# साधन (sādhana)

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

साधन (sādhana) is a Sanskrit word meaning leading straight to a goal, effective, efficient, procuring, conjuring up a spirit, denoting, designating, or expressive of, the author of Rigveda. Its 73 recorded definitions are grouped into 20 contexts, among them Accomplishment / Performance / Fulfillment, Adjective: Effecting / Guiding / Procuring, Means / Instrument / Aid.

- **Etymology:** E. षाघ to accomplish, aff. ल्युट् — E. ṣāgha to accomplish, aff. lyuṭ
- **SLP1:** `sADana`  **IAST:** sādhana  **Devanagari:** साधन
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C4%81dhan%C4%81
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/sadhana/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** साधान (sādhāna), साधना (sādhanā), सधन (sadhana)

## Meanings by context

### Accomplishment / Performance / Fulfillment (11 definitions)
- accomplishment or performance  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2B) [Printed book page 1201,1] साधना (sādhanā) ( आ (ā) ), f. accomplishment, performance (see मन्त्र - स् (mantra-s) ° (°) ) [ ID=241528 ]
- accomplishment, fulfilment, or completion  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > bringing about, carrying out, accomplishment, fulfilment, completion, perfection, Nir.; MBh. &c. [ ID=241534 ]
- preparing, making ready, or preparation  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > preparing, making ready, preparation (of food, poison &c.), Kathās.; MārkP. [ ID=241546 ]
- finding out by calculation  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > finding out by calculation, computation, Gaṇit. [ ID=241548 ]
- Accomplishing, effecting, performing  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 1 Accomplishing, effecting, performing; as in स्वार्थसाधनं (naṃ) (svārthasādhanaṃ)
- Fulfilment or accomplishment of an object  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 2 Fulfilment, accomplishment, complete attainment of an object; प्रजार्थसाधने तौ हि पर्यायोद्यतकार्मुकौ (prajārthasādhane tau hi paryāyodyatakārmukau) Raghuvaṃśa (Bombay) 4. 16
- 1. Accomplishing or effecting. 2. Material or substance. 3. Means or expedient. 4. Instrument or agent. 5. Authority. 6. Logical premises. 7. Cause. 8. Motion or following. 9. Killing or destroying. 10. Funeral obsequies. 11. Drug or medicament. 12. Wealth. 13. An army. 14. The penis. 15. Friendship. 16. Judicial enforcement of delivery. 17. Oxidation of metals for alchemy. 18. Religious and moral observances for spiritual purity. 19. Proof.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > साधन (sādhana) [Printed book page 916 ] साधन (sādhana) n. ( - नं (-naṃ) ) 1 Accomplishing, effecting. 2 Matter, materials, that of which any thing is composed or consists. 3 Thing, substance. 4 Means, expedient. 5 Instrument, agent. 6 Authority. 7 The premises leading to a conclusion. 8 Cause. 9 Going, motion. 10 Following. 11 Killing, destroying. 12 Obsequies, ceremonies observed after the death of a relative. 13 Drug, medicament. 14 Wealth. 15 An army. 16 The penis. 17 Friendship. 18 Enforcement of the delivery of any thing, especially juridically, as the infliction and levy of a fine, &c. 19 Killing metals, depriving them (especially mercury) by oxidation, &c. of their metallic properties, for medicinal or alchemical purposes. 20 Good works, or the observance of the moral and ceremonial parts of the Hindu religion, as secondary means of obtaining purity and emancipation. 21 Proof, substantiation. E. षाघ (ṣāgha) to accomplish, aff. ल्युट् (lyuṭ). [ ID=41514 ]
