# सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra)

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

सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra) is a Sanskrit word meaning one of the twelve emperors of India according to the Jainas, one of the four sons of Brahma, the eternal youth, name of a sage, one of the sons of Brahma and a progenitor of mankind, one of the twelve emperors of India in Jain tradition, a sage and son of Brahma. Its 11 recorded definitions are grouped into 5 contexts, among them Son of Brahmā, Progenitor, one of the Kumāras, Eternally Youthful Sage and Son of Brahmā, Roles in Epics and Puranas (Primary Sanatkumāra).

- **Etymology:** E. सनत् always, कुमार a youth: i. e. continent; retaining the purity of that age, or being devoid of human passion; otherwise, सनत् BRAHMĀ, and कुमार son — E. sanat always, kumāra a youth: i. e. continent; retaining the purity of that age, or being devoid of human passion; otherwise, sanat BRAHMĀ, and kumāra son
- **SLP1:** `sanatkumAra`  **IAST:** sanatkumāra  **Devanagari:** सनत्कुमार
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanatkumara
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/sanatkumara/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** सानत्कुमार (sānatkumāra)

## Meanings by context

### Son of Brahmā, Progenitor, one of the Kumāras (4 definitions)
- 1. One of the four sons of Brahma and eldest progenitor of mankind. 2. One of the twelve emperors of India according to the Jainas.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > सनत् (sanat) कुमार (kumāra) (sanatkumāra) [Printed book page 887 ] सनत् (sanat) कुमार (kumāra) (sanatkumāra) m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) 1 One of the four sons of BRAHMĀ, and eldest of the progenitors of mankind. 2 One of the twelve emperors of India according to the Jainas. E. सनत् (sanat) always, कुमार (kumāra) a youth: i. e. continent; retaining the purity of that age, or being devoid of human passion; otherwise, सनत् (sanat) BRAHMĀ, and कुमार (kumāra) son. [ ID=40238 ]
- 1. One of the four sons of Brahma. 2. One of the twelve emperors of India according to the Jainas.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra) [Printed book page 808-a ] सन - त्कुमार (sana-tkumāra) ( रः ) ((raḥ)) 1. m. One of the four sons of Brahmā; one of the twelve emperors of India according to the Jainas. [ ID=39937 ]
- one of the four sons of Brahman  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra) [Printed book page 752-24 ] सनत् - कुमार (sanat-kumāra) m. one of the four sons of Brahman (m.). [ ID=39478 ]
- 1. One of the sons of Brahma and a progenitor of mankind. 2. One of the twelve emperors of India in Jain tradition.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > सनत् (sanat) कुमार (kumāra) (sanatkumāra) [Printed book page 755-b ] सनत् (sanat) कुमार (kumāra) (sanatkumāra) m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) 1. One of the four sons of BRAHMĀ, and eldest of the progenitors of mankind. 2. One of the twelve emperors of India according to the Jainas. E. सनत् (sanat) always, कुमार (kumāra) a youth: i. e. continent; retaining the purity of that age, or being devoid of human passion; otherwise, सनत् (sanat) BRAHMĀ, and कुसार (kusāra) son. [ ID=42229 ]

### Eternally Youthful Sage and Son of Brahmā (3 definitions)
- Name of one of the mind-born sons of Brahma, known for eternal youth  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 1141,1] सनत् (sanat) — कुमार (—kumāra) m. ‘always a youth’ or ‘son of Brahmā’, N. of one of the four or seven sons of Brahmā ( cf. सनक (sanaka); he is said to be the oldest of the progenitors of mankind [= वैधात्र (vaidhātra), q.v. ], and sometimes identified with Skanda and Pradyumna, he is also the supposed author of an Upa-purāṇa and other works; with Jainas he is one of the 12 Sārvabhaumas or Cakravartins [emperors of India]; the N. of Sanat-kumāra is sometimes given to any great saint who retains youthful purity), ChUp.; MBh.; Hariv. &c. [ ID=231069 ]
- Name of a Rishi who is considered a spiritual son of Brahma and identified with Skanda and Pradyumna.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra) [Printed book page 333-1 ] सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra) sanat-kumāra, m. (the eternal youth) N. of a Ṛṣi accounted one of the spiritual sons of Brahman and identified with Skanda and Pradyumna. [ ID=18708 ]
- the eternal youth, name of a sage  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra) [Printed book page 584 ] सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra) m. the eternal youth, N. of a Ṛṣi. [ ID=34677 ]

