# समय (samaya)

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

समय (samaya) is a Sanskrit word meaning to level or regulate, a meeting or meeting place, intercourse with, an established custom, law, rule, or practice, order, direction, precept, doctrine, the conventional meaning or scope of a word. Its 33 recorded definitions are grouped into 12 contexts, among them Agreement, Convention, Rule, Custom, Doctrine, Proper Name (Person, Deity, Role), Time, Occasion, Circumstance.

- **Roots:** इ (i), पद् (pad), वद् (vad), त्यज् (tyaj), दा (dā), स्था (sthā), विश् (viś), धा (dhā), रक्ष् (rakṣ), ग्रह् (grah), भ्रंश् (bhraṃś), पाल् (pāl), चर् (car), कृ (kṛ), वच् (vac), ब्रू (brū), भिद् (bhid)
- **Etymology:** E. स for सम with, मी to mete, to measure, aff. अच्, or सम alike, इण् to go, aff. अच् — E. sa for sama with, mī to mete, to measure, aff. ac, or sama alike, iṇ to go, aff. ac
- **SLP1:** `samaya`  **IAST:** samaya  **Devanagari:** समय
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaya
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/samaya/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** सामय (sāmaya), समाया (samāyā), समाय (samāya), समया (samayā)

## Meanings by context

### Agreement, Convention, Rule, Custom, Doctrine (13 definitions)
- an agreement, compact, covenant, treaty, contract, or arrangement  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > coming to a mutual understanding, agreement, compact, covenant, treaty, contract, arrangement, engagement, stipulation, conditions of agreement, terms ( एन (ena) or आत् (āt) or - तस् (-tas), ‘according to agreement, conditionally’; तेन समयेन (tena samayena), ‘in consequence of this agreement’; समयं (samayaṃ) acc. with √ कृ (kṛ), ‘to make an agreement or engagement’, ‘agree with any one [ instr. with or without सह (saha) ]’, ‘settle’, ‘stipulate’; with सम् (sam) √ वद् (√vad) id.; with √ दा (dā), ‘to propose an agreement, offer terms’; with √ ब्रू (brū) or √ वच् (vac) or अभि - (abhi-) √ धा (√dhā), ‘to state the terms of an agr° ’, ‘make a promise’; with √ ग्रह् (grah) or प्रति - (prati-) √ पद् (√pad), ‘to enter into an agr° ’, ‘make or accept conditions of an agr° ’; with √ पाल् (pāl), or √ रक्ष् (rakṣ) or परि - (pari-) √ रक्ष् (rakṣ) (√rakṣ) &c., ‘to keep an agr° ’, ‘keep one's word’; with √ त्यज् (tyaj) or √ भिद् (bhid) or व्य् - अभि - (abhi-) (vy-abhi-) √ चर् (√car) &c., ‘to break an agr° ’; abl. with √ भ्रंश् (bhraṃś) id.; loc. with √ स्था (sthā), ‘to keep an engagement’, ‘keep one's word’; acc. with Caus. of √ स्था (sthā) or of नि - (ni-) √ विश् (√viś) ‘to fix or settle terms’, ‘impose conditions’), TS. &c. &c. [ ID=234794 ]
- An established custom, law, rule, or practice  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > convention, conventional rule or usage, established custom, law, rule, practice, observance, MBh.; R.; BhP. [ ID=234795 ]
- order, direction, precept, doctrine  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > order, direction, precept, doctrine, Nir.; MBh.; Śaṃk.; Sarvad. [ ID=234796 ]
- the conventional meaning or scope of a word  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in rhet. ) the conventional meaning or scope of a word, Kusum. [ ID=234797 ]
