# ऋषि (ṛṣi)

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

ऋषि (ṛṣi) is a Sanskrit word meaning a sacred poet, inspired sage, or singer of sacred hymns, an inspired seer of Vedic hymns, the names of the Rishis of the subsequent Manvantaras, pracetas or Daksha, Bhrigu, and Narada, the seven senses or the seven vital airs of the body, a saint, sanctified sage, or ascetic. Its 32 recorded definitions are grouped into 9 contexts, among them Inspired Poet, Singer, or Seer of Vedas, Classifications, Orders, and Enumerations of Rishis, General Concept, Lore, and Tradition of Rishis.

- **Roots:** दृश् (dṛś), ऋष् (ṛṣ), 2. ऋष् (2. ṛṣ)
- **SLP1:** `fzi`  **IAST:** ṛṣi  **Devanagari:** ऋषि
- **Declensions:** 72 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/rishi/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### Inspired Poet, Singer, or Seer of Vedas (9 definitions)
- A sacred poet, inspired sage, or singer of sacred hymns.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 226,3] ऋषि (ṛṣi) m. (√ 2. ऋष् (ṛṣ) Comm. on Uṇādi-sūtra (Title) iv, 119; ऋषति ज्ञानेन संसार - पारम् (ṛṣati jñānena saṃsāra-pāram), TārānāthaTarkavācaspati’s Vācaspatyam, Sanskrit dictionary (Title); perhaps fr. an obsolete √ ऋष् (ṛṣ) for √ दृश् (dṛś), ‘to see ?’ cf. ऋषि (ṛṣi)- कृत् (ṛṣi-kṛt) ), a singer of sacred hymns, an inspired poet or sage, any person who alone or with others invokes the deities in rhythmical speech or song of a sacred character ( e.g. the ancient hymn-singers Kutsa, Atri, Rebha, Agastya, Kuśika, Vasiṣṭha, Vy-aśva), Ṛg-veda (Title); Atharva-veda (Title); Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (Title) &c. [ ID=39047 ]
- an inspired seer of Vedic hymns  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > they are the authors or rather seers of the Vedic hymns i.e. according to orthodox Hindū ideas they are the inspired personages to whom these hymns were revealed, and such an expression as ‘the Ṛṣi says’ is equivalent to ‘so it stands in the sacred text’ [ ID=39049 ]
- a hymn or mantra composed by a Rishi  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a hymn or Mantra composed by a Ṛṣi [ ID=39060 ]
- 1. A poet, bard, or author of sacred hymns. 2. A sage, saint, or wise and pious person of antiquity, especially an anchorite.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 057-3 ] ऋषि (ṛṣi) ṛ́ṣ-i, m. bard or author of sacred hymns, poet, priestly singer; saint or sage of the olden time; a special class of revered beings, whose number is often limited to seven; C. person renowned for wisdom and piety, esp. an anchorite: pl. the seven stars of the great Bear; -kumāra, m. anchorite boy; -tva, n. state of a Ṛṣi; -putra, m. son of a Ṛṣi; -yajña, m. sacrifice to the Ṛṣis = Vedic study; -vat, ad. like a Ṛṣi. [ ID=5073 ]
- 1. An inspired poet or sage. 2. An anchorite. 3. A ray of light.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 151-18 ] ऋषि (ṛṣi) m. 1. An inspired poet or sage; 2. an anchorite; 3. a ray of light. [ ID=7339 ]
- 1. An author of sacred hymns. 2. An ancient saint. 3. A pious person or anchorite.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 0138-b ] ऋषि (ṛṣi) ṛṣ + i (for original ṛṣan, cf. akṣi for akṣan, asthi for asthan, etc., = ἄρσην, ἄῤῥην), m. 1. A bard or author of sacred hymns, Chr. 287, 1. 3; Man. 11, 243. 2. An old saint, MBh. 12, Page0139-a+ 38 12724; Hariv. 417, seq. 3. A pious person, especially an anchorite, Man. 4, 94. — Comp. Devarṣi, i. e. deva-ṛṣi, m. a sage of the class of demi-gods, as Nārada, VP. 284; Rām. 1, 1, 83. Brahmarṣi, i. e. brahman- and viprar- ṣi, i. e. vipra-, m. a sage of the class of Brāhmaṇas, as Vaśiṣṭha, VP. 284; Chr. 22, 20; 14, 17. Rājarṣi, i. e. rājan-, m. a prince who has adopted a life of devotion, as Viśvāmitra, VP. 284; Chr. 11, 16; Pañc. 76, 9. Saptarṣi, see separately. [ ID=2558 ]
