाक्यार्थं करतलबदरमिव निवेदयंती घटना प्रसाद (prasāda) स्य (śrutamātrā vākyārthaṃ karatalabadaramiva nivedayaṃtī ghaṭanā prasādasya) R.G., K.D. i.45; 6. a propitiatory offering; 7. remnants of food presented to an idol; 8. welfare, well-being. [ ID=25012 ]
- 1. Clearness or brightness. 2. Favor, kindness, or approbation. 3. Well-being. 4. Calmness of mind. 5. Elegantly simple poetry. 6. Perspicuity. 7. Connection. 8. Propitiatory offering. 9. Good humor. 10. Consecrated food.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > प्र (pra) साद (prasāda) [Printed book page 498-a ] प्र (pra) साद (prasāda) m. ( - दः (-daḥ) ) 1. Clearness, cleanness, transparency, brightness. 2. Favour, kindness, propitiousness, approbation. 3. Well-being, welfare. 4. Composure, calmness of mind. 5. Poetry written in an elegant but an easy style. 6. Perspicuity. 7. Connection, association. 8. Propitiatory offering. 9. Good humour, good temper. 10. Food that has been offered to an idol, or of which a spiritual teacher has partaken. E. प्र (pra) before, सद् (sad) to go, aff. घञ् । (ghañ.) [ ID=27552 ]
- 1. Clearness or perspicuity. 2. Calmness of mind. 3. Favor or kind behavior.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > प्रसाद (prasāda) [Printed book page 0609-b ] प्रसाद (prasāda) prasāda, i. e. pra-sad + a, m. 1. Clearness, Vikr. d. 8. 2. Perspicuity. 3. Calmness (of mind), Vikr. d. 147. 4. Favour, Vikr. d. 54. 5. Kind be- haviour, Böhtl. Ind. Spr. 1372. — Comp. Duṣprasāda, i. e. dus-, adj. difficult to be pacified, MBh. 1, 1679. Dṛṣṭi-, m. favour of looking at, Hit. 88, 6, M.M. Sa-, adj. propitious, Pañc. 85, 4. Su-, I. adj. kind. II. m. Śiva. [ ID=9921 ]
- 1. Brightness, calmness, or serenity. 2. Kindness, grace, or favor. 3. Aid, assistance, or a gift.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > प्रसाद (prasāda) [Printed book page 347 ] प्रसाद (prasāda) m. clearness, brightness, serenity, calmness, tranquillity, kindness, grace, favour, aid, assistance, gratuity, present. [ ID=21063 ]
- 1. Clarity, brightness, transparency, or purity. 2. Clearness of style or perspicuity. 3. Calmness, tranquility, or composure. 4. Serenity of disposition, good humor, or good temper. 5. Graciousness, propitiousness, favor, kindness, or approbation. 6. Kindness personified as a son of Dharma and Maitri. 7. A propitiatory offering, or food offered to a god. 8. The remnants of food presented to an idol or left by a spiritual teacher. 9. A free gift or gratuity. 10. Well-being or welfare. 11. The name of a commentary on the Prakriya-kaumudi.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > प्रसाद (prasāda) [Printed book page 0647-b ] 1. pra-sāda, as, m. clearness, brightness, pellucid- ness, transparentness, limpidness, purity, cleanness [cf. ambu-p° ]; clearness of style, perspicuity; calm- ness, tranquillity, absence of excitement, repose, composure; serenity of disposition, good humour, good temper; graciousness, propitiousness, favour, kindness, kind behaviour [cf. duṣ-p°, dṛk-p° ]; approbation; Kindness personified as a son of Dharma and Maitrī; a propitiatory offering or gift, food offered to a god ( = prasāda-dravya, prasādānna ); the remnants of food presented to an idol or left by a spiritual teacher (both of which any one may freely appropriate to his own use); free gift, gratuity; well-being, welfare; N. of a commentary on the Prakriyā-kaumudī; prasādāt, abl. c. through the kindness of, by the favour of. —Prasāda-dāna, am, n. a propitiatory gift, a gift in token of favour, gift of food by a superior. —Prasāda-paṭṭa, as, m. a turban of honour (worn as a token of royal favour). —Prasāda-parāṅmukha, as, ī, am, not caring for any one's favour; withdrawing favour from any one (with gen.). —Prasāda-pātra, am, n. an object of favour. —Prasāda-puraga, as, ā, Page0647-c+ 77 am, inclined to favour, favourably inclined. —Pra- sāda-pratilabdha, as, m., N. of a demon. —Pra- sāda-vat, ān, atī, at, pleased, delighted; gracious, favourable. —Prasāda-vittaka, as, ā, am (perhaps an incorrect form for prasāda-vittama ), best ac- quainted with the favour (of another), preferred to all others. —Prasāda-stha, as, ā, am, abiding in serenity, kind, propitious; happy. —Prasādāntara (°da-an°), am, n. another (mark of) favour. —Pra- sādī-kṛ, cl. 8. P. A. -karoti, -kurute, -kartum, to bestow as a mark of favour, bestow graciously, present. [ ID=33110 ]
- to be clear or bright  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > [Printed book page 0647-c ] 2. prasāda, Nom. P. prasādati, prasāditum, to be clear or bright. [ ID=33111 ]