- 1. Coming together or place of meeting. 2. Agreement, compact, contract, engagement, or treaty. 3. Condition or intercourse. 4. Appointed or proper time, season, opportunity, or occasion. 5. Circumstances or case. 6. Convention, practice, usage, rule, ordinance, precept, doctrine, or conventional meaning.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > समय (samaya) [Printed book page 336-1 ] समय (samaya) sam-ayá, m. V. : coming together, place of meeting; V., C. : agreement, compact, contract, engagement (regarding, —° ); C. : treaty; condition; intercourse with ( in. ); appointed or proper time, for ( g. ); juncture, time, season; opportunity, occasion; (concurrence Page336-2 of) circumstances, case; convention, general practice, usage, rule; ordinance, precept, doctrine; conventional meaning or scope of a word : -ṃ kṛ, make an agreement or compact, with ( in. ± saha); -ṃ dā, offer terms, propose an agreement; -ṃ grah or prati-pad, enter into an agreement, accept a condition; -ṃ rakṣ, observe an agreement, keep oneʼs word; -ṃ vi-laṅghaya, break an agreement, break oneʼs word; -ṃ brū, vac, abhi-dhā, state oneʼs conditions; -ṃ saṃ-vad, make an agreement; -ṃ sthāpaya, fix, settle; in. samayena, according to agreement; conditionally: tena —, in consequence of this agreement; ab. samayāt ( also -tas ), in accordance with an agreement; conditionally: - bhraṃś, lapse from = break, an agreement; lc. samaye ( also °— ), at the appointed or right time, when the time has come; at the time when — is there ( —° ): iha —, in this case, under such circumstances; — -sthā, keep oneʼs engagement or word; -sthāpaya, determine with regard to any one ( ac. ); make an arrangement; -ni-veśaya, impose conditions on ( ac. ). [ ID=18839 ]
- 1. Time. 2. Oath or affirmation by ordeal. 3. Established custom. 4. Demonstrated conclusion. 5. Agreement or contract. 6. Engagement or appointment. 7. Order or instruction. 8. Sign or hint. 9. Religious obligation. 10. Leisure or opportunity. 11. Proper season or time. 12. Speech. 13. Limit. 14. End of trouble.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > स (sa) म (sama) य (samaya) [Printed book page 894 ] स (sa) म (sama) य (samaya) m. ( - यः (-yaḥ) ) 1 Time. 2 Oath, affirmation by oath or ordeal. 3 Established moral or ceremonial custom. 4 Demonstrated conclusion. 5 Agreement, covenant, contract, bargain. 6 Engagement, appointment. 7 Order, instruction. 8 Sign, hint, indication. 9 Religious obligation or observance. 10 Leisure, interval, opportunity. 11 Season, fit or proper time for any thing. 12 Speech, declaration. 13 Limit, boundary. 14 End of trouble or distress, (in dramatic action.) E. स (sa) for स (sa) म (sama) with, मी (mī) to mete, to measure, aff. अच् (ac), or स (sa) म (sama) alike, इण् (iṇ) to go, aff. अच् (ac). [ ID=40530 ]
- 1. Convention, agreement, treaty, or contract. 2. Engagement or appointment. 3. Religious obligation. 4. A moral rule or ceremonial custom. 5. Law. 6. Condition or stipulation. 7. Order or instruction. 8. An oath. 9. A sign, hint, or indication. 10. Time in general or the proper season. 11. Opportunity or leisure. 12. Limit or boundary. 13. A demonstrated conclusion. 14. An end or termination. 15. Success or prosperity. 16. A poetical conventionality.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > समय (samaya) [Printed book page 758-02 ] समय (samaya) m. 1. Convention; 2. agreement, treaty, contract, bargain, न समय (samaya) परिरक्षणं क्षमंते (na samayaparirakṣaṇaṃ kṣamaṃte) Kir. i.45; 3. engagement, appointment; 4. religious obligation; 5. an established moral rule or ceremonial custom, e.g. पतिव्रतानां समय (samaya) ानुरोधिनी (pativratānāṃ samayānurodhinī); 6. rule, law, M. ix.273; 7. condition, stipulation; 8. order, instruction; 9. oath; 10. sign, hint, indication; 11. time in general; 12. the proper time for anything, season; 13. opportunity, leizure; 14. limit, boundary; 15. demonstrated conclusion; 16. precept, instruction; 17. end, conclusion, termination; 18. success, prosperity; 19. poetical conventionality, (e.g. the dance of peacocks on the appearance of clouds). [ ID=39714 ]