- 1. Accomplishing, constituent element, means, or process. 2. Destroying, cause, or neutralizing. 3. Wealth, army, enforcement, or proof. 4. Meritorious works, obsequies, or drug.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > साधन (sādhana) [Printed book page 837-b ] साधन (sādhana) ( नं ) ((naṃ)) 1. n. Accomplishing; constituent element; means; process; destroying; cause; wealth; army; enforcement; proof; neutralizing; meritorious works; obsequies; drug. [ ID=41257 ]
- 1. Accomplishing or performing. 2. Complete attainment of an object. 3. A means or expedient. 4. An efficient cause or source. 5. An instrument or agent. 6. The instrumental case. 7. A bodily organ. 8. The penis. 9. An udder. 10. Implement, utensil, or apparatus. 11. Matter, materials, or ingredients. 12. A medicinal preparation or drug. 13. Military apparatus or part of an army. 14. Aid or assistance. 15. Proof or demonstration. 16. A premise leading to a conclusion or the middle term in logic. 17. Accomplishing anything by magic or incantation. 18. Enforcing payment or inflicting a fine. 19. Penance or self-mortification. 20. Attainment of beatitude. 21. Wealth. 22. Profit or advantage. 23. Friendship. 24. Subduing or overcoming. 25. Subduing by charms. 26. Conciliating, propitiating, or worshipping. 27. Killing or destroying. 28. Burning a dead body or obsequies. 29. Setting out or proceeding.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > साधन (sādhana) (II) n. 1. The act of accomplishing or performing, अधोदृष्टिर्नैष्कृतिकः स्वार्थसाधन (sādhana) तत्परः (adhodṛṣṭirnaiṣkṛtikaḥ svārthasādhanatatparaḥ) M. iv.196; 2. accomplishment, completion, complete attainment of any object, प्रजार्थसाधन (sādhana) े तौ हि पर्यायोद्यतकार्मुकौ (prajārthasādhane tau hi paryāyodyatakārmukau) R. iv.16; 3. a means of obtaining or accomplishing, a means or expedient in general, वंगानुत्खाय तरसा नेता नौसाधन (sādhana) ोद्यतान् (vaṃgānutkhāya tarasā netā nausādhanodyatān) R. iv.36, i.19, 82, K.S. v.33; 4. efficient cause, source, cause in general; 5. an instrument, agent, तपसैव प्रसिध्यंति त्पस्तेषां हि साधन (sādhana) म् (tapasaiva prasidhyaṃti tpasteṣāṃ hi sādhanam) M. xi.237; 6. the instrumental case (in gram.); 7. a bodily organ; 8. the penis; 9. an udder; 10. implement, utensil, apparatus; 11. matter, materials, ingredients; 12. medicinal preparation, drug, medicine; 13. part of an army, any military apparatus; 14. aid, assistance; 15. substantiation, proof, demonstration; 16. a premise leading to a conclusion, the middle term or Hetu in a syllogism (in logic), व्यावृत्तं च विपक्षतो भवति यत्तत्साधन (sādhana) ं सिद्धये (vyāvṛttaṃ ca vipakṣato bhavati yattatsādhanaṃ siddhaye) Mud. v.; 17. accomplishing anything by magic or incantation; 18. the enforcement of the delivery of anything, infliction of a fine, enforcement of the payment of a debt (in law); 19. penance, self-mortification; 20. attainment of beatitude, तस्मादेतत्परं मन्ये यज्जंतोरस्य साधन (sādhana) म् (tasmādetatparaṃ manye yajjaṃtorasya sādhanam) M. xii.100; 21. wealth; 22. profit, advantage; 23. friendship; 24. subduing, overcoming; 25. subduing by charms; 26. conciliating, propitiating, worshipping; 27. killing, destroying, फलं च तस्य प्रतिकायसाधन (sādhana) म् (phalaṃ ca tasya pratikāyasādhanam) Kir. xiv.17; 28. burning a dead body, obsequies; 29. setting out, proceeding. [ ID=40385 ]