- A holy singer, poet, saint, sage, or hermit.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 098 ] ऋषि (ṛṣi) m. holy singer, poet, saint, sage, hermit, a Ṛṣi; pl. w. सप्तन् (saptan) the seven ( i.e. many) Ṛṣis of the olden times, or the seven stars of the Great Bear. [ ID=6331 ]
- 1. An inspired poet, singer of sacred songs, or ancient sage who saw the Vedas. 2. The seven stars of the Great Bear. 3. A person renowned for piety and wisdom.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 136-a ] ṛ́ṣi, m. —1. singer of sacred songs, poet; priestly singer; regarded by later generations as a patriarchal saint or sage of the olden time and as occupying a position given in other lands to the heroes and patriarchs; one of those inspired poets who “saw” the Vedas, which were “revealed” Page136-b+ 49 to them; —2. sapta_ṛṣayas: the many Rishis; later, the seven stars of the Great Bear; —3. a Rishi, i. e. a person renowned for piety and wisdom, 100 22; — see note to 1 14. [ ID=931 ]
- 1. An inspired poet, singer of sacred hymns, or sage. 2. A saint or sanctified sage in general, an ascetic, or an anchorite. 3. A ray of light. 4. An imaginary circle. 5. The fish Cyprinus Rshi.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 0181-c ] ऋषि (ṛṣi) ṛṣi, is, m. (said to be either fr. rt. dṛś, ‘to see,’ or fr. 1. ṛṣ; perhaps related to arc or ṛc, ‘to praise’), a singer of sacred hymns, an in- spired poet or sage, any person who alone or with others invokes the deities in rhythmical speech or song, especially in song of a sacred character (e. g. the ancient hymn-singers Kutsa, Atri, Rebha, Agastya, Kuśika, Vasiṣṭha, Vy-aśva, who were regarded by later generations as patriarchal sages or saints, occupy- ing the same position in Indian history as the heroes and patriarchs of other countries. They Ṛṣis con- stitute a peculiar class of beings in the early mythical system, as distinct from gods, men, Asuras, &c. they are the authors or rather seers of the Vedic hymns, i. e. according to orthodox Hindū ideas they are the inspired personages to whom these hymns were revealed, and such an expression as ‘the Ṛṣi says’ is equivalent to ‘so it stands in the sacred texts.’ Seven Ṛṣi, sapta ṛṣayaḥ or saptaṛṣayaḥ or saptarṣayaḥ, are often mentioned in the Brāhmaṇas and later works as typical representatives of the charac- ter and spirit of the pre-historic or mythical period; in the Śatapatha-Brāhmaṇa their names are given as follows, Gotama, Bharadvāja, Viśvā-mitra, Jamadagni, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, and Atri; in the Mahā-bhārata thus, Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, Vasiṣṭha; in Manu they are called Prajāpatis or patriarchs, and are reckoned as ten, three other names being added, viz. Pracetas or Dakṣa, Bhṛgu, and Nā- rada, these ten being created by Manu Svāyambhuva Page0182-a+ 79 for the production of all other beings including gods and men. The seven Ṛṣis form in astronomy the constellation of ‘the Great Bear.’ Metaphorically, the seven Ṛṣis may stand for the seven senses or the seven vital airs of the body); in later times a saint or sanctified sage in general, an ascetic, an an- chorite, (sometimes three orders of these Ṛṣis are enu- merated, viz. Devarṣis, Brahmarṣis, and Rājarṣis; sometimes seven, four others being added, viz. Ma- harṣis, Paramarṣis, Śrutarṣis, and Kāṇḍarṣis); a ray of light; an imaginary circle; the fish Cyprinus Ṛṣi; [cf. Hib. arsan, ‘a sage, a man old in wisdom;’ arrach, ‘old, ancient, aged.’] —Ṛṣi- kulyā, f. ‘the river of the Ṛṣis,’ a sacred river, as the Sarasvatī or Gaṅgā; a river in general; N. of the wife of Bhūman and mother of Udgītha. —Ṛṣi- kṛt, t, t, t, Ved. rendering a poet inspired, inspiring; (Sāy.) making one's appearance, appearing. —Ṛṣi- gaṇa, as, m. a company or number of sages, the host of patriarchal sages. —Ṛṣi-giri, is, m., N. of a mountain in Magadha. —Ṛṣi-gupta, as, m., N. of a Buddha. —Ṛṣi-codana, as, ā, am, Ved. in- spiring the singer. —Ṛṣi-cchandas, as, n. the metre of a Ṛṣi. —Ṛṣi-jāṅgala, as, m. or ṛṣi- jāṅgalikī, f. the plant Convolvulus Argenteus. —Ṛṣi-tarpaṇa, am, n. libation offered to the Ṛṣis. —Ṛṣi-tva, am, n. the order or state of a Ṛṣi. —Ṛṣi-deva, as, m., N. of a Buddha. —Ṛṣi- dviṣ, ṭ, ṭ, ṭ, Ved. hating an inspired poet. —Ṛṣi- pañcamī, f., N. of a festival on the fifth day in the second half of the month Bhādra. —Ṛṣi-patana, N. of a country near Vārāṇasī. —Ṛṣi-putra, as, m., N. of an author. —Ṛṣi-praśiṣṭa, as, ā, am, Ved. instructed by the Ṛṣi. —Ṛṣi-proktā, f. the plant Glycine Debilis. —Ṛṣi-bandhu, us, us, u, Ved. related to a Ṛṣi, connected with a Ṛṣi. —Ṛṣi-brāhmaṇa, am, n. title of a work. —Ṛṣi- manas, ās, ās, as, Ved. having the mind of a sacred poet, inspired. —Ṛṣi-mukha, am, n. the beginning of a Maṇḍala composed by a Ṛṣi. —Ṛṣi-yajña, as, m. sacrifice offered to a Ṛṣi, consisting of a prayer uttered in a low voice. —Ṛṣi-loka, as, m. the world of the Ṛṣis. —Ṛṣi-vat, ind., Ved. like a Ṛṣi. —Ṛṣi-vadana, N. of a country; see ṛṣi- patana. —Ṛṣi-vaha, as, ā, am, bearing or con- veying a Ṛṣi. —Ṛṣi-ṣah, ṣāṭ, ṭ, ṭ, Ved. intoxi- cating and inspiring the singer, as the Soma. —Ṛṣi- ṣeṇa, as, m., N. of a man. —Ṛṣi-ṣṭuta, as, ā, am, praised by the sacred poets. —Ṛṣi-sattama, as, m. best or most excellent of the sages. —Ṛṣi- stoma, as, m. praise of the Ṛṣis. —Ṛṣi-svara, as, ā, am, Ved. praised by a Ṛṣi. —Ṛṣī-tata, as, ā, am, celebrated by the sacred singers. —Ṛṣī- van, ā, ā, a, Ved. equal to the Ṛṣis; (Sāy.) accom- panied by Ṛṣis. [ ID=12677 ]

### Classifications, Orders, and Enumerations of Rishis (6 definitions)
- seven Rishis, typical representatives of the pre-historic or mythical period  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 227,1] seven Ṛṣis, सप्त ऋषयः (sapta ṛṣayaḥ), or सप्तऋषयः (saptaṛṣayaḥ) or सप्तर्षयः (saptarṣayaḥ), are often mentioned in the Brāhmaṇas and later works as typical representatives of the character and spirit of the pre-historic or mythical period [ ID=39050 ]
- Gotama, Bharadvaja, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, and Atri  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > in Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title) xiv, 5, 2, 6 their names are given as follows, Gotama, Bharadvāja, Viśvā-mitra, Jamadagni, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, and Atri [ ID=39051 ]
- names of the Rishis of the first Manvantara, also called Prajapatis or patriarchs  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > in Mahābhārata (Title) xii, Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, Vasiṣṭha are given as the names of the Ṛṣis of the first Manvantara, and they are also called Prajāpatis or patriarchs [ ID=39052 ]
- the names of the Rishis of the subsequent Manvantaras  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the names of the Ṛṣis of the subsequent Manv-antaras are enumerated in Harivaṃśa (Title) 417 ff. [ ID=39053 ]
