# विभूति (vibhūti)

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

विभूति (vibhūti) is a Sanskrit word meaning penetrating, pervading, abundant and plentiful, mighty, powerful, presiding over, an epithet of a Sadhu, a son of Vishvamitra. Its 30 recorded definitions are grouped into 11 contexts, among them Comprehensive Definitions (Multiple Senses), Proper Names (Persons and Deities), Adjectival: Pervasive, Abundant, Mighty.

- **Root:** भू (bhū)
- **Etymology:** E. वि implying change of form, &c., भू to be, aff. क्तिन् । — E. vi implying change of form, &c., bhū to be, aff. ktin
- **SLP1:** `viBUti`  **IAST:** vibhūti  **Devanagari:** विभूति
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibhuti
- **Declensions:** 72 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/vibhuti/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### Comprehensive Definitions (Multiple Senses) (6 definitions)
- 1. Extensive or abundant. 2. Powerful. 3. Development, multiplication, or abundance. 4. Manifestation of power, sovereign power, or greatness. 5. Splendour or magnificence. 6. Prosperity, fortune, wealth, or riches. 7. Ashes.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > विभूति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 286-3 ] विभूति (vibhūti) ví-bhūti, a. ( RV. ) extensive, abundant; mighty, powerful; f. ( C. ) development, multiplication; abundance; manifestation of might, power ( ord. mg. ); sovereign power, greatness; successful issue ( of a sacrifice ); magnificence, splendour; prosperity, fortune; wealth, riches ( common mg.; sg. & pl. ); ashes ( rare ): -mat, a. powerful ( C. ). [ ID=16692 ]
- 1. Might and power. 2. Prosperity and welfare. 3. Ashes. 4. Superhuman power consisting of eight faculties. 5. Wealth and riches.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > विभूति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 670-25 ] विभूति (vibhūti) f. 1. Might, power; 2. prosperity, welfare; 3. ashes; 4. superhuman power, (consisting of eight faculties, viz., अणिमन् (aṇiman), लघिमन् (laghiman), प्राप्ति (prāpti), प्राकाम्य (prākāmya), महिमन् (mahiman), ईशिता (īśitā), वशिता (vaśitā) and कामावसायिता (kāmāvasāyitā) ), K.S. ii.11; 5. plenty, wealth, riches, R. iv.19, vi.76, viii.36. [ ID=35265 ]
- 1. Power and dignity. 2. Superhuman power. 3. Ashes of cow-dung.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > विभूति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 0864-a ] विभूति (vibhūti) vi-bhū + ti, f. 1. Power, dig- nity, Pañc. 203, 1. 2. Superhuman power, Hit. iii. d. 115. 3. Ashes of cow-dung. [ ID=13477 ]
- 1. Pervading, abundant, powerful, or mighty. 2. Development, growth, power, glory, majesty, success, fortune, prosperity, or wealth.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > विभूति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 501 ] विभूति (vibhūti) a. pervading, abundant, powerful, mighty, disposing of ( gen. ); f. development, growth, abundance, might, power, glory, majesty, splendour, success, welfare, fortune, prosperity, wealth, riches. [ ID=29846 ]
- 1. Development or growth. 2. Power, especially of a ruler.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > विभूति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 246-a ] víbhūti, f. —1. development or growth; —2. (the result of growth, i. e. ) power, esp. of a lord or ruler. [ √bhū + vi, 1157d : cf. vibhava and vibhu. ] [ ID=3899 ]
- 1. Great power, might, dominion, supremacy, or dignity. 2. Great success, prosperity, or welfare. 3. Superhuman power. 4. The sacred ashes of cow-dung.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > विभूति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 0931-b ] Vi-bhūti, is, m. great power, might, dominion, supremacy, dignity; great success, prosperity, wel- fare; superhuman power (consisting of eight facul- ties, especially attributed to Śiva, but supposed also to be attainable by human beings through a course of austere worship in honour of that deity, viz. aṇi- man, the power of becoming as minute as an atom; laghiman, extreme lightness; prāpti, the power of attaining or reaching anything, as illustrated by the power of touching the moon with the tip of the finger; prākāmya, irresistible will; mahiman, illimitable bulk; īśitā, supreme dominion; vaśitā, the power of subjugating by magic; and kāmāva- sāyitā, the power of suppressing all desires); the ashes of cow-dung &c. (with which Śiva is said to smear his body, and hence used in imitation of him by devotees); ( is, is, i ), Ved. very powerful, mighty. —Vibhūti-dvādaśī, f., N. of a particular Vrata or religious observance. —Vibhūti-mat, ān, atī, at, powerful, possessed of excellence or dignity, super- human; smeared with ashes. —Vibhūti-yoga, as, m., N. of the sixth canto of the Śiva-gītā. [ ID=43481 ]