- 1. Time 2. Oath 3. Custom or rule 4. Demonstrated conclusion 5. Agreement or contract 6. Appointment 7. Order or instruction 8. Sign or hint 9. Religious observance 10. Leisure or opportunity 11. Season 12. Speech 13. Limit 14. End of trouble 15. Conclusion 16. Convention 17. Poetical conventionality 18. Success 19. Condition  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > स (sa) म (sama) य (samaya) [Printed book page 761-b ] स (sa) म (sama) य (samaya) m. ( - यः (-yaḥ) ) 1. Time. 2. Oath, affirmation by oath or ordeal. 3. An established moral or ceremonial custom, rule, law. 4. Demonstrated conclusion. 5. Agreement, covenant, contract, bargain. 6. Engagement, appointment. 7. Order, precept, instruction. 8. Sign, hint, indication. 9. Religious obligation or observance. 10. Leisure, interval, opportunity. 11. Season, fit or proper time for anything. 12. Speech, declaration. 13. Limit, boundary. 14. End of trouble or distress, (in dramatic action.) 15. End, conclusion, termination. 16. Convention. 17. Poetical conventionality, (as the dance of peacocks on the appearance of clouds.) 18. Success, prosperity. 19. Condition, stipulation. E. स (sa) for स (sa) म (sama) with, मी (mī) to mete, to measure, aff. अच्; (ac;) or स (sa) म (sama) alike, इण् (iṇ) to go, aff. अच् । (ac.) [ ID=42551 ]
- 1. Agreement, treaty, contract, or bargain. 2. Engagement or appointment. 3. Religious obligation. 4. Established custom or rule. 5. Law. 6. Condition. 7. Order or instruction. 8. Oath. 9. Sign or indication. 10. Proper time or season. 11. Opportunity or leisure. 12. Time. 13. Limit or boundary. 14. Demonstrated conclusion.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > समय (samaya) [Printed book page 1009-b ] समय (samaya) samaya, i. e. sam-i + a, m. 1. Agreement, Pañc. 193, 13; treaty, Pañc. 24, 25; contract, bargain. 2. Engagement, Chr. 58, 2; appointment. 3. Religious obligation, Böhtl. Ind. Spr. 304. 4. Established moral or ceremonial custom, Chr. 19, 4. 5. Rule, Man. 9, 273; law, Hit. ii. d. 45, M.M. 6. Condition, Nal. 13, 67. 7. Order, in- struction. 8. Oath, Sāv. 4, 17. 9. Sign, hint, indication. 10. Proper time for anything, season, Kir. 2, 28. 11. Opportunity, leisure. 12. Time, Vikr. 56, 1; Pañc. 229, 10. 13. Same time, Chr. 7, 15. 14. Limit, boundary. 15. Demonstrated conclusion, and con- clusion in general, Daśak. in Chr. 180, 8. — Comp.. Ṛtu-, m. season proper for conception, Pañc. 74, 18. Yathā-sa- maya + m, adv. according to established custom, Johns. Sel. 10, 20. Lagna-, m. auspicious time, Pañc. 129, 16. [ ID=15582 ]
- 1. A meeting or meeting place. 2. Intercourse. 3. An agreement, convention, contract, obligation, or condition. 4. A trial or ordeal. 5. A fixed time, season, or occasion. 6. A case, occurrence, or circumstance. 7. A rule, norm, or doctrine. 8. A custom or usage.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > समय (samaya) [Printed book page 591 ] समय (samaya) m. meeting or place of meeting, intercourse with ( instr. ), agreement, convention, contract, obligation, condition; trial, ordeal, (a fixed) point of time, i.g. time, season, occasion; case, occurrence, circumstance; rule, norm, doctrine; custom, usage. [ ID=35158 ]