- Pracetas or Daksha, Bhrigu, and Narada  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > afterwards three other names are added, viz. Pracetas or Dakṣa, Bhṛgu, and Nārada, these ten being created by Manu Svāyambhuva for the production of all other beings including gods and men, Āśvalāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title); Mahābhārata (Title); Viṣṇu-purāṇa (Title) &c. [ ID=39054 ]
- the seventh of the eight degrees of Brahmans  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the seventh of the eight degrees of Brāhmans, Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi (Title) [ ID=39059 ]

### General Concept, Lore, and Tradition of Rishis (6 definitions)
- A patriarchal sage or saint, occupying a position similar to heroes and patriarchs of other countries, forming a distinct class of beings in the early mythical system separate from gods, men, and Asuras.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the Ṛṣis were regarded by later generations as patriarchal sages or saints, occupying the same position in India history as the heroes and patriarchs of other countries, and constitute a peculiar class of beings in the early mythical system, as distinct from gods, men, Asuras, &c., Atharva-veda (Title) x, 10, 26; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title); Aitareya-brāhmaṇa (Title); Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title); Manu-smṛti (Title) &c. [ ID=39048 ]
- 1. A saint or sanctified sage. 2. A Veda. 3. A ray of light. Feminine: the wife of a sage.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ऋष (ṛṣa) ि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 169 ] ऋष (ṛṣa) ि (ṛṣi) m. ( - षिः (-ṣiḥ) ) A Ṛṣi or sanctified personage so called: there are seven orders of these saints, as the Śrutarṣi, Kāṇḍarṣi, Paramarṣi, Maharṣi, Rājarṣi, Brahmarṣi and Devarṣi: the uncompounded name is especially applied to seven sages, of the Brahmarṣi order, cotemporary with each MANU; those of the present Manvantara, are MARĪCI, ATRI, AṄGIRAS, PULASTYA, PULAHA, KRATU and VASIṢṬHA: the names of each series differ: those specified also form, in astronomy, the asterism of the greater bear: the Ṛṣi of a Mantra or mystic prayer in the Vedas, is the saint by whom it is supposed to have been remembered or recited. 2 A Veda. 3 A ray of light. 4 A saint or sanctified sage in general. f. ( - षी (-ṣī) ) The wife of A Ṛṣi. E. ऋष (ṛṣa) to go, इन् (in) Uṇādi affix fem. affix ङीष् (ṅīṣ); who goes beyond the limits of earthly life and wisdom. [ ID=8056 ]
- 1. A rishi or sanctified sage. 2. A Veda. 3. A ray of light. 4. The wife of a rishi.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 139-a ] ऋषि (ṛṣi) m. ( - षिः (-ṣiḥ) ) A Rishi or sanctified personage so called: there are seven orders of these saints, as the Srutarshi, Kandarshi, Paramarshi, Maharshi, Rajarshi, Brahmarshi and Devarshi: the uncompounded name is especially applied to seven sages, of the Brahmarshi order, cotemporary with each MANU; those of the present Manwantara, are MARICHI, ATRI, ANGIRAS, PULASTYA, PULAHA, KRATU and VASISHTHA: the names of each series differ: specified also form, in astronomy, the asterism of the greater bear: the Rishi of a Mantra or mystic prayer in the Vedis, is the saint by whom it is supposed to have been remembered or recited. 2. A Veda. 3. A ray of light. 4. A saint or sanctified sage in general. f. ( - षी (-ṣī) ) The wife of a Rishi. E. ऋष् (ṛṣ) to go, इन् (in) Unādi affix, fem. affix ङीष्; (ṅīṣ;) who goes beyond the limits of earthly life and wisdom. [ ID=8051 ]
