# तत्त्व (tattva)

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

तत्त्व (tattva) is a Sanskrit word meaning true state, reality, or truth, a true principle in philosophy, the number 25, the number 24, an element or elementary property, the essence or substance of anything. Its 20 recorded definitions are grouped into 6 contexts, among them Essence, Truth, Reality, True Nature, Philosophical Principles & Elements, Ultimate Reality / Supreme Being / 'Tat tvam asi'.

- **Etymology:** E. As above, or तद् that, then &c. affix त्व; the word is properly, therefore, written तत्त्व, but in books one त is commonly rejected — E. As above, or tad that, then &c. affix tva; the word is properly, therefore, written tattva, but in books one ta is commonly rejected
- **SLP1:** `tattva`  **IAST:** tattva  **Devanagari:** तत्त्व
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattva
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/tattva/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** तत्व (tatva)

## Meanings by context

### Essence, Truth, Reality, True Nature (9 definitions)
- True state, reality, or truth.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 432,3] तत् (tat) — त्व (—tva) n. true or real state, truth, reality, ŚvetUp.; Mn.; Bhag. &c. [ ID=81839 ]
- the essence or substance of anything  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 433,1] the essence or substance of anything, W. [ ID=81845 ]
- the being that  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the being that, Jaimini (Author) i, 3, 24, Sch. [ ID=81846 ]
- 1. True nature, truth, reality, or very essence. 2. A principle, especially in Samkhya philosophy.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तत्त्व (tattva) [Printed book page 105-2 ] तत्त्व (tattva) tat-tva, n. (that-ness), very essence, true nature, truth, reality; principle ( esp. one of the 25 in the Sāṅkhya philosophy ); in the Vedānta philosophy the word is artificially analysed into ‘tat tvam,’ that (art) thou, as expressing the identity of the multiform phenomenal world (tvam) with the one undifferentiated invisible Brahma (tad): in., -tas, °—, in reality; truly; exactly; thoroughly. [ ID=8321 ]
- 1. The true state or real condition. 2. Truth or reality. 3. Essential nature. 4. The real nature of the human soul or the world as identical with the supreme spirit. 5. A first principle. 6. An element or primary substance. 7. The mind. 8. A kind of dance.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तत्त्व (tattva) [Printed book page 300-04 ] तत्त्व (tattva) n. 1. True state, real condition, वयं तत्वान्वेषान्मधुकर हताः (vayaṃ tatvānveṣānmadhukara hatāḥ) Sak. i.; 2. truth, reality; 3. essential nature, संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् (saṃnyāsasya mahābāho tatvamicchāmi veditum) Bg. xviii.1, M. iv.92; 4. the real nature of the human soul or the world as being identical with the supreme spirit pervading the universe; 5. a first principle; 6. an element, a primary substance; 7. the mind; 8. a kind of dance. [ ID=15086.1 ]
- 1. The very essence. 2. Truth. 3. A philosophical principle.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तत्त्व (tattva) [Printed book page 0348-a ] तत्त्व (tattva) tattva (often tatva ), i. e. tad + tva, 1. The very essence, Man. 4, 92; Page0348-b+ 43 Bhag. 18, 1. 2. Truth, Śāk. d. 22. 3. A principle (especially the 25 of the Sānkhya philosophy), Rām. 3, 53, 42. Instr. tvena, 1. Truly, Rām. 1, 48, 13. 2. Thoroughly, Man. 7, 68. — Comp. Nis-, adj. not contained in the principles, MBh. 12, 11480. Yathā-tattva + m. adv. truly, Chr. 17, 22. Sa-, I. adj. knowing the real essence, Vedāntas. in Chr. 219, 3. II. n. natural property, nature. [ ID=5657 ]
- the true state, reality, truth, or first principle  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तत्त्व (tattva) [Printed book page 194 ] तत्त्व (tattva) n. the state of being that, i.e. the true state or real nature; truth, reality, first principle (ph.). °—, instr., & adv. in तस् (tas) in truth, really, exactly. [ ID=11793 ]
- The true essence or real state of a thing.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > तत्त्व (tattva) [Printed book page 161-a ] tattva, n. (that-ness, i. e. ) essence, real condition or state of a thing. [ tad. ] [ ID=1673 ]
- 1. The true state, reality, or essence of anything. 2. The real nature of the human soul as identical with the supreme spirit. 3. A true or first principle in philosophy. 4. An element or elementary property. 5. The sum and substance. 6. Slow time in music.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > तत्त्व (tattva) [Printed book page 0359-a ] तत्त्व (tattva) tattva, am, n. (fr. tad ), the state of being that, true state, real state, truth, reality, opposed to what is illusory or fallacious; essential nature; the real nature of the human soul as being one and the same with the supreme spirit pervading the universe; (in philosophy) truth, reality, a true principle, first principle, (the number of these first principles varies according to the different systems; the Sāṅkhya phil. has twenty-five Tattvas, viz. A-vyakta or ‘the undiscrete;’ Buddhi, ‘intellect;’ Ahaṅkāra, ‘indi- viduality;’ the five Tan-mātras or ‘subtile elements;’ the five Mahā-bhūtas or ‘gross elements;’ the eleven organs, including Manas or ‘mind;’ and, lastly, Puruṣa or ‘soul:’ hence tattva is sometimes a term for ‘twenty-five.’ The Māheśvaras admit only five Tattvas, viz. the five elements. In the Vedānta phil. tattva is regarded as made up of tad and tvam, ‘this — thou,’ and called mahā-vākya, ‘the great word,’ by which the identity of the whole world with the one eternal Brahma is expressed); an element or elementary property; the essence or substance of Page0359-b+ 79 anything, sum and substance; slow time in music, a musical instrument; ( ena ), ind. according to the true state or nature of anything, in truth, truly, really, accurately. —Tattva-kaumudī, f. ‘moonlight of the Tattvas,’ or sāṅkhya-tattvakaumudī, title of a commentary on the Sāṅkhya-kārikā. —Tattva- candra, as, m. ‘the moon of truth,’ title of a commentary on the grammar Prakriyā-kaumudī. —Tattva-cintāmaṇi, is, m. title of a philosophical work by Gaṅgeśa. —Tattva-jña, as, ā, am, or tattva-jñānin, ī, inī, i, knowing the truth or true nature of anything; acquainted with the true princi- ples of philosophy, understanding the principles of a science thoroughly; ( as ), m. a Brāhman. —Tattva- jñāna, am, n. knowledge of the truth; a thorough knowledge of the principles of a science, insight into the true principles of philosophy. —Tattva-tas, ind. truly, really, actually, accurately, according to the truth, fully. —Tattva-tā, f. truth, reality. —Tattva-darśa, as, m. ‘perceiving truth,’ N. of one of the seven Ṛṣis under Manu Deva-sāvarṇi. —Tattva-darśin, ī, m. ‘perceiving truth,’ N. of one of the sons of Manu Raivata; N. of a Brāhman. —Tattva-dīpana, am, n. ‘light of the Tattvas,’ title of a work. —Tattva- nikaṣa-grāvan, ā, m. the touchstone of principle. —Tattva-nyāsa, as, m. ‘the imposition of truth or of the true principles,’ N. of a ceremony performed in honour of Viṣṇu; it consists in the application of mystical letters and other marks to the different parts of the body while certain prayers are recited. —Tattva-prakāśa, as, m. ‘light of the true princi- ples,’ title of a philosophical commentary. —Tattva- bodhinī, f. ‘revealing truth,’ title of a commentary on the Siddhānta-kaumudī by Jñānendra-sarasvatī. —Tattva-bhāva, as, m. true being or nature. —Tattva-vat, ān, atī, at, possessing truth or the reality of things. —Tattva-vid, t, t, t, knowing the truth or first principles, knowing things as they are. —Tattva-vindu, us, m. ‘drop of truth,’ title of a philosophical treatise. —Tattva-vivitsā, f. desire of knowing the truth or God. —Tattva-viveka, as, m. or siddhānta-tattvaviveka, ‘sifting of established truths,’ title of an astronomical work. —Tattvavi- veka-dīpana, am, n. ‘light of the investigation of truth,’ title of a philosophical work. —Tattva- sañcaya, as, m. ‘collection of truths,’ title of a Buddhist work. —Tattva-satya-śāstra, am, n. title of a work by Guṇa-prabha. —Tattva-samāsa, as, m. ‘compendium of the Tattvas or principles,’ the title of the Sāṅkhya-sūtras ascribed to Kapila. —Tattvābhiyoga (°va-abh°), as, m. a positive charge or declaration. —Tattvārtha (°va-ar°), as, m. the exact truth, reality, truth. —Tattvārtha- kaumudī (°va-ar°), f. the title of a commentary by Govindānanda on the Prāyaścitta-viveka. —Tattvār- tha-vid, t, t, t, knowing the exact truth, knowing the reality. —Tattvārtha-sūtra (°va-ar°), am, n. title of a Jaina work. —Tattvāvabodha (°va-av°), as, m. perception of truth. [ ID=20330 ]

