# यन्त्र (yantra)

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

यन्त्र (yantra) is a Sanskrit word meaning any instrument for holding, restraining, or fastening, a prop, support, or barrier, a fetter, band, tie, thong, rein, or trace, a surgical instrument, restraint, force, an amulet or mystical diagram possessing occult powers. Its 19 recorded definitions are grouped into 8 contexts, among them General Instrument / Machine / Apparatus, Cross-references / Meta-entries, Restraint / Force (Act or Concept).

- **Etymology:** E. यम् to check, Unādi aff. त्र; or यत्रि-अच् । — E. yam to check, Unādi aff. tra; or yatri-ac
- **SLP1:** `yantra`  **IAST:** yantra  **Devanagari:** यन्त्र
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantra
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/yantra/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** यंत्र (yaṃtra)

## Meanings by context

### General Instrument / Machine / Apparatus (8 definitions)
- any instrument, apparatus, machine, or mechanical contrivance  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > any instrument or apparatus, mechanical contrivance, engine, machine, implement, appliance (as a bolt or lock on a door, oars or sails in a boat, &c.), MBh.; Kāv. &c. ( cf. कूप - (kūpa-), जल - (jala-), तैल - य् (taila-y) ° (°); ibc. or ifc. often = mechanical, magical) [ ID=170303 ]
- 1. Support or barrier. 2. A leather thong or carriage trace. 3. A surgical instrument. 4. An apparatus, appliance, machine, or engine. 5. A bolt or door lock. 6. A means of propulsion. 7. A magical diagram or amulet.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > यन्त्र (yantra) [Printed book page 241-2 ] यन्त्र (yantra) yan-trá, n. means of holding, support, barrier ( V. ); leather-thong, traces ( of a carriage ); ( blunt surgical ) instrument ( opp. knives ); apparatus, appliance, mechanical contrivance, engine, machine; bolt, lock ( on a door ); means of propulsion ( in a boat, = oars, sails etc. ); °— or —°, mechanical ( elephant, etc. ); magical ( car ); amulet, mystical diagram used as an amulet. [ ID=14706 ]
- 1. A machine, implement, or apparatus. 2. A mystical or astrological diagram. 3. A type of vessel. 4. Restraining or controlling.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > यन्त्र (tra) (yantra) n. ( - न्त्र (tra) ं (-ntraṃ) ) 1 A machine in general, any implement or apparatus. 2 A diagram of a mystical nature, or astrological character. 3 A sort of vessel. 4 Restraining, checking, controlling. E. यम (yama) to check, Uṇādi aff. त्र (tra). [ ID=31274 ]
- 1. A machine. 2. A diagram. 3. A sort of vessel. 4. Restraining.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > [Printed book page 610-a ] यन्त्र (yantra) ( यन्त्र (yantra) ं ) ((yantraṃ)) 1. n. A machine; a diagram; a sort of vessel; restraining. [ ID=30835 ]
- 1. A machine, implement, or apparatus. 2. A mystical or astrological diagram. 3. A vessel. 4. Controlling or restraining. 5. A fetter or cord. 6. A lock or bolt.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > यन्त्र (yantra) [Printed book page 584-a ] यन्त्र (yantra) n. ( - न्त्रं (-ntraṃ) ) 1. A machine in general, any implement or apparatus. 2. A diagram of a mystical nature, or astrological character. 3. A Page584-b+ 60 sort of vessel. 4. Restraining, checking, controlling. 5. A fetter, a cord. 6. A lock, a bolt. E. यम् (yam) to check, Unādi aff. त्र; (tra;) or यत्रि - अच् । (yatri-ac.) [ ID=32499 ]
- 1. An engine, machine, implement, or apparatus. 2. A thong. 3. A sort of vessel. 4. A mystical diagram. 5. Restraining.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > यन्त्र (yantra) [Printed book page 0734-b ] यन्त्र (yantra) yantra, i. e. yam + tra, n. 1. An engine or machine in general, any implement, or apparatus, Man. 7, 75; Johns. Sel. 39, 30; Rājat. 5, 104. 2. A thong, Man. 8, 292. 3. A sort of vessel, Hit. iii. d. 52. 4. A mystical diagram, Rāmatap. Up. 1, 13. 5. Restraining. — Comp. Kodaṇḍa-, n. a bow, Rājat. 5, 104. Kūṭa-, n. a trap for deer, birds, etc. Gṛha-, n. an apparatus for raising flags on a house, Kumāras. 6, 41. Ghaṭikā- (thus to be corrected, Pañc. 212, 4), and Ghaṭī-, n. the rope and bucket of a well, Mārk. P. 12, 20. Jala-, n. a machine for raising water, Hariv. 