- A seer, sage, or composer of Vedic mantras.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 1-272 ] Ṛṣi (ety.) — got the mantras by the pupil of the eye, by observation, by accident and by past and future events. Five groups are distinguished: avyaktātmā, mahānātmā, (also mahātmā ), ahamkārātmā, bhūtātmā and Indriyātmā; also Brahmaṛṣis, devaṛṣis, Rājaṛṣis, mahaṛṣis, saptaṛṣis, Ṛṣikas — all mantravits. 1 Milked the cow Earth when Soma acted as calf; Bṛhas- pati was the milkman, the vessel being the Vedas and the essence tapas; 2 cursed by Mahādeva in the Svāyambhuva epoch and freed from it in the Vaivasvata. 3 [ Footnote: 1) Br. II. 32. 70-95; 33. 32, 34; 35. 89 & 95; M. 123. 29; 145. 81-89. Vā. 59-87.] [ Footnote: 2) M. 10. 16-7.] [ Footnote: 3) M. 195. 3.] [ ID=2169 ]
- Divine ascetics  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Ṛṣis — blessed Pṛthu. 1 Divine ascetics. 2 Went to Dvā- rakā to see Kṛṣṇa. 3 Sing in praise of the sun. 4 Born in the form of cows when Hari manifested himself as Kṛṣṇa. 5 (See Ṛṣi ). The seven of the Vaivasvata epoch were Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvāja, Śaradvān, Atri, Vasumān, Vatsāra- Kaśyapa. 6 Relations of, with gods and Pitṛs. 7 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. IV. 15. 19; 19. 18.] [ Footnote: 2) Ib. III. 20. 52-3; VII. 8. 37 and 43; VIII. 5. 39; 14. 8; X. 72. 8; 74. 37.] [ Footnote: 3) Ib. XI. 6. 3.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. XII. 11. 47.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. X. 1. 23 [1].] [ Footnote: 6) Vā. 64. 24-28.] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. 62. 21.] [ ID=2171 ]
- A seer and composer of hymns to the gods.  
  *The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 1-115 ] Ṛṣi, ‘seer,’ is primarily a composer of hymns to the gods. In the Rigveda 1 reference is often made to previous singers and to contemporary poets. Old poems were inherited and refurbished by members of the composer's family, 2 but the great aim of the singers was to produce new and approved hymns. 3 It is not till the time of the Brāhmaṇas that the Page1-116+ 62 composition of hymns appears to have fallen into disuse, 4 though poetry was still produced, for example, in the form of Gāthās, which the priests were required to compose them- selves 5 and sing to the accompaniment of the lute at the sacrifice. The Ṛṣi was the most exalted of Brāhmaṇas, 6 and his skill, which is often compared with that of a carpenter, 7 was regarded as heaven-sent. 8 The Purohita, whether as Hotṛ or as Brahman (see Ṛtvij ), was a singer. 9 No doubt the Ṛṣis were normally 10 attached to the houses of the great, the petty kings of Vedic times, or the nobles of the royal household. Nor need it be doubted that occasionally 11 the princes them- selves essayed poetry: a Rājanyarṣi, the prototype of the later Rājarṣi or ‘royal seer,’ who appears in the Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa, 12 though he must be mythical as Oldenberg 13 points out, indicates that kings cultivated poetry 14 just as later they engaged in philosophic disputations. 15 Normally, how- ever, the poetical function is Brahminical, Viśāmitra and others not being kings, but merely Brāhmaṇas, in the Rigveda. In the later literature the Ṛṣis are the poets of the hymns preserved in the Saṃhitās. a Ṛṣi being regularly 16 cited when a Vedic Saṃhitā is quoted. Moreover, the Ṛṣis become the representatives of a sacred past, and are regarded as holy sages, Page1-117+ 56 whose deeds are narrated as if they were the deeds of gods or Asuras. 