# व्रत (vrata)

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

व्रत (vrata) is a Sanskrit word meaning will, command, law, ordinance, rule, obedience or service, dominion, realm, sphere of action, function, or mode of life, conduct, manner, usage, or custom, a religious vow or practice. Its 28 recorded definitions are grouped into 9 contexts, among them Vow, Rule, or Religious Observance, Proper Name or Specific Term, Dietary Observance or Food in Vrata.

- **Roots:** 2. वृ (2. vṛ), चर् (car), वृ (vṛ)
- **Etymology:** E. वृ to choose, aff. अतच्, र substituted for the vowel, or व्रज to go, (to heaven by it,) घ aff. and the form irr — E. vṛ to choose, aff. atac, ra substituted for the vowel, or vraja to go, (to heaven by it,) gha aff. and the form irr
- **SLP1:** `vrata`  **IAST:** vrata  **Devanagari:** व्रत
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrata
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/vrata/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** व्रात (vrāta)

## Meanings by context

### Vow, Rule, or Religious Observance (12 definitions)
- 1. A religious vow or practice. 2. A pious observance, meritorious act of devotion, or austerity. 3. A solemn vow, rule, or holy practice.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a religious vow or practice, any pious observance, meritorious act of devotion or austerity, solemn vow, rule, holy practice (as fasting, continence &c. व्रतं - (vrataṃ-) √ चर् (√car), ‘to observe a vow’, esp. ‘to practise chastity’), ib. [ ID=210566 ]
- any vow or firm purpose  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > any vow or firm purpose, resolve to ( dat. loc., or comp.; व्रतात् (vratāt) or व्रत - वशात् (vrata-vaśāt), ‘in consequence of a vow’; cf. असि - धारा - व्रत (asi-dhārā-vrata) and आसिधारं व्रतम् (āsidhāraṃ vratam) ), MBh.; Kāv. &c. [ ID=210567 ]
- 1. Will, command, law, dominion, service, and regular function. 2. Action, conduct, religious rite, ascetic observance, vow, and holy work. 3. Resolve.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 304-3 ] व्रत (vrata) vra-tá, n. [willed: √vṛ: perh. old pp. ] 〈1.〉 V. : will, command, law, ordinance; dominion; service, obedience; realm; regular sphere or function; 〈2.〉 V., C. : operation, action, doings, conduct, manner, mode of life ( with suci = clear conscience); religious rite or service; duty, towards ( —° ); religions or ascetic observance taken upon oneself, austerity, Page305-1 vow, rule, holy work ( such as fasting and continence ); 〈3.〉 C.; vow ( in general ), resolve, to ( d., lc. of vbl. ɴ., —° ): ab. in consequence of a vow; ( á ) -ṃ car, observe a vow, esp. practise chastity. [ ID=17377 ]
- 1. A religious vow, penance, or austerity. 2. Eating.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 822 ] व्रत (vrata) mn. ( - तः - तं (-taḥ-taṃ) ) 1 Any meritorious act of devotion, the voluntary or vowed observance, or imposition of any penance, austerity, or privation, as fasting, continence, exposure to heat and cold, &c. 2 Eating. E. वृ (vṛ) to choose, aff. अतच्, र (atac, ra) substituted for the vowel, or व्रज (vraja) to go, (to heaven by it,) घ (gha) aff. and the form irr. [ ID=37365 ]
- 1. A vow. 2. Eating.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 740-a ] व्रत (vrata) ( तः - तं ) ((taḥ-taṃ)) 1. m. n. A vow; eating. [ ID=36999 ]
- 1. A rite or observance. 2. A design or plan. 3. A vow or resolution. 4. A course of conduct. 5. Devotion, faithfulness, or devoted worship. 6. A religious act of devotion or austerity.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 702-17 ] व्रत (vrata) m.n. 1. A rite, an observance; 2. design, plan; 3. vow, resolution, सो (so) ‍‍ ' भूद्भग्नव्रत (vrata) ः शत्रूनुद्धृत्य प्रतिरोपयन् ('bhūdbhagnavrataḥ śatrūnuddhṛtya pratiropayan) R. xvii.42; 4. course of conduct; 5. devotion, faithfulness, devoted worship, यांति देवव्रत (vrata) ा देवान् पितॄन् यांति पितृव्रत (vrata) ाः (yāṃti devavratā devān pitṝn yāṃti pitṛvratāḥ) Bg. ix.25; 6. a religious act of devotion or austerity; (there are innumerable Vratas enjoined in the Purāṇas and additions are being made even to the present day), R. ii.4, 25. [ ID=36794 ]
- 1. A religious vow, penance, or austerity. 2. Eating. 3. A design or plan. 4. A vow or resolution. 5. A course of conduct.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 701-a ] व्रत (vrata) mn. ( - तः - तं (-taḥ-taṃ) ) 1. Any meritorious act of devotion, the voluntary or vowed observance, or imposition of any penance, austerity, or privation, as fasting, continence, exposure to heat and cold, &c. 2. Eating. 3. Design, plan. 4. Vow, resolution. 5. Course of conduct. E. वृ (vṛ) to choose, aff. अतच्, र (atac, ra) substituted for the vowel; or व्रज (ja) ् (vraj) to go, (to heaven by it,) घ (gha) aff. and ज (ja) changed to त । (ta.) [ ID=39142 ]
- 1. A voluntary act, rule. 2. Action, doing. 3. Work. 4. A devout act, fasting, continence, or a vowed observance. 5. Eating.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 0922-a ] व्रत (vrata) vrata (an old ptcple. of the pf. pass. of vṛ ), n. 1. A (self-chosen) voluntary act, Chr. 43, 24; rule, Rām. 3, 53, 18; Bhartṛ. 2, 69. 2. Action, doing, Man. 9, 304. 3. Work, Chr. 295, 12 = Rigv. i. 92, 12. 4. A devout act, Man. 2, 173; as fasting, continence, a vowed observance, a vow, Vikr. 37, 7; Pañc. 260, 13. 5. Eating ( cf. payas -vrata ). — Comp. A-, adj. one who does not observe the rules of his order, Man. 3, 170. Arka-, n. levying taxes, draw- ing the wealth of the people, as the Page0922-b+ 47 sun evaporates water, Man. 9, 305. Asi-dhārā-, n. a vow to stand on the edge of a sword, Pañc. 196, 15. Ārya-, adj. one who observes the rules of the Āryas, or respectable men, MBh. 1, 7424. Indu-, n. a kind of vow, MBh. 13, 1797. Indra-, n. the duty of the king to distribute gratifications, Man. 9, 304. Go-, adj. continent, MBh. 5, 3560. Gaurī-, n. lasciviousness, Hit. 42, 2. Daṇḍa-, n. judicial power, Bhāg. P. 4, 13, 22. Dṛḍha-, adj. 1. one who observes his vows, Man. 11, 81. 2. persevering in observing one's vow, Sund. 1, 10. 