# उपचार (upacāra)

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

उपचार (upacāra) is a Sanskrit word meaning approach, service, and attendance, polite behavior, reverence, proceeding, practice, behaviour, conduct, mode of proceeding towards, treatment, medical practice or attendance on a patient. Its 26 recorded definitions are grouped into 12 contexts, among them Service, Politeness, and Homage, Conduct, Practice, and Procedure, Figurative Language and Speech.

- **Root:** चर् (car)
- **Etymology:** E. उप well. much, &c. चर to go, घञ् aff — E. upa well. much, &c. cara to go, ghañ aff
- **SLP1:** `upacAra`  **IAST:** upacāra  **Devanagari:** उपचार
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upachara
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/upachara/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** उपाचार (upācāra), उपचर (upacara)

## Meanings by context

### Service, Politeness, and Homage (9 definitions)
- approach, service, and attendance  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 197,2] उप - चार (upa-cāra) अस् (as), m. approach, service, attendance, Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi (Title) i, 111, 2 seqq. [ ID=34450 ]
- polite behavior, reverence  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > act of civility, obliging or polite behaviour, reverence, ŚBr.; MBh.; Śak. &c. (64 Upacāras are enumerated in the Tantra-sāra, quoted by, T. ) [ ID=34451 ]
- 1. Service or attendance. 2. The practice of medicine. 3. Practice, profession, or usage. 4. A present or bribe. 5. Presenting delicacies, water, or betel. 6. Nursing the sick. 7. Solicitation or request. 8. An act in progress. 9. A form of speech leaving something to be inferred.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उप (upa) चार (upacāra) [Printed book page 153 ] उप (upa) चार (upacāra) m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) 1 Service, attendance. 2 Physicking, the practice of medicine. 3 Practice, profession, usage. 4 A present, a bribe. 5 Presenting delicacies or necessaries, water, betel. Page154 &c. 6 Tending the sick, nursing. 7 Solicitation, request. 8 Incomplete, act, one in progress. 9 A form of speech, a phrase that leaves something to be inferred, ellipsis, &c. E. उप (upa) well. much, &c. चर (cara) to go, घञ् (ghañ) aff. [ ID=7329 ]
- 1. Service or practice. 2. Medical treatment. 3. A bribe. 4. Ellipsis.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उपचार (upacāra) [Printed book page 126-a ] उप - चार (upa-cāra) ( रः ) ((raḥ)) 1. m. Service; practice; physicking; a bribe; ellipses. [ ID=6735 ]
- 1. Attendance, service, or worship. 2. Courtesy, politeness, or polite behavior. 3. Practice or performance. 4. A ceremony or religious ritual. 5. An article of decoration or furniture. 6. Customary obeisance or homage. 7. A mode of address. 8. An article of worship. 9. Conduct or behavior. 10. The application of a cure or practice of medicine. 11. A present or bribe. 12. A pretext. 13. A request or solicitation. 14. The secondary application or figurative use of a word. 15. Identification based on similarity in rhetoric. 16. The occurrence of s and sh in place of visarga in grammar.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उपचार (upacāra) [Printed book page 136-40 ] उपचार (upacāra) m. 1. Attendance, service, worshipping; 2. courtesy, compliment, politeness, polite behaviour, उपचार (upacāra) पदं न चेदिदम् (upacārapadaṃ na cedidam) K.S. iv.9, उपचार (upacāra) विधिर्मनस् (s) विनीनाम् (upacāravidhirmanasvinīnām) Mal. iii.; 3. practice, performance, M. i.111, x.32; 4. a ceremony, a religious performance, प्रयुक्तपाणिग्रहणोपचारौ (prayuktapāṇigrahaṇopacārau) K.S. vii.86; 5. an appendage, an article of decoration or furniture, R. vi.1, vii.4, K.S. vii.88; 6. customary obeisance, homage, गुरुपरितापानि न ते गात्राण्युपचारमर्हंति (guruparitāpāni na te gātrāṇyupacāramarhaṃti) Sak. iii., R. iii.11; 7. a mode of address, रामभद्र इत्येव मां प्रत्युपचारः शोभते तातपरिजनस् (s) य (rāmabhadra ityeva māṃ pratyupacāraḥ śobhate tātaparijanasya) Ut. i.; 