### Proper Names (Persons and Deities) (5 definitions)
- an epithet of a Sadhu  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > वि - भूति (vi-bhūti) m. N. of a Sādhya, Hariv. [ ID=198486 ]
- a son of Vishvamitra  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a son of Viśvāmitra, MBh. [ ID=198487 ]
- an epithet of Lakshmi  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of Lakṣmi (the goddess of fortune and welfare), BhP. [ ID=198497 ]
- son of Vishvamitra  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > विभूति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 726-2 ] Vibhūti, son of Viśvāmitra. § 721 b (Viśvāmitrop.): XIII, 4 β, 256. [ ID=11842 ]
- 1. A name of Lakshmi. 2. The wife of Hari.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > विभूति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 3-249 ] Vibhūti — a name of Śrī (Lakṣmī). Her abode in the chest of the Lord; wife of Hari. Bhā. I. 18. 20; III. 16. 20; 28. 26; V. 20. 40; VI. 16. 25; 19. 8. [ ID=13010 ]

### Adjectival: Pervasive, Abundant, Mighty (4 definitions)
- penetrating, pervading  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 978,3] वि - भूति (vi-bhūti) mfn. penetrating, pervading, Nir. [ ID=198482 ]
- abundant and plentiful  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > abundant, plentiful, RV. [ ID=198483 ]
- mighty, powerful  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > mighty, powerful, ib. [ ID=198484 ]
- presiding over  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > presiding over ( gen. ), ib. viii, 50, 6 [ ID=198485 ]

### Specific Conceptual/Technical Uses (4 definitions)
- a particular form of Shakti  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 979,1] a partic. Śakti, Hcat. [ ID=198491 ]
- successful outcome  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > successful issue (of a sacrifice), MBh.; R. [ ID=198493 ]
- a particular shruti in music  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in music) a partic. Śruti, Saṃgīt. [ ID=198499 ]
- divine manifestations or excellences, specifically of Hari, such as Indra among gods and Vishnu among the Adityas  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Vibhūtis — of Hari; Indra among gods, Viṣṇu among Ādityas, Bhṛgu among Brahmaṛṣis and so on. Bhā. XI. 16. 9-40; Vā. 101. 329. [ ID=13013 ]