### Philosophical Principles & Elements (4 definitions)
- A true principle in philosophy  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in phil. ) a true principle (in Sāṃkhya phil. 25 in number, viz. अ - व्यक्त (a-vyakta), बुद्धि (buddhi), अहं - कार (ahaṃ-kāra), the 5 Tan-mātras, the 5 Mahā-bhūtas, the 11 organs including मनस् (manas), and, lastly, पुरुष (puruṣa), qq.vv. ), Mahābhārata (Title) xii, 11840; xiv, 984; Rāmāyaṇa (Title) iii, 53, 42; Tattvas.; 24 in number, Mahābhārata (Title) xii, 11242; Harivaṃśa (Title) 14840 ( m. ); 23 in number, Bhāgavata-purāṇa (Title) iii, 6, 2 ff.; for other numbers cf. xi, 22, 1 ff.; RāmatUp.; with Māheśvaras and Lokāyatikas only 5 [ viz. the 5 elements] are admitted, Prabodha-candrodaya (Title) ii, 18/19; with, Buddh. 4, with Jainas 2 or 5 or 7 or 9 Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha (Title) ii f.; in Vedānta phil. तत्त्व (tattva) is regarded as made up of तद् (tad) and त्वम् (tvam), ‘that [art] thou’, and called महा - वाक्य (mahā-vākya), the great word by which the identity of the whole world with the one eternal Brahma [ तद् (tad) ] is expressed) [ ID=81840 ]
- the number 25  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the number 25 Sūryasiddhānta (Title) ii [ ID=81842 ]
- the number 24  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the number 24 DevībhP.; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (Title) vii, 3, 1, 43; Sāy. [ ID=81843 ]
- an element or elementary property  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an element or elementary property, W. [ ID=81844 ]