8. an article of worship (they are variously described); 9. conduct, behaviour, वश्यशुद्रोपचारं च (vaśyaśudropacāraṃ ca) M. i.116; 10. application of cure, practice of medicine; 11. a present, a bribe; 12. a pretext; 13. a request, a solicitation; 14. secondary application or figurative use of a word, (the same as लक्षणा (lakṣaṇā) q.v.), मुख्येप्युपचार एव शरणं स् (s) यात् (mukhyepyupacāra eva śaraṇaṃ syāt) K.Pr. x.; 15. identification based on similarity (in rhetoric), उभयरूपा चेयं शुद्धा उपचोरणामिश्रितत्वात् (ubhayarūpā ceyaṃ śuddhā upacoraṇāmiśritatvāt) K.Pr. ii.; 16. the occurrence of स् (s) and ष् (ṣ) in the place of visarga (in gram.) [ ID=6701 ]
- 1. Service or attendance. 2. The practice of medicine. 3. Practice, profession, or usage. 4. A present or bribe. 5. Presenting delicacies or necessaries. 6. Nursing the sick. 7. Solicitation or request. 8. An incomplete act in progress. 9. A form of speech with ellipsis or implied meaning.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उप (upa) चार (upacāra) [Printed book page 126-a ] उप (upa) चार (upacāra) m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) 1. Service, attendance. 2. Physicking, the practice of medicine. 3. Practice, profession, usage. 4. A present, a bribe. 5. Presenting delicacies or necessaries, water, betel, &c. 6. Tending the sick, nursing. 7. Solicitation, request. 8. Incomplete act, one in progress. 9. A form of speech, a phrase that leaves something to be inferred ellipsis, &c. E. उप (upa) well, much, &c. चर् (car) to go, घञ् (ghañ) aff. [ ID=7326 ]
- 1. Homage. 2. Service. 3. Courting. 4. Means of doing homage, such as garlands. 5. Practice or performance. 6. Ceremony. 7. Medical treatment or use. 8. Behaviour.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उपचार (upacāra) [Printed book page 0122-b ] उपचार (upacāra) upacāra, i. e. upa-car + a, m. 1. Homage, Śāk. d. 66. 2. Ser- vice, Vikr. 56, 9. 3. Courting, Man. 8, 357. 4. Means of doing homage, garlands, etc., Ragh. 7, 4. 5. Practice, Man. 1, 111; performance, Man. 9, 259. 6. Ceremony, Kumāras. 7, 86. 7. Physicking, Suśr. 1, 117, 7; medical use, Vikr. 19, 17. 8. Behaviour, Rām. 5, 32, 8. — Comp. Dus-, adj., f. rā, diffi- cult to be treated, Pañc. 203, 5. Sopa- Page0123-a+ 40 cāram, i. e. sa-upacāra + m, adv. respectfully, Rām. 5, 90, 5. [ ID=2243 ]
- 1. Approaching or waiting upon. 2. Polite attention. 3. Correct procedure or duty.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > उपचार (upacāra) [Printed book page 133-a ] upacārá, m. a coming to or waiting upon; pregnantly, (polite) attention; (correct) procedure, i. e. duty. [ √car + upa. ] [ ID=835 ]
- 1. Approach, service, or attendance. 2. Polite behaviour, civility, or a ceremony. 3. Practice, usage, or profession. 4. The practice of medicine, nursing, or tending the sick. 5. Behaviour or conduct. 6. Presenting offerings such as water, flowers, or betel, or a gift or bribe. 7. Solicitation or request. 8. An incomplete act, pretence, or pretext. 9. A figure of speech, metaphor, or ellipsis. 10. The occurrence of s and sh in place of Visarga in grammar.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > उपचार (upacāra) [Printed book page 0162-a ] Upa-cāra, as, m. approach, service, attendance, act of civility, obliging or polite behaviour; proceed- ing, practice; profession, usage; physicking, the prac- tice of medicine, tending the sick, nursing; behaviour, conduct; a ceremony, presenting offerings of water, betel, flowers, &c. a present, a bribe; solicitation, request; incomplete act; a figure of speech, pre- tence, pretext, ellipsis, metaphor (e. g. upacārāt, metaphorically); occurrence of s and ṣ in the place of Visarga in grammar; N. of a Pariśiṣṭa of the Sāma-veda. —Upacāra-karaṇa, am, n. or upacāra- karman, a, n. or upacāra-kriyā, f. offering presents, especially of perfumes, flowers, &c. attention, service. —Upacāra-para, as, ā, am, diligent in service, serving diligently. —Upacāra-paribhraṣṭa, as, ā, am, void of civility, destitute of kindness, churlish, uncourteous. [ ID=11346 ]