### Roles in Epics and Puranas (Primary Sanatkumāra) (2 definitions)
- A sage and son of Brahma  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra) [Printed book page 615-1 ] Sanatkumāra, a ṛṣi, son of Brahmán. § 132 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 67, 2786 (incarnate as Pradyumna).—§ 140 (Purūravas): I, 75, 3146 (came from Brahmaloka to give Purūravas counsel which was rejected).—§ 270 (Brahmasabhāv.): II, 11, 441 ( yogācāryaḥ, in the palace of Brahmán).—§ 367 (Pṛthūdaka): III, 83, 7017 (had praised the tīrtha Pṛthūdaka).—§ 373 (Prayāga): III, 85, 8213 ( °pramukhāḥ …paramarṣayaḥ, in Prayāga).—§ 377 (Dhaumyatīrthak.): III, 90, 8393 (praises Gaṅgādvāra).—§ 413 (Tīrthayātrāp.): III, 135, 10697 (had obtained success on the Gaṅgā).— § 455 (Brāhmaṇamāhātmyak.): III, 185, 12700 (12702) (instructed some munis).—§ 581 (Bhīṣmavadhap.): VI, 68 ρ, 3046 ( °pramukhaiḥ, praise Hari, i.e. Kṛṣṇa).—§ 615 u (Skanda): IX, 46, 2716 ( Pitāmahasutaṃ prabhuṃ S°ṃ sarveṣāṃ Brahmayoniṃ tam agrajaṃ, by some identified with Skanda).—§ 617 b (Brahmaśiras): X, 12, 636 (incarnate as Pradyumna).—§ 637 (Rājadh.): XII, 47 η, 1595 (among the ṛṣis who surrounded Bhīṣma).—§ 692 (Mokṣadh.): XII, 281, 10027 ( mahāmuniḥ ), 10030, 10086 (discourse with Vṛtra about emancipation and Viṣṇu).—§ 694 b (Jvarotpatti): XII, 284 α, 10217 ( °pramukhāḥ…mahar- ṣayaḥ ).—§ 707 (Mokṣadh.): XII, 319 β, 11784 (had instructed Viśvāvasu).—§ 715 (Śuka-Nāradasaṃv.): XII, 330, 12426 (a saying of his quoted).—§ 717 b (Nārāyaṇīya); XII, 340, 12901 ( °tvaṃ labhet, sc. Pradyumna (= manas)); 341 ο, 13078 (the fifth of the mind-born sons of Brahmán); 343, 13200 ( °gīlāḥ ślokāḥ, some ślokas of his are quoted); 349, V), 13587 (studied the religion [of Nārāyaṇa] and communicated it to Vīraṇa).—§ 730 g (Upamanyu): XIII, 14 χ, 916 ( °o yoginām asi, sc. Śiva).—§ 730 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 14 ββ, 990.—§ 749 (do.): XIII, 88, 4250 ( gāthāḥ …S°o mayyapi abhāṣate, some verses sung by him are Page615-b+ 63 quoted).—§ 768 b (Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva): XIII, 147, 6850 ( °pramukhāḥ, sc. ṛṣayaḥ ).—§ 795 (Svargārohaṇap.): XVIII, 5 μ, 160 (after death Pradyumna entered S.). Cf. Brahma- yoni, Kumāra, Pitāmahasuta. [ ID=9441 ]
- A mind-born son of Brahma, known as one of the chief sages.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra) [Printed book page 3-525 ] Sanatkumāra (I) — a son of Brahmā and elder brother of Śiva; met by Pṛthu, he taught him ātmajñāna; one of the twelve who knew of Hari's dharma; did not comprehend his māyā; present at the anointing of Vāmana; praised the Lord and Aditi; 1 with other sages serve the Ganges; 2 Bhagavān asked Nandikeśvara about the shrines where Maheśvara stands pillar like (Sthāṇu); 3 created first with Ṛbhu and Kratu; when born was called Kumāra; 4 a son of Kanka, an avatār of Śiva was under father's control; 5 one of the chief sages; 6 spoke to Aila on the śrāddha. 7 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. I. 3. 6; III. 8. 3; 12. 4; IV. 16. 25; 17. 5. 22. 6, 18-40; 23. 9 and 41; VI. 3. 20; VIII. 23. 20, 26-7; IX. 4. 57; XI. 16. 25; M. 4. 27.] [ Footnote: 2) Ib. 160. 16.] [ Footnote: 3) Ib. 141. 77; 162. 13; 181. 2-4.] [ Footnote: 4) Vā. 9. 72, 106; Br. I. 5. 79.] [ Footnote: 5) Vā. 23. 132; 24. 79: 25. 92; 30. 85; 35. 45; 56. 86.] [ Footnote: 6) Ib. 5. 4.] [ Footnote: 7) Vi. III. 14. 11.] [ ID=15286 ]

### A Different Sanatkumāra (Son of Āyu) (1 definition)
- 1. A son of Ayu. 2. A god in Tapoloka.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Sanatkumāra (II) — a son of Āyu; 1 a Vairāja god in Tapolokam; 2 spoke of Mārtāṇḍa episode; 3 in Kurukṣetra; 4 present at Soma's Rājasūya. 5 Page3-526+ 33 [ Footnote: 1) Br. III. 3. 24.] [ Footnote: 2) Ib. IV. 2. 214, 35.] [ Footnote: 3) Ib. III. 7. 296.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. III: 10. 87; 13. 66.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. III. 19. 54; 64. 24.] [ ID=15287 ]

### Sage in Upanishadic Context (1 definition)
- the name of a mythical sage  
  *The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects*
  > सनत्कुमार (sanatkumāra) [Printed book page 2-422 ] Sanat-kumāra is the name of a mythical sage in the Chān- dogya Upaniṣad (vii. 1, 1; 26, 2). [ ID=3459 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; 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.

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