3. persisting in, Rām. 3, 52, 52. Deva-, adj. attached to the deities, pious, Bhāg. P. 1, 9, 1. Dhṛta-, adj. attached, faithful, Rām. 3, 2, 18. Niyama-, n. vow of penance, Pañc. 165, 9. Nis-, adj. one who does not observe the religious precepts, MBh. 12, 1335. Pati-, I. n. fidelity to one's husband, ib. 13, 165; Böhtl. Ind. Spr. 741. II. f. tā, a faithful or virtuous woman, Pañc. iii. d. 151. Payovrata, i. e. payas-, I. n. the vow of living only on milk, Bhāg. P. 8, 16, 58. II. adj., f. tā, nourished by milk alone, Man. 11, 144. Brahmavrata, i. e. brah- man- ( n. ), chastity, Pañc. 187, 6. Madhu-, m. a bee. Mahā-, adj., f. tā, one who has undergone great austeri- ties, Chr. 17, 27; 40, 15 (read mahā- vrataḥ ). Māruta-, n. the duty of a king to trace out everything by means of spies, cf. Man. 9, 306. Mauna-, adj., f. tā, holding one's tongue, Pañc. 94, 8. Yata- ( vb. yam ), adj. firm to an engagement or vow, Johns. Sel. 36, 12. Yama-, n. the duty of a king to punish offences without partiality, cf. Man. 9, 305. Rahasya-, n. the command of that mysterious power by which mystical weapons may be wielded. Vipula-, adj. of great devo- tion, Johns. Sel. 4, 17. Sam-śita- ( vb. śi ), adj. 1. one who has accomplished Page0923-a+ 43 his vow, Man. 1, 104 (read saṃśita in- stead of śaṃsita ). 2. faithful to a vow or obligation, Johns. Sel. 1, 1. Satya-, I. adj. veracious, honest, Rām. 3, 55, 38. II. m. a proper name, Pañc. iii. d. 270. Su-, I. adj. rigidly observing any religious vow or obligation, virtuous, Chr. 58, 6. II. f. tā. 1. a virtuous wife. 2. a cow easily milked. 3. a proper name, Śāk. 102, 22 ( Prākṛ. ). Stuti-, m. a bard, a herald. — Cf. probably ἑορτή. [ ID=14318 ]
- 1. Will, decree, or command. 2. Dominion or sphere of activity. 3. Customary activity, conduct, or way of life. 4. Choice, determination, or vow. 5. Religious observance or holy work. 6. Duty, obedience, or service.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 532 ] व्रत (vrata) n. will, decree, command, statute, order; dominion, province, sphere; wont activity or occupation; conduct, way of life; choice, determination, resolution, vow; holy work, religious observance; duty, obedience, service. [ ID=31501 ]
- 1. Will, decree, or command. 2. Domain or that over which one exercises command. 3. Firm resolution or choice. 4. A religious vow or holy work. 5. Religious or general duty.  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 254-a ] vratá, n. —1. will; devānām ati vratam, beyond the will of the gods, 88 2 — cf. ὑπὲρ Διὸς αἶσαν; decree, command or Gebot, statute; and so —2. ( as Eng. command is applied to the forces under one's command ) that over which one exercises command, domain, Gebiet;— further, directly from the root again —3. choice, determination; firm resolution, 14 6; —4. esp. resolve (to keep a religious or ascetic observance); vow or holy work ( e. g. of chastity, fasting, etc. ), 28 23, 59 5, 61 23, 64 8, 65 8; —5. religious duty, duty in general. [ √2vṛ, ‘will, choose’: for mg 2, observe that Ger. Gebiet formerly meant ‘command’ and now means ‘domain. ’] [ ID=4082 ]
- 1. An enclosed place, realm, sphere, or sway. 2. A law, ordinance, command, or rule. 3. A rite, religious observance, or practice. 4. A religious act or obligation enjoined by the gods, or a sacrifice. 5. A self-chosen or voluntary act of devotion, austerity, fasting, continence, or vow. 6. An action, agency, deed, design, or plan.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 0984-a ] व्रत (vrata) vrata, as, am, m. n. (probably an old past pass. participle fr. rt. vṛ ), anything enclosed, an enclosed place, enclosure, realm, sphere, sway (Ved.); anything fenced off or settled, a law, ordinance, com- mand, rule, ( anu-vratam, according to law or ordi- nance); rite, observance, practice [cf. arka-v°, yama-v° ]; any religious act or obligation enjoined by the gods; a sacrifice; a self-chosen or voluntary act, any meritorious act of devotion or austerity, fasting, continence, vowed observance, solemn pur- pose, vow, ( asi-dhārā-vrata or āsidhāraṃ vra- tam, a vow to stand on the edge of a sword or a vow as difficult as standing on the edge of a sword); action, agency, doing, work, deed; a design, plan; eating, in payo-vrata, q. v.; [cf. probably Gr. ἑορτή.] —Vrata-kalpadruma, am, n., N. of a work by Ratnākara. —Vrata-caryā, f. the practice of religious vows; ( as ), m. a religious student. —Vrata- cārin, ī, iṇī, i, Ved. vow-performing, fulfilling or performing vows. —Vrata-tattva, am, n., N. of a part of the Smṛti-tattva. —Vrata-nimitta, as, ā, am, caused by a vow. —Vrata-pati, is, m., Ved. ‘lord of vows,’ epithet of Agni. —Vrata-pā, ās, ās, am, Ved. upholding ordinances, protecting sacred rites. —Vrata-pāraṇa, am, ā, n. f. conclusion of a fast, eating or drinking after a fast. —Vrata-pra- kāśa, as, m. ‘illustration of vows,’ N. of a work by Viśva-nātha on the subject of vows (compiled from the Purāṇas and other more ancient sources). —Vra- ta-pratiṣṭhā, f. the performance of a religious act voluntarily undertaken. —Vrata-bhaṅga, as, m. the interruption of an act of devotion, breach of a vow. —Vrata-bhikṣā, f. soliciting alms (as one of the ceremonies accompanying investiture). —Vrata-bhṛt, t, m., Ved. ‘bearer of sacrifices,’ epithet of Agni. —Vrata-rāja, as, m. = vrata-prakāśa above. —Vrata-lupta, as, ā, am, one who has broken a vow (of fasting &c.). —Vrata-lopana, am, n. the breaking of a vow (of fasting, chastity, &c.), violat- ing any religious vow or obligation. —Vrata-vai- kalya, am, n. imperfection or incompletion of a Page0984-b+ 76 vow or religious observance. —Vrata-śeṣa, as, m. the remainder of a religious vow. —Vrata-saṃra- kṣaṇa, am, n. the keeping of a vow, observing penance. —Vrata-saṅgraha, as, m. undertaking any act of devotion, taking on one's self any voluntary religious obligation (= dīkṣā). —Vrata-stha, as, ā, am, engaged in religious austerities or in a vow of any kind, performing penance. —Vrata-snātaka, as, m. a Brāhman who has completed his term of studentship, (see snātaka. ) —Vratācaraṇa (°ta- āc°), am, n. the act of observing a vow or religious obligation (especially that of continence, as the duty of a religious student; cf. brahma-carya ). —Vra- tādāna (°ta-ād°), am, n. undertaking the obliga- tions of a devotee. —Vratādeśa (°ta-ād°), as, m. investiture of a youth of one of the first three classes with the sacred cord. —Vratopavāsa (°ta-up°), as, m. fasting as a religious obligation, a fast. —Vratopā- yana (°ta-up°), am, n. = vāyana, presents of cakes &c. which may be eaten during a religious feast. [ ID=45884 ]
- vows enumerated  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Vratas — vows enumerated. M. Ch. 101 (whole). [ ID=13868 ]