### Superhuman Powers (Siddhis) (4 definitions)
- Great power or superhuman power consisting of eight faculties.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > manifestation of might, great power, superhuman power (consisting of eight faculties, especially attributed to Śiva, but supposed also to be attainable by human beings through worship of that deity, viz. अणिमन् (aṇiman), the power of becoming as minute as an atom; लघिमन् (laghiman), extreme lightness; प्रा (prā) प्ति (pti), attaining or reaching anything [ e.g. the moon with the tip of the finger]; प्रा (prā) काम्य (prākāmya), irresistible will; महिमन् (mahiman), illimitable bulk; ईशिता (īśitā), supreme dominion; वशिता (vaśitā), subjugating by magic; and कामा (kāmā) वसायिता (vasāyitā), the suppressing all desires), ib. [ ID=198490 ]
- 1. Superhuman power consisting of eight faculties. 2. Power, dignity, or dominion. 3. Sacred ashes used by devotees.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वि (vi) भू (bhū) ति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 778 ] वि (vi) भू (bhū) ति (vibhūti) m. ( - तिः (-tiḥ) ) 1 Superhuman power, consisting of eight faculties, especially attributed to ŚIVA, and supposed to be attainable by human beings, through a course of austere worship, attended with magical rites, in honor of that deity and his spouse DURGĀ: the eight properties thus supposed to be assumable at will are, अणिमा (aṇimā) extreme minuteness or invisibility; लघिमा (laghimā) extreme lightness or incorporeality; प्राप्ति (prāpti) attaining or reaching any thing, as illustrated by the power of touching the moon with the tip of the finger; प्राकाम्यं (prākāmyaṃ) the fulfilment of every wish; महिमा (mahimā) illimitable bulk; ईशिता (īśitā) supreme dominion over animate or inanimate nature; वशिता (vaśitā) the power of enchanting or changing the course of nature, and कामावशायिता (kāmāvaśāyitā) the accomplishment of every promise or engagement. 2 Power, dignity, dominion. 3 Ashes of cow-dung, &c. with which ŚIVA is said to have smeared his body, and thence used in imitation of him by devotees. E. वि (vi) implying change of form, &c., भू (bhū) to be, aff. क्तिन् (ktin). [ ID=35498 ]
- 1. Superhuman power. 2. Ashes of cow dung.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > विभूति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 697-b ] वि - भूति (vi-bhūti) ( तिः ) ((tiḥ)) 2. m. Superhuman power; ashes of cow dung. [ ID=35093 ]
- 1. Superhuman power consisting of eight faculties. 2. Power, dignity, or dominion. 3. Cow-dung ashes used by devotees. 4. Prosperity. 5. Wealth.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वि (vi) भू (bhū) ति (vibhūti) [Printed book page 665-a ] वि (vi) भू (bhū) ति (vibhūti) f. ( - तिः (-tiḥ) ) 1. Superhuman power, consisting of eight faculties especially attributed to ŚIVA, and supposed to be attainable by human beings, through a course of austere worship, attended with magical rites, in honor of that deity and his spouse DURGĀ: the eight properties thus supposed to be assumable at will are: अणिमा (aṇimā) extreme minuteness or invisibility; लघिमा (laghimā) extreme light- Page665-b+ 60 ness or incorporeality; प्राप्ति (prāpti) attaining or reaching any thing, as illustrated by the power of touching the moon with the tip of the finger; प्राकाम्यं (prākāmyaṃ) the fulfilment of every wish; महिमा (mahimā) illimitable bulk; ईशिता (īśitā) supreme dominion over animate or inanimate nature; वशिता (vaśitā) the power of enchanting or changing the course of nature, and कामावशायिता (kāmāvaśāyitā) the accomplishment of every promise or engagement. 2. Power, dignity, dominion. 3. Ashes of cow-dung, &c. with which ŚIVA is said to have smeared his body, and thence used in imitation of him by devotees. 4. Prosperity. 5. Wealth. E. वि (vi) implying change of form, &c., भू (bhū) to be, aff. क्तिन् । (ktin.) [ ID=37140 ]

### Royal Power and Sovereignty (2 definitions)
- pertaining to a king  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a king, VP. [ ID=198488 ]
- sovereign power and greatness  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the might of a king or great lord, sovereign power, greatness, Kālid.; Pañcat.; Kathās. &c. [ ID=198492 ]

### Development, Growth, Abundance (1 definition)
- development, expansion, or abundance  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > वि - भूति (vi-bhūti) f. development, multiplication, expansion, plenty, abundance, Kāv.; Kathās. &c. [ ID=198489 ]

### Prosperity, Welfare, Fortune (1 definition)
- Fortune, welfare, prosperity  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > fortune, welfare, prosperity, PraśnUp.; MBh. &c. [ ID=198495 ]

### Sacred Ashes (Vibhūti) (1 definition)
- the ashes of cow-dung  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the ashes of cow-dung &c. (with which Śiva is said to smear his body, and hence used in imitation of him by devotees), Pañcar.; Sāh. [ ID=198498 ]

### Splendour, Glory, Magnificence (1 definition)
- splendour, glory, and magnificence  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > splendour, glory, magnificence, Hariv.; Ragh.; VarBṛS. [ ID=198494 ]

### Wealth and Riches (1 definition)
- riches, wealth  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (also pl. ) riches, wealth, opulence, Kām.; Kāv.; Kathās. [ ID=198496 ]

## 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; 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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