- 1. Accomplishing or effecting. 2. Materials or composition. 3. A thing or substance. 4. A means or expedient. 5. An instrument or agent. 6. Authority. 7. The premises leading to a conclusion. 8. A cause. 9. Motion. 10. Following. 11. Killing or destroying. 12. Post-death ceremonies. 13. A drug or medicament. 14. Wealth. 15. An army. 16. The penis. 17. Friendship. 18. Judicial enforcement or levying a fine. 19. Oxidizing metals for alchemy or medicine. 20. Religious observance for purity and emancipation. 21. Proof or substantiation. 22. Penance. 23. Profit or advantage. 24. Subduing. 25. Subduing by charms. 26. Conciliating or worshipping. 27. Setting out. 28. Aid or assistance. 29. A bodily organ. 30. An udder. 31. An implement or apparatus. 32. The instrumental case in grammar.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > साधन (sādhana) [Printed book page 779-b ] साधन (sādhana) n. ( - नं (-naṃ) ) 1. Accomplishing, effecting. 2. Matter, materials, that of which any thing is composed or consists. 3. Thing, substance. 4. Means, expedient. 5. Instrument, agent. 6. Authority. 7. The premises leading to a conclusion. 8. Cause. 9. Going, motion. 10. Following. 11. Killing, destroying. 12. Obsequies, ceremonies observed after the death of a relative. 13. Drug, medicament. 14. Wealth. 15. An army. 16. The penis. 17. Friendship. 18. Enforcement of the delivery of any thing, especially juridically, as the infliction and levy of a fine, &c. 19. Killing metals, depriving them (especially mercury,) by oxidation, &c., of their metallic properties, for medicinal or alchemical purposes. 20. Good works, or the observance of the moral and ceremonial parts of the Hindu religion, as secondary means of obtaining purity and emancipation. 21. Proof, substantiation. 22. Penance, self-mortification. 23. Page780-a+ 60 Profit, advantage. 24. Subduing. 25. Subduing by charms. 26. Conciliating, worshipping. 27. Killing. 28. Setting out. 29. Aid, assistance. 30. A bodily organ. 31. An udder. 32. Implement, utensil, apparatus. 33. The instrumental case, (in gram.) f. ( - नी (-nī) ) Effecting. f. ( - ना (-nā) ) 1. Accomplishment, completion. 2. Propitiation, worship. E. षाध् (ṣādh) to accomplish, aff. ल्युट् । (lyuṭ.) [ ID=43619 ]
- 1. Accomplishing. 2. Advancement. 3. A means of accomplishing. 4. Wealth. 5. A part of an army. 6. An instrument. 7. A cause or source of prosperity. 8. Subduing by charms. 9. Killing or destroying. 10. Obsequies. 11. Authority. 12. Proof or substantiation. 13. The middle term in an inference. 14. Enforcement of delivery or payment. 15. A medicament or drug. 16. Matter or materials. 17. A substance or thing. 18. The penis. 19. Going. 20. Following or profit. 21. Good works. 22. Friendship.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > साधन (sādhana) [Printed book page 1033-a ] साधन (sādhana) sādh + ana, n. 1. Accom- plishing, Hit. iv. d. 98 ( sādhya-, What must be accomplished, i. e. one's aim). 2. Advancement, Man. 4, 196. 3. A means of accomplishing, Pañc. i. d. 8. 4. Wealth. 5. A part of an army, Utt. Rāmac. 39, 12. 6. Instrument. 7. Cause, efficient cause, Man. 11, 237; source of prosperity, Man. 12, 100. 8. Subduing by charms, Pañc. 241, 2. 9. Killing, destroying, Kir. 14, 17. 10. Obsequies. 11. Authority. 12. Proof, substantiation. 13. The hetu or middle term in an inference. 14. Enforce- ment of the delivery of anything, of payment, especially juridically, Da- śak. in Chr. 180, 20; 185, 21. 15. Medi- cament, drug. 16. Matter, materials, that of which anything is composed. 17. Substance, thing. 18. The penis, Sāh. D. 212, 19. 19. Going. 20. Fol- lowing, profit, Pañc. 86, 24. 21. Good works, Windischmann, Sankara, 97. 22. Friendship. — Comp. A-, adj. having no means, Hit. i. d. 1, M.M. Tri-, adj., f. nā, having a threefold origin, Ragh. Page1033-b+ 40 3, 13 (viz. majesty, perseverance, and counsel). Mantra-, n. a magical per- formance, Lass. 3, 16 ( ghora-, dele' before ghora ). Lekhana-, n. writing materials, Śāk. 37, 9 ( Prākṛ. ). Sādhya-, n. effecting what is to be done, Hit. iv. d. 98. Siddha-, I. m. white mustard. II. n. 1. the performance of magical rites. 2. the materials employed in magical or alchemical processes. [ ID=15994 ]