### Proper Name or Specific Term (6 definitions)
- a particular Stotra and the day for it  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > = महा - व्रत (mahā-vrata) ( i.e. a partic. Stotra, and the day for it), Br.; ŚrS.; [ ID=210571 ]
- 1. A name of Samans. 2. A month. 3. A season. 4. A year. 5. Fire. 6. A name of Vishnu. 7. A name of one of the seven islands of Antara-dvipa.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (with gen. or ifc. ) N. of Sāmans, ĀrṣBr. ( L. also ‘month’; season; year; fire; ‘= Viṣṇu’; ‘ N. of one of the seven islands of Antara-dvīpa’) [ ID=210572 ]
- Name of a son of Manu and Nadvala  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a son of Manu and Naḍvalā, BhP. [ ID=210574 ]
- Name of a country belonging to Pracya  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > ( pl. ) N. of a country belonging to Prācya, L. [ ID=210575 ]
- a son of Chakshusha Manu  
  *The Purana Index*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 3-352 ] Vrata (I) — a son of Cākṣuṣa Manu. Bhā. IV. 13. 16. [ ID=13866 ]
- a god of the Abhutaraya group  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 3-353 ] Vrata (II) — a god of the Ābhūtaraya group. Br. II. 36. 56. [ ID=13867 ]