17 They are typified by a particular group of seven, 18 mentioned four times in the Rigveda, 19 several times in the later Saṃhitās, 20 and enumerated in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 21 as Gotama, Bharadvāja, Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, and Atri. In the Rigveda itself Kutsa, 22 Atri, 23 Rebha, 24 Agastya, 25 the Kuśikas, 26 Vasiṣṭha, 27 Vyaśva, 28 and others appear as Ṛṣis; and the Atharvaveda 29 contains a long list, including Aṅgiras, Agastī, Jamadagni, Atri, Kaśyapa, Vasiṣṭha, Bharadvāja, Gaviṣṭhira, Viśvāmitra, Kutsa, Kakṣīvant, Kaṇva, Medhātithi, Triśoka, Uśanā Kāvya, Gotama, and Mudgala. Competition among the bards appears to have been known. This is one of the sides of the riddle poetry ( Brahmodya ) that forms a distinctive feature 30 of the Vedic ritual of the Aśva- medha, or horse sacrifice. In the Upaniṣad period such competitions were quite frequent. The most famous was that of Yājñavalkya, which was held at the court of Janaka of Videha, as detailed in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, 31 and which was a source of annoyance to Ajātaśatru of Kāśī. 32 According to an analogous practice, a Brāhmaṇa, like Uddālaka Aruṇi, would go about disputing with all he came across, and compete with them for a prize of money. 33 [ Footnote: 1) i. 1, 2; 45, 3; viii. 43, 13, etc.] [ Footnote: 2) i. 89, 3; 96, 2; iii. 39, 2; viii. 6. 11. 43; 76, 6, etc.] [ Footnote: 3) i. 109, 2; ii. 18, 3; iii. 62, 7; vi. 50, 6; vii. 14, 4; 93, 1; viii. 23, 14, etc.] [ Footnote: 4) Geldner, Vedische Studien, 2, 151.] [ Footnote: 5) Satapatha Brāhmaṇa, xiii. 4, 2, 8; 3, 5.] [ Footnote: 6) Rv. ix. 96, 6, etc. Cf. Satapatha Brāhmaṇa, xii. 4, 4, 6, where pre- eminence is assigned to a Brāhmaṇa descended from a Ṛṣi.] [ Footnote: 7) Rv. i. 130, 6; v. 2, 11; 29, 15; 73, 10; x. 39, 14. So a poet is a Kāru- (if from kṛ, ‘make,’ but usually derived from kṛ, ‘commemorate’), and makes ( kṛ, Rv. ii. 39. 8; viii. 62, 4) as well as creates ( jan, Rv. vii. 15, 4; viii. 88, 4) hymns.] [ Footnote: 8) Rv. i. 37, 4; vii. 36. 1. 9; viii. 32, 27; 57. 6, etc.] [ Footnote: 9) Rv. i. 151, 7; Geldner, op. cit., 2, 153; Oldenberg, Religion des Veda, 380.] [ Footnote: 10) Geldner, op. cit., 2, 154, cites the Dānastutis as characteristic of princes in the tradition of the Bṛhaddevatā, etc.] [ Footnote: 11) Ibid., 154.] [ Footnote: 12) xii. 12, 6, etc.] [ Footnote: 13) Zeitschrift dev Deutschen Morgen- ländischen Gesellschaft, 45, 235. n. 3.] [ Footnote: 14) Later on it was deemed quite normal and natural. See the story of Rathavīti Dārbhya, or Dālbhya, him- self a royal seer, and Taranta and Purumīḷha, seers and also kings, in Bṛhaddevata, v. 50 et seq. ] [ Footnote: 15) Cf. Garbe, Philosophy of Ancient India, 73 et seq.; Deussen, Philosophy of the Upaniṣads, 16 et seq.; Keith, Aitareya Āraṇyaka, 50.] [ Footnote: 16) Aitareya Brāhmaṇa, ii. 25; viii. 26; Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, i. 7, 4, 4; ii. 2, 3, 6; 5, 1, 4; vi, 1, 1, 1, etc.; Nirukta, vii. 3, etc.] [ Footnote: 17) Aitareya Brāhmaṇa, i. 17; ii. 19; Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, i. 6, 2, 7, etc.] [ Footnote: 18) Cf. Indische Studien, 8, 167.] [ Footnote: 19) iv. 42, 8; x. 109, 4; 130, 7; Mac- donell, Vedic Mythology, p. 144.] [ Footnote: 20) Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, xiv. 24; Av xi. 1, 1. 24; xii. 1, 39, etc.] [ Footnote: 21) ii. 2, 6.] [ Footnote: 22) i. 106, 6.] [ Footnote: 23) i. 117, 3.] [ Footnote: 24) i. 117, 4.] [ Footnote: 25) i. 179, 6.] [ Footnote: 26) iii. 53. 