### Adjective: Effecting / Guiding / Procuring (8 definitions)
- leading straight to a goal  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 1201,1] साधन (sādhana) mf( ई (ī) or आ (ā) )n. leading straight to a goal, guiding well, furthering, RV. [ ID=241522 ]
- effective, efficient  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > effective, efficient, productive of ( comp. ), MBh.; Kāv. &c. [ ID=241523 ]
- procuring  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > procuring, Kāv. [ ID=241524 ]
- Accomplishing or effecting  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > साधन (sādhana) [Printed book page 1115-a ] साधन (sādhana) a. ( नी (nī) f. ) [ साध् णिच् ल्यु (sādh ṇic lyu) ल्युद् वा (lyud vā) ] Accomplishing, effecting &c
- 1. Directing to the goal or guiding. 2. Procuring or securing. 3. Conjuring up. 4. Expressive of or designating. 5. Subduing or vanquishing. 6. Gaining power over by spells or summoning. 7. Accomplishing, performing, or fulfilling. 8. Preparing food. 9. Procuring, acquiring, or attaining. 10. Recovering a debt. 11. Demonstrating or proving. 12. Serving as an expedient, means, instrument, or requisite. 13. An army or forces. 14. Fighting. 15. Result.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > साधन (sādhana) [Printed book page 346-1 ] साधन (sādhana) sādh-ana, a. ( ā, ī ) RV. : directing to the goal, guiding; C. : procuring, securing ( —° ); conjuring up ( a spirit, —° ); expressive of, designating ( —° ); n. subduing, vanquishing; gaining power over by spells, summoning ( spirits, deities ); carrying out, effecting, accomplishment, performance, fulfilment ( common mg. ); preparation ( of food ); procurement; acquirement, attainment (of, g., —° ); recovery ( of a debt ); demonstration; expedient, means, instrument, requisite, for ( g., —°; ord. mg. ); army, forces ( sg., pl. ); fight; proof; result; nominal notion ( opp. action ), sp. as subject or instrumental ( gr. ); affix between root and personal termination Page346-2 (= vikaraṇa, gr. ): -kṣama, a. capable of proof; -tā, f. state of being the means for ( —° ); -tva, n. id. ( g., prati, —° ); effectiveness; state of being the proof; -vat, a. supplied with proofs; -adhyakṣa, m. commander-in-chief of the forces. [ ID=19182 ]
- Effecting  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > साधन (sādhana) [Printed book page 771-18 ] साधन (sādhana) (I) a. (f. नी (nī) ) Effecting. [ ID=40384 ]
- 1. Leading to the aim, producing, or procuring. 2. Effective or capable. 3. Subduing, mastering, accomplishing, or effecting. 4. Acquiring or recovering. 5. Proving, evincing, or arguing with evidence. 6. A means, expedient, or requisite. 7. Military force. 8. Result or consequence.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > साधन (sādhana) [Printed book page 612 ] साधन (sādhana) f. ई (ī) & आ (ā) leading to the aim, effecting, producing, procuring ( gen. or —°); effective, capable. — n. subduing, mastering, accomplishing, effecting; getting, acquiring, recovering (debts); proving, evincing, argument, evidence; means, expedient, requisite; military force; result, consequence. Abstr. ° ता (°tā) † f., ° त्व (°tva) † n. [ ID=36524 ]
- 1. Effecting or bringing about. 2. A perfecter. 3. The act of accomplishing or performing. 4. Accomplishment or completion. 5. A means of obtaining or an expedient. 6. An efficient cause or source. 7. An instrument or agent. 8. The instrumental case in grammar. 9. A bodily organ, specifically the penis or an udder. 10. An implement, utensil, or apparatus. 11. Matter, materials, or substance. 12. A medicinal preparation or drug. 13. Military apparatus, force, or army. 14. Aid, assistance, or an assistant. 15. Proof or demonstration. 16. A reason or premise leading to a conclusion. 17. Accomplishing anything by magic or incantations. 18. Enforcement of payment or infliction of a fine. 19. Good works, penance, or moral and ceremonial duties. 20. Wealth. 21. Advantage or profit. 22. Friendship. 23. Subduing or overcoming. 24. Worshipping or propitiating. 25. Killing or destroying. 26. Burning on the funeral pile or obsequies. 27. Setting out or going quickly.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > साधन (sādhana) [Printed book page 1104-c ] Sādhana, as, ī, am, effecting; a perfecter; ( as ), m., N. of the author of Ṛg-veda X. 157; ( am ), n. the Page1105-a+ 81 act of accomplishing, effecting, performing; settling; accomplishment, completion, complete attainment of any object; a means of accomplishing or effecting, means of obtaining, means or expedient (in general); efficient cause, source, cause (in general); an instru- ment, agent; the instrumental case (in grammar); a bodily organ; the penis; an udder; an implement, utensil, apparatus; matter, materials, ingredient, sub- stance; a medicinal preparation, drug, medicine; a component part of an army, any military apparatus, force, army; aid, assistance, an assistant; substanti- ation, proof, establishment of the truth, demonstra- tion; a reason or premise leading to a conclusion, middle term or Hetu in a syllogism ( = vyāpya, q. v.); accomplishing anything by magic or incanta- tions, magic; enforcement of payment or settlement (of a debt), compelling the delivery of anything, infliction of a fine (in law); good works, penance, self-mortification, the observance of moral and cere- monial duties, attainment of beatitude; wealth; advantage, profit; friendship; the act of subduing, overcoming; subduing by charms, stupefying, fasci- nating; conciliating, propitiating, worshipping; kill- ing, destroying; killing metals, depriving them by oxydation &c. of their metallic properties (especially said of mercury); burning on the funeral pile, ob- sequies; setting out, proceeding, going; going quickly; going after, following. —Sādhana-kriyā, f. (in Pāṇini) an action connected with a Kāraka; a finite verb; a Kṛd-anta affix. —Sādhana-catuṣṭaya, am, n. four kinds of proof (in phil.). —Sādhana- tā, f. or sādhana-tva, am, n. being a means of attaining (e. g. dharmasya tattva-jñānādi-sādha- natve kim mānam, what proof is there of merit being the means of attaining to the knowledge of the truth?); the state of perfection. —Sādhana- nirdeśa, as, m. the production of proof (in law); the indication of premises leading to a conclusion. —Sādhana-pañcaka, am, n., N. of five stanzas giving rules for the attainment of Pra-śānti or qui- escence. —Sādhana-pattra, am, n. any written document used as evidence or proof. —Sādhana- rūpin, ī, iṇī, i, having the form of an instrument, having the form or character of a means or expe- dient. —Sādhanārha (°na-ar°), as, ā, am, worthy of being accomplished. —Sādhanāvyāpaka (°na- av°), as, ā, am, (in logic) not invariably attending on the proof. —Sādhanāvyāpaka-tā, f. or sā- dhanāvyāpaka-tva, am, n. non-invariable attend- ance on the proof or on what is brought forward in proof. [ ID=51820 ]