### Conduct, Practice, and Procedure (5 definitions)
- Proceeding, practice  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > proceeding, practice [ ID=34452 ]
- behaviour, conduct  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > behaviour, conduct [ ID=34453 ]
- mode of proceeding towards, treatment  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > mode of proceeding towards ( gen. ), treatment, ŚBr.; MBh.; Āp.; Mn. &c. [ ID=34454 ]
- 1. Behaviour or conduct. 2. Practice, proficiency, or procedure. 3. Attendance, service, or homage. 4. Courtesy, polite attention, or compliment. 5. Ornament, ceremony, or complimentary garland. 6. Medical treatment. 7. An idiom or figurative term.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उपचार (upacāra) [Printed book page 052-3 ] उपचार (upacāra) upa-cārá, m. behaviour; conduct, practice; proficiency; procedure with ( g. ); attendance; service; courtesy, ( polite ) attention, compliment; homage; ornament; ceremony; complimentary garland; ( medical ) treatment; idiom; figurative term; -ka, courtesy ( —° a., f. ikā ); -kriyā, f. polite attention; -pada, n. complimentary word, empty flattery; -paribhraṣṭa, pp. devoid of civility, discourteous; -vat, a. decorated, adorned. [ ID=4676 ]
- 1. Conduct, practice, or dealing with others. 2. Civility, kindness, service, or ceremony. 3. Ornament. 4. Figure of speech.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > उपचार (upacāra) [Printed book page 088 ] उपचार (upacāra) m. conduct, behaviour, use, practice, dealing with ( gen. ); civility, kindness, service, attendance, ceremony; ornament ( p. ° वन्त् (°vant) †), figure of speech. [ ID=5702 ]

### Figurative Language and Speech (3 definitions)
- usage, custom, or manner of speech  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > usage, custom or manner of speech, Nyāyad. [ ID=34461 ]
- a metaphor or figurative expression  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a figurative or metaphorical expression ( ° रात् (°rāt) ind. metaphorically), metaphor, figurative application, Sāh.; Sarvad. Comm. on Śiś. &c. [ ID=34462 ]
- metaphorically  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2C) [Printed book page 197,2] उप - चारात् (upa-cārāt) ind., metaphorically [ ID=34465.1 ]

### Ceremony and Ritual (1 definition)
- a ceremony  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a ceremony, Kumāra-sambhava (Title) vii, 86 [ ID=34456 ]

### Favourable Circumstance (1 definition)
- a favourable circumstance  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a favourable circumstance, Sāhitya-darpaṇa (Title) 300 [ ID=34460 ]

### Gifts, Offerings, and Hospitality Items (1 definition)
- present, offering, bribe  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > present, offering, bribe [ ID=34457 ]

### Grammatical Term (Sandhi) (1 definition)
- a kind of Sandhi involving the substitution of s and sh for Visarga  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a kind of Sandhi (substitution of स् (s) and ष् (ṣ) in place of Visarga), Kāś. on Pāṇini (Author) viii, 3, 48 [ ID=34464 ]

### Medical Treatment and Nursing (1 definition)
- medical practice or attendance on a patient  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > attendance on a patient, medical practice, physicking, Suśr.; Pañcat.; Vikr. [ ID=34455 ]

### Name of a Text (1 definition)
- the name of a Parisishta of the Sama-veda  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a Pariśiṣṭa of the Sāma-veda. [ ID=34465 ]

### Ornamentation and Decoration (1 definition)
- ornament, decoration  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > ornament, decoration, Kum.; Raghuvaṃśa (Title) vii, 4 [ ID=34459 ]

### Pretext or Pretence (1 definition)
- pretence or pretext  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > pretence, pretext, L. [ ID=34463 ]

### Solicitation or Request (1 definition)
- solicitation or request  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > solicitation, request, L. [ ID=34458 ]

## 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; 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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