### Kindness, Favour, Grace (4 definitions)
- graciousness, kindness, favour, aid, or mediation  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > graciousness, kindness, kind behaviour, favour, aid, mediation ( ° (°) दात् (° (°)dāt) ind. through the kindness or by the favour of; ° (°) दं √ कृ (° (°)daṃ √kṛ), to be gracious; cf. दुष् - प् (duṣ-p) ° (°), दृक् - प् (dṛk-p) ° (°) ), Gobh.; MBh.; Kāv. &c. [ ID=137842 ]
- approbation  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > approbation, W. [ ID=137849 ]
- through the kindness or by the favor of  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2C) [Printed book page 697,1] प्र - सादात् (pra-sādāt) ind., through the kindness or by the favour of [ ID=137851.1 ]
- grace or favor  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > प्रसाद (prasāda) [Printed book page 197-a ] prasāda, m. grace; favor; prasādaṃ kṛ, do favor, be gracious. [ √sad + pra, q. v. ] [ ID=2791 ]

### Proper Name, Personification, or Title (4 definitions)
- Kindness personified as a son of Dharma and Maitri  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Kindness personified as a son of Dharma and Maitrī, BhP. [ ID=137843 ]
- the author of a commentary on the Prakriya-kaumudi  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a Comm. on the Prakriyā-kaumudī [ ID=137851 ]
- an epithet of Shiva  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > प्रसाद (prasāda) [Printed book page 560-2 ] Prasāda = Śiva (1000 names 2 ). [ ID=8586 ]
- born of Maitri  
  *The Purana Index*
  > प्रसाद (prasāda) [Printed book page 2-431 ] Prasāda (I) — born of Maitrī. Bhā. IV. 1. 50. [ ID=8674 ]

### Calmness, Serenity, Composure (3 definitions)
- Calmness, tranquillity, and absence of excitement  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > calmness, tranquillity, absence of excitement, KaṭhUp.; Suśr.; Yogas. [ ID=137840 ]
- serenity of disposition  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > serenity of disposition, good humour, MBh.; Suśr.; Ragh. &c. [ ID=137841 ]
- 1. A fruit of Prana-ayama. 2. Control of the five vital airs by the senses.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Prasāda (II) — a fruit of Prāṇāyāma; control of the five winds by the senses. Vā. 11. 4, 10. [ ID=8675 ]

### Offering, Gift, Sacred Food (3 definitions)
- A free gift or gratuity.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > free gift, gratuity, Ratnāv. [ ID=137846 ]
- a propitiatory offering or gift of food  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a propitiatory offering or gift (of food = प् (p) °- द्रव्य (°-dravya), प् (p) रसादा (prasādā) न्न (nna) ), L. [ ID=137847 ]
- food presented to an idol or remnants of food left by a spiritual teacher  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the food presented to an idol, or the remnants of food left by a spiritual teacher (which any one may freely appropriate to his own use), Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 69; 145 &c. [ ID=137848 ]

### Linguistic or Etymological Note (2 definitions)
- See prasad  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 697,2] प्र - (pra-) साद (pra-sāda) b &c. See प्र - (pra-) √ सद् (√sad). [ ID=137950 ]
- See pra-sad  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > [Printed book page 0648-a ] प्रसाद (prasāda) pra-sāda, &c. See pra-sad, p. 647. [ ID=33154 ]

### Settlings, Residuum (1 definition)
- settlings or residuum  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > settlings, a residuum, ib. [ ID=137845 ]

### Well-being, Welfare (1 definition)
- well-being  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > well-being, welfare, W. [ ID=137850 ]

## 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