10.] [ Footnote: 27) vii. 33. 13.] [ Footnote: 28) viii. 23, 16.] [ Footnote: 29) iv. 29. Cf. xviii. 3, 15. 16.] [ Footnote: 30) Zimmer, Altindisches Leben, 345, 346; Bloomfield, Journal of the American Oriental Society, 15, 172; Religion des Veda, 216 et seq. ] [ Footnote: 31) iii. 1, 1 et seq. ] [ Footnote: 32) Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, ii. 1, 1 et seq.; Kauṣītaki Upaniṣad, iv. 1 et seq. ] [ Footnote: 33) Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, xi. 4, 1, 1 et seq.; Gopatha Brāhmaṇa, i. 3. 8 et seq.; Geldner, Vedische Studien, 2, 185, 344. Cf. Zimmer, Altindisches Leben, 340- 347; Muir, Sanskrit Texts, 3, 120 et seq. ] [ ID=435 ]

### Other Specific, Symbolic, or Figurative Meanings (5 definitions)
- the seven senses or the seven vital airs of the body  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (metaphorically the seven Ṛṣis may stand for the seven senses or the seven vital airs of the body, Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (Title) xxxiv; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title) xiv; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra (Title) ) [ ID=39056 ]
- a symbolical expression for the number seven  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a symbolical expression for the number seven [ ID=39062 ]
- the moon  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the moon [ ID=39063 ]
- an imaginary circle  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an imaginary circle [ ID=39064 ]
- the fish Cyprinus Rishi  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the fish Cyprinus Rishi, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author); [ ID=39066 ]

### Sage, Saint, or Holy Person (2 definitions)
- a saint, sanctified sage, or ascetic  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a saint or sanctified sage in general, an ascetic, anchorite (this is a later sense; sometimes three orders of these are enumerated, viz. Devarṣis, Brahmarṣis, and Rājarṣis; sometimes seven, four others being added, viz. Maharṣis, Paramarṣis, Śrutarṣis, and Kāṇḍarṣis), Manu-smṛti (Title) iv, 94 xi, 236; Śakuntalā (Title); Raghuvaṃśa (Title) &c. [ ID=39057 ]
- 1. A sage. 2. A Veda.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [Printed book page 139-b ] ऋषि (ṛṣi) ( षिः ) ((ṣiḥ)) 2. m. A sage; a Veda. [ ID=7474 ]

### A Ray of Light (1 definition)
- a ray of light  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a ray of light, Lexicographers, esp. such as Amarasiṃha, Halāyudha, Hemacandra, etc. (Author) [ ID=39065 ]

### Etymology and Linguistic Analysis (1 definition)
- A sage or seer.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > ऋषि (ṛṣi) [ cf. Hib. arsan, ‘a sage, a man old in wisdom’; arrach, ‘old, ancient, aged’.] [ ID=39066.1 ]

### The Great Bear Constellation (Saptarshi Mandala) (1 definition)
- the seven Rishis forming the constellation of the Great Bear  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > in astron. the seven Ṛṣis form the constellation of ‘the Great Bear’, Ṛg-veda (Title) x, 82, 2; Atharva-veda (Title) vi, 40, 1; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title); Āśvalāyana-gṛhya-sūtra (Title); Mahābhārata (Title) &c. [ ID=39055 ]

### The Veda (1 definition)
- the Veda  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the Veda Comm. on Mahābhārata (Title) & Patañjali (Author) [ ID=39061 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; 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.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546