# तक्षक (takṣaka)

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

तक्षक (takṣaka) is a Sanskrit word meaning a cutter, a carpenter, name of a deity, the manager or speaker in the prelude of a drama, a tree, a Naga prince. Its 19 recorded definitions are grouped into 8 contexts, among them Lexical Entries with Multiple Meanings, Cutter, Carpenter, Wood-cutter, Nāga Prince / Serpent King.

- **Etymology:** E. तक्ष् to chip, to peel or plane, &c. affix ण्वुल् — E. takṣ to chip, to peel or plane, &c. affix ṇvul
- **SLP1:** `takzaka`  **IAST:** takṣaka  **Devanagari:** तक्षक
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takshaka
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/takshaka/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** ताक्षक (tākṣaka)

## Meanings by context

### Lexical Entries with Multiple Meanings (6 definitions)
- 1. A carpenter. 2. A stage manager or chief actor in a dramatic prelude. 3. A principal serpent of Patala. 4. The divine architect Vishvakarma. 5. A tree.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तक्ष (takṣa) क (takṣaka) [Printed book page 362 ] तक्ष (takṣa) क (takṣaka) m. ( - कः (-kaḥ) ) 1 A carpenter. 2 The Sūtradhāra, the manager and chief actor in the prelude of a drama. 3 One of the principal Nāgas or serpents of Pātāla. 4 The divine artist, VIŚVAKARMA. 5 The name of a tree. E. तक्ष (takṣa) to chip, to peel or plane, &c. affix वुन् (vun). [ ID=16854 ]
- 1. A principal serpent of patala. 2. A carpenter. 3. A chief actor in the prelude of a drama. 4. A tree. 5. Vishwakarma.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तक्षक (takṣaka) [Printed book page 319-b ] तक्षक (takṣaka) ( कः ) ((kaḥ)) 1. m. A principal serpent of pātāla; a carpenter; a chief actor in the prelude of a drama; a tree; Vishwakarma. [ ID=16321 ]
- 1. A carpenter or woodcutter. 2. The divine architect. 3. The chief actor in a drama prelude. 4. Name of a principal serpent.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तक्षक (takṣaka) [Printed book page 299-05 ] तक्षक (takṣaka) m. 1. A carpenter, a wood-cutter (by caste or profession, सूचकाद्विप्रकन्यायां जातस्तक्षक (takṣaka) उच्यते (sūcakādviprakanyāyāṃ jātastakṣaka ucyate) Uśanas ); 2. a name of the divine architect ( विश्वकर्मन् (viśvakarman) ); 3. the chief actor in the prelude of a drama ( सूत्रधार (sūtradhāra) ); 4. the name of a principal serpent, son of Kaśyapa and Kadru. [ ID=15049 ]
- 1. A carpenter. 2. A theatre manager or chief actor. 3. A principal serpent of Patala. 4. The divine artist Vishwakarma. 5. A tree.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तक्षक (takṣaka) [Printed book page 301-a ] तक्षक (takṣaka) m. ( - कः (-kaḥ) ) 1. A carpenter. 2. The Sutradhara, the manager and chief actor in the prelude of a drama. 3. One of the principal Nagas or serpents of Patala. 4. The divine artist, VISWAKARMA. 5. The name of a tree. E. तक्ष् (takṣ) to chip, to peel or plane, &c. affix ण्वुल् (ṇvul). [ ID=16837 ]
- 1. A cutter. 2. A carpenter.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तक्षक (takṣaka) [Printed book page 193 ] तक्षक (takṣaka) m. cutter, carpenter; as pr. n. = prec. [ ID=11740 ]
- 1. A cutter, wood-cutter, or carpenter. 2. The divine architect Vishvakarman. 3. The manager and chief actor in a dramatic prelude. 4. A principal serpent of the underworld. 5. A proper name. 6. A particular tree.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > तक्षक (takṣaka) [Printed book page 0358-a ] Takṣaka, as, m. a cutter, one who cuts off, a wood-cutter, a carpenter; the divine architect or artist Viśva-karman; the Sūtra-dhāra or manager and chief actor in the prelude of a drama; one of the principal Nāgas or serpents of Pātāla; N. of a son of Prasena-jit and father of Bṛhad-bala; N. of a particular tree. [ ID=20265 ]