8425. Tāla-, n. 1. a small pair of pincers, Suśr. 1, 23, 16. 2. a lock. Taila-, n. an oil mill, Bhāg. P. 5, 21, 13. Toya-, n. a clepsydra, Sūryas. 13, 21. Dhārā-, n. a water-spout, Prab. 79, 11. Dhraja-, n. an apparatus for planting the staff of a standard, Rām. 4, 13, 20. Nāḍī-, n. any tube- like apparatus, Suśr. 1, 23, 17. Mahā-, n. any great mechanical work, Man. 11, 63. Su-, adj. with machines, Hit. iii. d. 52. Sūtra-, n. 1. a loom. 2. a shuttle. Strī-, n. a woman who works like an artificial machine, Pañc. i. d. 204. Sva-māyā-, adj. formed by his art, Kathās. 29, 18. [ ID=11707 ]
- 1. A means or instrument for holding, restraining, or fastening. 2. A prop, support, fence, or barrier. 3. A fetter, band, cord, or rein. 4. A surgical instrument, especially a blunt tool like tweezers or a vice. 5. Any machine, engine, implement, or apparatus. 6. A lock or bolt. 7. Restraint or force. 8. An amulet or mystical diagram used as an amulet.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > [Printed book page 0809-b ] Yantra, am, n. a means or instrument for holding or restraining or fastening anything, a prop, support, stay, fence, barrier; a fetter, band, fastening, tie, thong, cord, rein, trace, harness; a surgical instru- ment (especially any blunt instrument, such as tweezers, a vice, &c., opposed to śastra ); any instrument, machine, engine, implement, apparatus, vessel, appliance, ( kūpa-yantra, a machine for draw- ing water from a well; cf. jala-y°, taila-y°, gola- y° ); a lock, bolt, &c. restraining, restraint, con- straint, force, ( yantreṇa, forcibly, violently); an amulet, a diagram of a mystical nature or astrological character used as an amulet. —Yantra-karaṇḍikā, f. a kind of magical basket. —Yantrakarma-kṛt, t, m. a person who makes instruments or machines, a machinist, artisan. —Yantra-garuḍa, as, m. an image of Garuḍa mechanically contrived to move by itself. —Yantra-gṛha, am, n. an oil-mill; a manu- factory. —Yantra-gola, as, m. a kind of pea. —Yantra-ceṣṭita, am, n. any magical work or operation, enchantment. —Yantra-takṣan, ā, m. a constructer of machines, maker of instruments; a preparer of charms or spells. —Yantra-dṛḍha, as, ā, am, secured by a lock or bolt (as a door). —Yan- tra-dhārā-gṛha, am, n. a room fitted up with a kind of shower-bath, a bath-room with flowing water; [cf. dhārā-gṛha. ] —Yantra-nāla, am, n. a me- chanical pipe or tube, the pipe of a well. —Yantra- putraka, as, ikā, m. f. a mechanical doll or puppet fitted with strings or any contrivance for moving the limbs. —Yantra-peṣaṇī, f. a hand-mill. —Yantra- prakāśa, as, m., N. of a work (attributed to Madana-pāla). —Yantra-pravāha, as, m. an arti- ficial stream of water, machine for watering. —Yan- tra-maya, as, ī, am, consisting of a machine, arti- Page0809-c+ 79 ficially made or constructed. —Yantra-mātṛkā, f., N. of one of the sixty-four Kalās. —Yantra-mārga, as, m. an aqueduct, canal. —Yantra-mukta, as, ā, am, thrown by any kind of machine (said of wea- pons). —Yantra-yukta, as, ā, am, furnished with (all necessary) implements or apparatus, ( yantra- yuktā nauḥ, a boat fitted out with oars, sails, &c.) —Yantra-vat, ān, atī, at, possessing or furnished with a machine. —Yantra-śara, as, m. a missile shot off by machinery. —Yantra-sūtra, am, n. the cord attached to a jointed doll or puppet. —Yantrā- kāra (°ra-āk°) and yantroddhara (°ra-ud°), as, m., N. of two works. —Yantrārūḍha (°ra-ār°), as, ā, am, fixed or mounted on the revolving engine (of the universe). —Yantrālaya (°ra-āl°), as, m. a printing-office, press. —Yantrotkṣiptopala (°ra- ut°, °ta-up°), as, m. a stone shot off by a machine (sling, ballista, &c.). —Yantropala (°ra-up°), as, am, m. n. a mill-stone, mill. [ ID=38398 ]
- a mechanical contrivance used by Tvashta to diminish the sun's energy, the surplus of which became Vishnu's discus, Rudra's trident, and Indra's thunderbolt  
  *The Purana Index*
  > यन्त्र (yantra) [Printed book page 3-011 ] Yantra — a mechanical contrivance used by Tvaṣṭā to diminish the tejas of the sun; the surplus tejas became Viṣṇu's cakra, Rudra's trident and Indra's thunder bolt. M. 11. 27-9. [ ID=11186 ]