- 1. An agreement. 2. A point of time, season, or occasion. 3. A concurrence of circumstances.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > समय (samaya) [Printed book page 267-b ] samayá, m. —1. (a coming together, i. e., like Eng. con-vention) agreement; —2. ( like Eng. juncture) a point of time; and so time or season, 49 16; occasion; —3. a con-currence (of circumstances), i. e. a case— see iha. [ √i + sam. ] [ ID=4442 ]
- 1. Coming together, convention, or mutual understanding. 2. An agreement, compact, contract, or appointment. 3. A stipulation or condition. 4. An oath. 5. A fit time, opportunity, or emergency. 6. Established custom, law, or rule. 7. An order, instruction, or declaration. 8. A sign or indication. 9. Termination or limit. 10. Success or prosperity.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > [Printed book page 1076-c ] Sam-aya, as, m. coming together, convention, coming to a mutual understanding, agreement, com- pact, covenant, treaty, contract, bargain, engage- ment, appointment; stipulation, condition; oath; concurrence of circumstances, juncture, fit or proper time, right moment, opportunity, occasion, season, time, emergency, exigency; leisure; conventional rule or usage, established custom, law, rule, regulation, regu- lar observance, religious obligation; order, direction, precept, instruction, affirmation, declaration; sign, hint, indication; coming to an end, conclusion, ter- mination; limit, boundary; demonstrated conclusion; end of trouble or distress; success, prosperity; poetī- cal idiom or conventionality (in rhetoric); ( ena ), ind. according to agreement, on condition, con- ditionally. —Samaya-kāra, as, m. making an agreement or appointment or engagement, fixing a time. —Samaya-kriyā, f. making an agreement or compact. —Samaya-parirakṣaṇa, am, n. the observance of a compact or agreement. —Samaya- prakāśa, as, m., N. of a work. —Samaya-pra- dīpa, as, m., N. of a work by Śrī-datta. —Samaya- bheda, as, m. breaking an agreement. —Samaya- bhedin, ī, inī, i, a promise-breaker, breaking an agreement, violating an engagement. —Samaya- vyabhicāra, as, m. transgression or violation of a compact, breaking an agreement. —Samaya-vya- bhicārin, ī, iṇī, i, transgressing a compact, violating an engagement. —Samaya-setu-vārita, as, ā, am, restrained by the barrier of the rules of decorum. —Samayācāra (°ya-āc°), as, m. conventional practice or usage; [cf. sāmayācārika. ] —Samayā- tantra, am, n., N. of a Tantra work. —Samayā- dhyuṣita (°ya-adh°), am, n. a time at which neither stars nor sun are visible. —Samayānuvartin (°ya-an°), ī, inī, i, following established rules, ob- servant of duties. —Samayānusāreṇa (°ya-an°), ind. according to the occasion, suitably to the time or season. —Samayocita (°ya-uc°), as, ā, am, suited to the occasion or time, suitable to an emer- gency, seasonable, timely, opportune; ( am ), ind. suitably to the occasion, as the occasion demands. —Samayoddyota (°ya-ud°), N. of a work by Hemādri. —Samayollaṅghita-tva (°ya-ul°), am, n. the overleaping or violating of contracts or agree- ments. [ ID=50202 ]
- an agreement  
  *The Purana Index*
  > समय (samaya) [Printed book page 3-537 ] Samaya (I) — an agreement; 1 of Sagara with conquered chiefs; 2 broken by Devas. 3 [ Footnote: 1) Br. II. 26. 26: 35. 16: 36. 135: III. 48. 41. Vā. 55. 25: 88. 138: 91. 12: 96. 59: 100. 52.] [ Footnote: 2) Br. III. 48. 46.] [ Footnote: 3) Ib. III. 66. 12-13: 72. 126.] [ ID=15383 ]