### Means / Instrument / Aid (6 definitions)
- any means, instrument, or expedient for accomplishing something  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > any means of effecting or accomplishing, any agent or instrument or implement or utensil or apparatus, an expedient, requisite for ( gen. or comp. ), Mn.; R. &c. [ ID=241537 ]
- means of correcting or punishing  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > means of correcting or punishing (as ‘a stick’, ‘rod’ &c.), TBr., Sch. [ ID=241541 ]
- A means or expedient for accomplishing anything.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 3 A means, an expedient, a means of accomplishing anything; शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्मसाधनं (naṃ) (śarīramādyaṃ khalu dharmasādhanaṃ) Kumārasambhava (Bombay) 5. 33, 52; Raghuvaṃśa (Bombay) 1. 19. 4. 36, 62
- An instrument or agent  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 4 An instrument, agent; कुठारः (kuṭhāraḥ) छिदिक्रियासाधनम् (chidikriyāsādhanam)
- Implement, apparatus  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 7 Implement, apparatus
- Aid, help, or assistance  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 11 Aid, help, assistance (in general)

### Magical Acts / Conjuring / Enchantment (5 definitions)
- conjuring up a spirit  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > conjuring up (a spirit), Kathās. [ ID=241525 ]
- subduing by charms or summoning spirits  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > साधन (sādhana) n. subduing by charms, conjuring up, summoning (spirits &c.), MBh.; Kathās. [ ID=241531 ]
- a means of summoning or conjuring up a spirit or deity  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a means of summoning or conjuring up a spirit (or deity), Kālac. [ ID=241538 ]
- Subduing by charms.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 15 Subduing by charms
- Accomplishing anything by charms or magic  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 16 Accomplishing anything by charms or magic