### Ultimate Reality / Supreme Being / 'Tat tvam asi' (4 definitions)
- 1. Essential nature or the true nature of the soul. 2. The Supreme Being or Brahma. 3. Truth, reality, or substance. 4. An element or elementary property. 5. A first principle or axiom. 6. Mind or intellect. 7. Slow time in music. 8. A musical instrument.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > त (ta) त (ta) ्त (ta) ्व (tva) (tattva) [Printed book page 363 ] त (ta) त (ta) ्त (ta) ्व (tva) (tattva) n. ( - त (ta) ्त (ta) ्व (tva) ं (-ttvaṃ) ) 1 Essential nature, the real nature of the human soul, considered as one and the same with the divine spirit animating the universe: the philosophical etymology of this word best explains its meaning, त (ta) द (tada) ् (tad) that, that divine being, and त (ta) ्व (tva) thou, that very God art thou. 2 The Supreme Being, or BRAHMA. 3 Truth, reality, substance, opposed to what is illusory or fallacious. 4 An element or elementary property, differently enumerated in different systems, from the three which are the same with the three Guṇas, to twenty-seven, which include the elements, organs, faculties, matter, spirit, life, and God. 5 A first principle, an axiom. 6 Mind, intellect. 7 Slow time in music. 8 A musical instrument. E. as above, or त (ta) द (tada) that, thence, &c. affix त (ta) ्व (tva); the word is properly, therefore, written त (ta) त (ta) ्त (ta) ्व (tva) (tattva), but in books one त (ta) is commonly rejected. [ ID=16906 ]
- 1. Essential nature or reality. 2. An element. 3. An axiom. 4. Mind. 5. Slow time in music. 6. A musical instrument.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > तत्त्व (tattva) [Printed book page 320-b ] तत्त्व (tattva) ( त्त्वं ) ((ttvaṃ)) 1. n. Essential nature of the soul as one with God: Brahmā; reality; essence; mind; an element; an axiom; slow time in music; instrument of music. [ ID=16373 ]
- 1. Essential nature or the real nature of the human soul. 2. The Supreme Being or Brahma. 3. Truth, reality, or substance. 4. An element or elementary property. 5. A first principle or axiom. 6. Mind or intellect. 7. Slow time in music. 8. A musical instrument.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > त (ta) त (ta) ्त (ta) ्व (tva) (tattva) [Printed book page 302-a ] त (ta) त (ta) ्त (ta) ्व (tva) (tattva) n. ( - त (ta) ्त (ta) ्व (tva) ं (-ttvaṃ) ) 1. Essential nature, the real nature of the human soul, considered as one and the same with the divine spirit animating the universe: the philosophical etymology of this word best explains its meaning, त (ta) द् (tad) that, that divine being, and त (ta) ्व (tva) thou, that very God art thou. 2. The Supreme being, or BRAMHA. 3. Truth, reality, substance, opposed to what is illusory or fallacious. 4. An element or elementary property, differently enumerated in different system from the three which are the same with the three Gunas, to twenty-seven, which include the elements, organs, faculties, matter, spirit, life, and God. 5. A first principle, an axiom. 6. Mind, intellect. 7. Slow time in music. 8. A musical instrument. E. As above, or त (ta) द् (tad) that, then &c. affix त (ta) ्व (tva); (tva;) the word is properly, therefore, written त (ta) त (ta) ्त (ta) ्व (tva) (tattva), (tattva,) but in books one त (ta) is commonly rejected. [ ID=16889 ]
- Vishnu  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > तत्त्व (tattva) [Printed book page 676-1 ] Tattva, Tattvavid = Viṣṇu (1000 names). [ ID=10818 ]

### Adverbial Usage: In Truth, Truly (1 definition)
- truly, really, or accurately according to the true nature of anything  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3C) [Printed book page 433,1] तत् (tat) — त्वेन (—tvena) ind. instr. according to the true state or nature of anything, in truth, truly, really, accurately, Manu-smṛti (Title) vii, 68; MBh.; R. [ ID=81849 ]

### Alternative Form/Etymology (1 definition)
- reality, truth  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > = तत - त्व (tata-tva), L. [ ID=81847 ]

### Musical Terminology (1 definition)
- A musical instrument  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a musical instrument, L. [ ID=81848 ]

## Sources

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