### Proper Name (Person, Deity, Role) (4 definitions)
- Name of a son of Dharma  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a son of Dharma, VP. [ ID=234807 ]
- name of the author of a Mantra  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (with Śāktas) N. of the author of a Mantra, Cat. [ ID=234808 ]
- a son of Kriya  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Samaya (II) — a son of Kriyā. Vā. 10. 35. [ ID=15384 ]
- a deva  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Samaya (III) — a deva. Vā. 31. 7. [ ID=15385 ]

### Time, Occasion, Circumstance (4 definitions)
- The right moment, opportunity, occasion, time, or season.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > appointed or proper time, right moment for doing anything ( gen. or Pot. Pāṇini (Author) iii, 3, 68 ), opportunity, occasion, time, season ( ifc. or ibc. or ° ये (°ye) ind., ‘at the appointed time or at the right moment or in good time for’, or ‘at the time of’, ‘when there is’; तेन समयेन (tena samayena), ‘at that time’), MBh.; Kāv. &c. [ ID=234798 ]
- juncture, circumstances, or case  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > juncture, circumstances, case ( इह समये (iha samaye), ‘under these circumstances’, ‘in this case’), Pañcat.; Hit. [ ID=234799 ]
- at the right moment or time  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2C) [Printed book page 1164,1] सम् - अये (sam-aye) ind., ‘at the appointed time or at the right moment or in good time for’, or ‘at the time of’, ‘when there is’ [ ID=234808.1 ]
- 1. Apportioned time, season, or opportunity. 2. Prescribed mode, order, or observance. 3. Agreement, oath, or limit. 4. Declaration or end of trouble.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > समय (samaya) [Printed book page 815-a ] समय (samaya) ( यः ) ((yaḥ)) 1. m. Apportioned time; prescribed mode; the time, season; opportunity, leisure, engagement; agreement; order; observance; oath; limit; end of trouble; declaration. [ ID=40243 ]

### Cross-reference or Etymological Note (2 definitions)
- See page 1164  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 1156,3] सम् - अय (sam-aya) a &c. See p. 1164, col. 1. [ ID=233741 ]
- See under sam-i.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > समय (samaya) [Printed book page 1070-a ] समय (samaya) sam-aya, sam-āya, &c. See under 1. sam-i, p. 1076. [ ID=49769 ]

### Meeting, Assembly, Intercourse (2 definitions)
- A meeting or meeting place.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 1164,1] 2. सम् - अय (sam-aya) m. ( ifc. f( आ (ā) ). ) coming together, meeting or a place of meeting, AV.; ŚBr. [ ID=234792 ]
- intercourse with  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > intercourse with ( instr. ), Manu-smṛti (Title) x, 53 [ ID=234793 ]

### Speech, Declaration, (Demonstrated) Conclusion (2 definitions)
- demonstrated conclusion  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > demonstrated conclusion, ib. [ ID=234802 ]
- A solemn address, harangue, speech, or declaration.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > solemn address, harangue, speech, declaration, Viṣṇ. [ ID=234804 ]

### End, Conclusion, Resolution of Trouble (1 definition)
- in drama, the end of trouble or distress  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in dram. ) end of trouble or distress, Bhar.; Daśar.; Sāh. [ ID=234806 ]

### Grammatical or Textual Reference (1 definition)
- a Vedic passage that repeats another  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in gram. ) a Vedic passage which is the repetition of another one, RPrāt. [ ID=234805 ]

### Limit, Boundary (1 definition)
- limit, boundary  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > limit, boundary, ib. [ ID=234803 ]

### Ordeal, Trial (1 definition)
- an ordeal  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an ordeal, Viṣṇ. [ ID=234800 ]

### Sign, Hint, Indication (1 definition)
- sign, hint, or indication  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > sign, hint, indication, W. [ ID=234801 ]

### Verb: To Level, Regulate (1 definition)
- To level or regulate  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 1153,2] 1. समय (samaya) P. ° यति (°yati) (for 2. See सम् - (sam-) √ इ (√i) ), to level, regulate, L. [ ID=233271 ]

## 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; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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