### Wealth / Profit / Gain / Goods / Result (5 definitions)
- means of enjoyment or goods  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > means of enjoyment, goods, commodities &c., R. [ ID=241542 ]
- obtaining, procuring, or acquisition  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > obtaining, procuring, gain, acquisition, Kāv.; BhP. [ ID=241547 ]
- fruit or result  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > fruit, result, Pañcat. [ ID=241549 ]
- Wealth.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 29 Wealth
- Profit, advantage  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 31 Profit, advantage

### Bodily Organs (4 definitions)
- organ of generation  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > organ of generation (male or female), Sah. [ ID=241544 ]
- A bodily organ.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 26 A bodily organ
- The penis  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 27 The penis
- An udder  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 28 An udder

### Grammatical / Linguistic Term (4 definitions)
- denoting, designating, or expressive of  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > denoting, designating, expressive of ( comp. ), Pāṇ., Sch. [ ID=241526 ]
- in grammar, the sense of the instrumental or agent  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in gram. ) the sense of the instrumental or agent (as expressed by the case of a noun, opp. to the action itself), Pat. [ ID=241545 ]
- the conjugational affix or suffix placed between the root and terminations  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the conjugational affix or suffix which is placed between the root and terminations (= वीहरण (vīharaṇa), q.v. ), Pāṇini (Author) viii, 4, 30, Vārtt. 1 [ ID=241550 ]
- The instrumental case.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 6 The instrumental case

### Proof / Evidence / Logical Premise (4 definitions)
- Proof, demonstration, or establishment of a truth.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > establishment of a truth, proof, argument, demonstration, Yājñ.; Sāh.; Sarvad. [ ID=241535 ]
- reason or premiss leading to a conclusion  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > reason or premiss (in a syllogism, leading to a conclusion), Mudrārākṣasa (Title) v, 10 [ ID=241536 ]
- Proof or demonstration  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 12 Proof, substantiation, demonstration
- The middle term in a syllogism or reason that leads to a conclusion  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 13 The hetu or middle term in a syllogism, reason, that which leads to a conclusion; साध्ये निश्चितमन्वयेन घटितं बिभ्रत्सपक्षे (sādhye niścitamanvayena ghaṭitaṃ bibhratsapakṣe) स्थितिं व्यावृत्तं च विपक्षतो भवति (sthitiṃ vyāvṛttaṃ ca vipakṣato bhavati) यत्तत्साधनं (naṃ) सिद्धये (yattatsādhanaṃ siddhaye) Mudrārākṣasa (Bombay) 5. 10