### Dietary Observance or Food in Vrata (4 definitions)
- the practice of always eating the same food  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the practice of always eating the same food ( cf. मधु - व्र् (madhu-vr) ° (°) ), L. [ ID=210568 ]
- Feeding only on milk as a religious observance, or the milk itself.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the feeding only on milk (as a fast or observance according to rule; also the milk itself), VS.; Br.; KātyŚr. [ ID=210569 ]
- any food  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > any food (in अ - याचित - व्र् (a-yācita-vr) ° (°), q.v. ) [ ID=210570 ]
- the milk used by one living on that beverage alone as a vow or penance  
  *The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects*
  > व्रत (vrata) [Printed book page 2-341 ] Vrata (‘vow’) in the later Saṃhitās 1 and the Brāhmaṇas 2 has the peculiar sense of the ‘milk’ used by one who is living on that beverage alone as a vow or penance. [ Footnote: 1) Av. vi. 133, 2; Taittirīya Saṃhitā, vi. 2, 5, 3. 4; Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā, iv. 11. etc.] [ Footnote: 2) Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, iii. 2, 2, 10. 14, 17; 4, 2, 15; ix. 2, 1, 18. Cf. ghṛta- vrata, Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa, xviii. 2, 5. 6, and vrata-dughā, the ‘cow that gives the Vrata milk,’ Śatapatha Brāh- maṇa, iii. 2, 2, 14; xiv. 3, 1, 34. etc.] [ ID=3113 ]

### Authoritative Command or Law (1 definition)
- will, command, law, ordinance, rule  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 1042,2] व्रत (vrata) n. ( ifc. f( आ (ā) ).; fr. √ 2. वृ (vṛ) ) will, command, law, ordinance, rule, RV. [ ID=210562 ]

### Conduct, Function, or Custom (1 definition)
- 1. Sphere of action, function, or mode of life. 2. Conduct, manner, usage, or custom.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > sphere of action, function, mode or manner of life ( e.g. शुचि - व्र् (śuci-vr) ° (°), ‘pure manner of life’, Śak. ), conduct, manner, usage, custom, RV. &c. &c. [ ID=210565 ]

### Dominion or Realm (1 definition)
- dominion, realm  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > dominion, realm, RV. [ ID=210564 ]

### Meaning Unknown (1 definition)
- of unknown meaning  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > व्रत (vrata) m. (of unknown meaning), Atharva-veda (Title) v, 1, 7; Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra (Title) xiii, 16, 8 [ ID=210573 ]

### Obedience or Service (1 definition)
- obedience or service  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > obedience, service, ib.; AV.; ĀśvGṛ. [ ID=210563 ]

### Performer of a Vow (1 definition)
- one who has taken the vow of learning the Veda  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > व्रत (vrata) mfn. = वेद - व्रत (vrata) (veda-vrata), one who has taken the vow of learning the Veda, Gṛhyāsaṃgraha (Title) ii, 3 ( Sch. ) [ ID=210576 ]

## 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; 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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