### Cutter, Carpenter, Wood-cutter (3 definitions)
- a cutter  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 431,3] तक्षक (takṣaka) m. ( Pāṇini (Author) viii, 2, 29, Kāś. ) ‘a cutter’, see काष्ठ - (kāṣṭha-), वृक्ष - (vṛkṣa-) [ ID=81615 ]
- a carpenter  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a carpenter, L. [ ID=81616 ]
- A cutter or woodcutter  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तक्षक (takṣaka) [Printed book page 0346-b ] तक्षक (takṣaka) takṣ + aka m. A cutter, a wood-cutter, Rām. 2, 80, 2. [ ID=5626 ]

### Nāga Prince / Serpent King (3 definitions)
- a Naga prince  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a Nāga prince ( cf. ° क्ष (°kṣa) ), Atharva-veda (Title) viii, 10, 29; Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇa (Title) xxv, 15; Śāṅkhāyana-gṛhya-sūtra (Title) iv, 18, 1; Kauś.; MBh. &c. [ ID=81620 ]
- name of a serpent-king  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > तक्षक (takṣaka) [Printed book page 672-2 ] Takṣaka, name of a serpent-king. § 17 (Uttaṅka): I, 3, ††774 ( nāgarājaḥ ), ††775 (do.), ††792, ††793, 802 ( yasya vāsaḥ Kurukṣetre Khāṇḍave cābhavat purā / taṃ nāgarājānaṃ ), 803 ( °aś cāśvasenaś ca nityaṃ sahacarau, dwell on the Ikṣumatī, in Kurukṣetra), 804 ( jaghanyajas T°śca (read °sya ) Śruta- seneti yaḥ sutaḥ ), ††815, ††823 ( nāgarājena ), ††832, 840 (had bitten Parikṣit, cf. § 51), 843 ( pannagādhamaḥ ), 848 (in the shape of a beggar— kṣapaṇaka—T. deprived Uttaṅka of a pair of earrings but was forced to give them back).—§ 47 (Sarpanāmak.): I, 35, 1550 (enumeration).—§ 51 (Parikṣit): I, 41, 1704 ( pannageśvaraḥ ), 1709 ( pannagottamaḥ ); 42, 1744, 1758 ( pannagaśreṣṭhaḥ ), 1760, 1762 ( pannagaśreṣṭhaḥ ), (1764); 43, (1766), 1776, (1782), 1783, 1785, 1786, 1789, 1790, 1798, 1800, 1801 (in accordance to the curse of Śṛṅgin T. bit Parikṣit, having first prevailed upon Kāśyapa not to Page673-a+ 63 help Parikṣit).—§ 52 (Janamejaya): I, 44, 1804 ( pannaga- śreṣṭhaṃ ), †1806 (continuation).—§ 56 (Parikṣit): I, 50, 1973 ( nāgaḥ ), 1977, 1978 ( pannagottamāt ), 1979 ( panna- gendraḥ ), 1980 ( bhujaṅgena ), (1982), 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 (repetition from § 51).—§ 57 (Janamejaya): I, 50, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2008, 2013 (Janamejaya, the son of Parikṣit, wished to avenge himself on T.).—§ 58 (do.): I, 51, 2017, 2019, 2022 (Janamejaya then prepared a snake-sacrifice).— § 60 (Sarpasattra): I, 53, 2054 ( nāgendraḥ ), 2056 (took his refuge to the palace of Indra).—§ 62 (do.): I, 56, †2115, †2116, †2117, †2118, †2124, 2125 ( nāgaḥ ), 2126 ( pannagaṃ ), 2127, 2128, 2129, 2132, 2134 ( nāgendre, by means of mantras T. was brought near to the sacrificial fire).—§ 64 (do.): I, 57, 2149 ( °sya kule, enumeration of the serpents of T.'s race who fell into the fire), 2151 ( °jā nāgāḥ ).—§ 68 (Āstīka): I, 58, 2168, 2169 (Āstīka said thrice “stay”, and T. remained in the air between the welkin and earth).—§ 100 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 65, 2549 ( bhujaṅgamaḥ, enumeration of the sons of Kadrū — Kādraveyāḥ ).—§ 156 (Pūruvaṃś.): I, 95, 3778 ( °duhi- taraṃ Jvalāṃ, wife of Ṛkṣa).—§ 254 (Khāṇḍavadahanap.): I, 223, 8089 ( pannagaḥ, friend of Indra, dwells in Khāṇḍava).—§ 258 (do.): I, 227, 8236 ( nāgarājaḥ, had gone to Kurukṣetra), 8237 ( Aśvasenaḥ…T°sya sutaḥ ); 228, 8300 ( bhujagottamaḥ, had gone to Kurukṣetra), 8323 ( °sya niveśanāt, i.e. Khāṇḍava).—§ 268 (Varuṇasabhāv.): II, 9, 360 (in the palace of Varuṇa).—§ 358 (Tīrthayātrāp.): III, 82, 5032 ( Kāśmīreṣv eva nāgasya bhavanaṃ T°sya Vitastākhyaṃ ).