# रेणुका (reṇukā)

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

रेणुका (reṇukā) is a Sanskrit word meaning a particular formula recited over weapons, name of a Yaksha, of a son of Renu, a mythical elephant, a species of gem, the name of a Karika composed by Hari-hara. Its 18 recorded definitions are grouped into 7 contexts, among them Multi-sense Dictionary Entries, Wife of Jamadagni, Named Objects, Texts, or Concepts.

- **Etymology:** E. रेणु sand, dust, and कन् added — E. reṇu sand, dust, and kan added
- **SLP1:** `reRukA`  **IAST:** reṇukā  **Devanagari:** रेणुका
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renuka
- **Declensions:** 24 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/renuka/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** रेणुक (reṇuka)

## Meanings by context

### Multi-sense Dictionary Entries (4 definitions)
- 1. A greyish, bitter, and pungent medicinal perfume found in peppercorn-sized grains. 2. The wife of the saint Jamadagni and mother of Parashurama. 3. A sort of pulse.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रेणु (reṇu) का (reṇukā) [Printed book page 709 ] रेणु (reṇu) का (reṇukā) f. ( - का (-kā) ) A sort of perfume and medicine, of a bitter and slightly pungent taste, and greyish colour; it is procured in grains about the size of those of pepper. 2 The wife of the saint JAMADAGNI and mother of PARAŚURĀMA. 3 A sort of pulse, ( Ervum or Cicer lens.) E. रेणु (reṇu) sand, dust, and कन् (kan) added. [ ID=32499 ]
- 1. A kind of perfume and medicine. 2. The wife of Jamadagni. 3. A kind of pulse.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रेणुका (reṇukā) [Printed book page 634-b ] रे - णुका (re-ṇukā) ( का ) ((kā)) 1. f. A sort of perfume and medicine; name of jamada- gni's wife; a sort of pulse. [ ID=32071 ]
- 1. A fragrant medicinal plant. 2. The wife of Jamadagni and mother of Parashurama. 3. A type of pulse.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रेणु (reṇu) का (reṇukā) [Printed book page 608-b ] रेणु (reṇu) का (reṇukā) f. ( - का (-kā) ) A sort of perfume and medicine, of a bitter and slightly pungent taste and greyish colour; it is procured in grains about the size of those of pepper. 2. The wife of the saint JAMADAGNI and mother of PARAŚURĀMA; once she saw the Gandharba-king CHITTRARATHA sporting with his queen and felt envious of their felicity. Defiled by unworthy thoughts she returned disquieted to her home. JAMADAGNI seeing her fallen from sanctity, was enraged and ordered his sons to cut off her head; and one of them PARASŪRĀMA with explicit obedience to his father's command beheaded her; but her husband was so much pleased with the dutifulness of his son that he restored her to life at the request of his son PARASŪRĀMA. 3. A sort of pulse, (Ervum or Cicer lens.) E. रेणु (reṇu) sand, dust, and कन् (kan) added. [ ID=33852 ]
- 1. A perfume and medicinal substance. 2. A type of pulse. 3. The wife of Jamadagni and mother of Parashurama.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रेणुका (reṇukā) [Printed book page 0779-a ] रेणुका (reṇukā) reṇu + kā, f. 1. A sort of perfume and medicine. 2. A sort of pulse, Ervum. 3. The wife of Jama- dagni and mother of Paraśu-rāma, MBh. 3, 11072. [ ID=12200 ]

### Wife of Jamadagni (4 definitions)
- the wife of Jamadagni and mother of Parashurama  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of the wife of Jamad-agni and mother of Paraśu-rāma (she was the daughter of Reṇu and of king Prasena-jit), MBh.; Hariv.; Pur. [ ID=179412 ]
- The wife of Jamadagni and mother of Parashurama  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रेणुका (reṇukā) [Printed book page 0917-a ] 1 The wife of Jamadagni and mother of Paraśurāma; see जमदग्नि (jamadagni). [ ID=24285 ]
- wife of Jamadagni  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > रेणुका (reṇukā) [Printed book page 596-2 ] Reṇukā, wife of Jamadagni. § 396 (Jamadagni): III, 116, 10172 (daughter of Prasenajit), 10173, 10175, 10176, 10177 (mother of five sons, of whom Rāma was the youngest; fell in love with Citraratha, therefore Jamadagni ordered his sons to slay her; Rāma cut off her head with his axe, but afterwards she was revived).—§ 565 (Gālavacarita): V, 117, 3972 ( reme…R°āyāṃ yathārcīkaḥ, i.e. Jamadagni). —§ 762 b (Chattropānahotpatti): XIII, 95, 4607, 4610, 4615, (4616), 4618 (Sūrya gave to Jamadagni an umbrella and a pair of sandals for the use of R.). [ ID=9058 ]
- The wife of Jamadagni and mother of Parashurama.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > रेणुका (reṇukā) [Printed book page 3-097 ] Reṇukā — a daughter of Reṇu (Suveṇu- Vā. P. ) and wife of Jamadagni; mother of Paraśurāma; 1 went once to the Ganges for a pot of water for homa purposes, saw the Gandharva king Citraratha play- ing with the Apsaras and forgot the time for return- ing home. Jamadagni understood her mind and in a rage asked his sons to kill her. All refused but Paraśu- rāma did it. Later as the result of the boon to his son who had pleased him by the act she came back to life. During the absence of Rāma, the sons of Arjuna (Haihaya) killed Jamadagni in spite of Reṇukā's earnest protests. 2 On Rāma returning, she cried out beating 21 times on her breast; liked to die on the funeral pyre when she heard from the air that her husband would soon be alive. Though she desisted from it, she died unable to bear her husband's death. 3 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. I. 9. 6; IX. 15. 12; Vā. 65. 94; 91. 89-91; Vi. IV. 7. 35-6.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. IX. 16. 2-13.] [ Footnote: 3) Br. III. 1. 97; ch. 30 (whole); 45. 11.] [ ID=11761 ]

### Named Objects, Texts, or Concepts (3 definitions)
- a particular formula recited over weapons  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 887,2] रेणुक (reṇuka) m. a partic. formula recited over weapons, R. [ ID=179403 ]
- a species of gem  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > रेणुक (reṇuka) n. a species of gem, L. [ ID=179408 ]
- The name of a Karika composed by Hari-hara  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a Kārikā (composed by Hari-hara; cf. रेणु - कारिका (reṇu-kārikā) ), Cat. [ ID=179411 ]

### Other Named Individuals or Beings (3 definitions)
- name of a Yaksha  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a Yakṣa, MBh. ( Nīlak. ) [ ID=179404 ]
- of a son of Renu  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a son of Reṇu, VP. [ ID=179405 ]
- a mythical elephant  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a mythical elephant, MBh. [ ID=179406 ]

### Medicinal Substance or Perfume (2 definitions)
- a medicinal substance that is fragrant, bitter, slightly pungent, and greyish in color  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 887,2] रेणु (reṇu) का (reṇukā) b f. a partic. drug or medicinal substance (said to be fragrant, but bitter and slightly pungent in taste, and of greyish colour; cf. रेणु (reṇu) ), L. [ ID=179410 ]
- A kind of medicinal substance.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > रेणुका (reṇukā) [Printed book page 0917-a ] 2 A kind of medicinal substance. [ ID=24285 ]

### Named Geographical Locations (1 definition)
- of a river  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a river, VP. [ ID=179413 ]

### Referential Dictionary Entry (1 definition)
- See below  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2B) [Printed book page 887,2] रेणुका (reṇukā) a f. See below [ ID=179407 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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