### Spiritual Practices / Rites / Liberation (4 definitions)
- Penance, self-mortification  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 22 Penance, self-mortification
- Attainment of final beatitude  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 23 Attainment of final beatitude
- Burning a dead body  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 32 Burning a dead body
- Obsequies  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 33 Obsequies

### Army / Military Force / Warfare (3 definitions)
- military forces or warfare materials  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > means or materials of warfare, military forces, army or portion of an army ( sg. and pl. ), Hariv.; Uttar.; Rājat. [ ID=241539 ]
- conflict or battle  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > conflict, battle, Śiś. [ ID=241540 ]
- An army or a part thereof  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 10 An army or a part thereof; Mudrārākṣasa (Bombay) 5. 10

### Healing / Curing / Medicine (3 definitions)
- healing or cure  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > subduing a disease, healing, cure, Suśr.; MBh. &c. [ ID=241532 ]
- Healing, curing.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 17 Healing, curing
- A medicinal preparation, drug, or medicine.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 24 A medicinal preparation, drug, medicine

### Materials / Substance / Ingredients (3 definitions)
- 1. Matter, material, or medicine. 2. Good works, penance, or worship. 3. Killing or destroying, including the oxidization of metals. 4. Funeral rites. 5. Setting out, proceeding, or following.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (only L. ‘matter, material, substance, ingredient, drug, medicine; good works, penance, self-mortification, attainment of beatitude; conciliation, propitiation, worship; killing, destroying; killing metals, depriving them by oxydation &c. of their metallic properties [ esp. said of mercury]; burning on a funeral pile, obsequies; setting out, proceeding, going; going quickly; going after, following’) [ ID=241551 ]
- Appliance, materials  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 8 Appliance, materials
- Matter, ingredients, substance  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 9 Matter, ingredients, substance

### Appeasement / Propitiation / Worship (2 definitions)
- propitiation, worship, adoration  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > propitiation, worship, adoration, L. [ ID=241529 ]
- Conciliating, propitiating, winning over  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 19 Conciliating, propitiating, winning over

### Cause / Source (2 definitions)
- efficient cause or source  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > efficient cause or source (in general), L. [ ID=241543 ]
- The efficient cause or source  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 5 The efficient cause, source, cause in general

### Legal Enforcement / Recovery of Dues (2 definitions)
- enforcing payment or recovery of a debt  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > enforcing payment or recovery (of a debt), Daś. [ ID=241533 ]
- Enforcement of the delivery of anything, payment of debt, or infliction of fine  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 25 (In law) Enforcement of the delivery of anything, or of the payment of debt, infliction of fine

### Movement / Proceeding / Following (2 definitions)
- Going out, setting forward, departure  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 20 Going out, setting forward, departure
- Going after, following  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 21 Going after, following

### Subduing / Overcoming / Mastering (2 definitions)
- the act of subduing or mastering  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2B) [Printed book page 1201,1] साधन (sādhana) ( अम् (am) ), n. ( ifc. f( आ (ā) ). ) the act of mastering, overpowering, subduing, Kir.; Pañcat. [ ID=241530 ]
- Subduing, overcoming  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 14 Subduing, overcoming

### Friendship (1 definition)
- Friendship  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 30 Friendship

### Killing / Destruction / Metal Treatment (1 definition)
- Killing, destroying  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > — नं (naṃ) 18 Killing, destroying; फलं च तस्य प्रतिसाधनं (naṃ) (phalaṃ ca tasya pratisādhanaṃ) Kirātārjunīya 14. 17

### Proper Noun (Name) (1 definition)
- the author of Rigveda 10.157  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > साधन (sādhana) m. N. of the author of Ṛg-veda (Title) x, 157 (having the patr. भौवन (bhauvana) ), Anukr. [ ID=241527 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; 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