—§ 564 (Mātalīyop.): V, 103 γ, 3625 (enumeration of serpents).—§ 565 (Gālavacarita): V, 109, 3798 ( nāgaḥ, in Bhogavatī).—§ 586 (Bhīṣmavadhap.): VI, 107, 4900 ( yathā mahānāgas T°ḥ ).—§ 595 (Ṣoḍacarāj. v. Pṛthu Vainya): VII, 69, 2415 (when the serpents milked the earth, T. was their calf).—§ 600 (Ghaṭotkacavadhap.): VII, 174 νν, 7873 ( Garuḍa-T°au ).—§ 603 d (Tripura): VII, 202, 9565 (became the avanāha (C. by error mava° ) of Śiva's chariot).—§ 608 (Karṇap.): VIII, 79, †4078 ( °bhogavarcasaṃ kārmukaṃ ); 87 χ, 4414 (sided with Arjuna).—§ 790 (Putradarśanap.): XV, 35, 952 ( muktaḥ, all. to Sarpasattra).—§ 793 (Mausalap.): XVI, 4 η, †119. Cf. Nāga, Nāgarāja, Nāgendra, Pannaga, Pannageśvara, Pannagendra. [ ID=10709 ]
- a serpent chief  
  *The Purana Index*
  > तक्षक (takṣaka) [Printed book page 2-001 ] Takṣaka (I) — a serpent chief; (nāga) of Sutalam and of the Krodhavaśa group. 1 Caused the death of Parīkṣit in consequence of the curse of the Brahmaṇa's son. Parīkṣit was informed beforehand by Śuka and was not afraid. 2 Met the sage Kaśyapa on his way to Parīkṣit's place. 3 When Janamejaya began his sarpa satra (yāga), Takṣaka sought shelter of Indra, and this resulted in Indra's fall; 4 served as calf for Nāgas to derive poison from the earth. 5 The Nāga presiding over the month of Śukra; 6 on the neck of Śiva; an ear ornament of Śiva. 7 Shaken by Hiraṇyakaśipu; 8 lived in the Niṣadha hill; 9 sent along with others to fight Prahlāda; 10 a Kādraveya; 11 in the sun's cha- riot in the month of Suci. 12 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. V. 24. 29; Br. II. 17. 34; 20. 24; III. 7. 32; M. 6. 39; 8. 7. Vā. 39. 54; 50. 23; 54. 91; 69. 69.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. I. 12. 27; 18. 2 and 37; 19. 4; IX. 22. 36; XII. 5. 10; 6. 5.] [ Footnote: 3) Ib. XII. 6. 11-12.] [ Footnote: 4) Ib. XII. 6. 16-23.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. IV. 18. 22; Br. III. 8. 13; IV. 20. 53; 33. 36; 36. 212; M. 10. 19.] [ Footnote: 6) Bhā. XII. 11. 35.] [ Footnote: 7) Br. II. 25. 88; M. 154. 444.] [ Footnote: 8) M. 163. 56: 114. 83; 126. 7; 133. 33.] [ Footnote: 9) Vā. 46. 34; 52. 6.] [ Footnote: 10) Vi. I. 17. 38.] [ Footnote: 11) Ib. I. 21. 21.] [ Footnote: 12) Ib. II. 10. 7.] [ ID=5267 ]

### Specific Individuals Named Takṣaka (3 definitions)
- a son of Prasenajit  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a son of Prasena-jit, Bhāgavata-purāṇa (Title) ix, 12, 8 [ ID=81621 ]
- the son of Prasenajit and father of Brihadbala  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Takṣaka (II) — the son of Prasenajit and father of Bṛhadbala. Bhā. IX. 12. 8. [ ID=5268 ]
- the father of Jvalana  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Takṣaka (III) — the father of Jvalanā (s.v.). M. 49. 6; Vā. 99. 128. [ ID=5269 ]

### Etymological Cross-Reference (1 definition)
- See also ksha.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > See also ° क्ष (°kṣa). [ ID=81622 ]

### Name of a Tree (1 definition)
- a tree  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a tree, L. [ ID=81619 ]

### Sūtradhāra (Stage Manager) (1 definition)
- the manager or speaker in the prelude of a drama  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the Sūtra-dhāra or speaker in the prelude of a drama, L., Sch. [ ID=81618 ]

### Viśvakarman (Divine Architect) (1 definition)
- name of a deity  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > Viśvakarman, L. [ ID=81617 ]

## Sources

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