### Cross-references / Meta-entries (2 definitions)
- See column 3.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 845,2] यन्त्र (yantra) a See col. 3. [ ID=170248 ]
- See page 809, columns 2 and 3.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > यन्त्र (yantra) [Printed book page 0808-c ] यन्त्र (yantra) yantra, yantraya, yantrin, &c. See p. 809, cols. 2, 3. [ ID=38379 ]

### Restraint / Force (Act or Concept) (2 definitions)
- restraint, force  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > restraint, force ( ° त्रेण (°treṇa) ind. forcibly, violently), MW. [ ID=170304 ]
- forcibly, violently  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2C) [Printed book page 845,3] यन्त्रेण (yantreṇa) ind., forcibly, violently [ ID=170305.1 ]

### Support / Means of Holding or Restraining (2 definitions)
- any instrument for holding, restraining, or fastening; a prop, support, or barrier  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > [Printed book page 845,3] यन्त्र (yantra) b n. any instrument for holding or restraining or fastening, a prop, support, barrier, RV. &c. &c. [ ID=170300 ]
- 1. A prop, support, fence, or barrier. 2. The trace of a carriage. 3. Any instrument or machine.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > यन्त्र (yantra) [Printed book page 428 ] यन्त्र (yantra) n. hold i.e. means for holding, prop, support, fence, barrier; trace (of a carriage); i.g. any instrument or machine. [ ID=25824 ]

### Verb: To Restrain / Subdue (2 definitions)
- To restrain  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > यन्त्र (yantra) [Printed book page 680 ] यन्त्र (yantra) r. 1st and 10th cls. ( यन्त्र (yantra) ति यन्त्र (yantra) यति (yantrati yantrayati) ) To restrain: see यत्रि (yatri). [ ID=31273 ]
- To restrain or subdue.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > यन्त्र (yantra) [Printed book page 609-b ] यन्त्र (yantra) ( कि ) यन्त्र (yantra) ति, यन्त्र (yantra) यति ((ki) yantrati, yantrayati) 1. 10. a. To restrain, subdue. [ ID=30834 ]

### Fetter / Means of Binding (1 definition)
- a fetter, band, tie, thong, rein, or trace  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a fetter, band, tie, thong, rein, trace, Mn.; MBh. [ ID=170301 ]

### Mystical Diagram / Amulet (1 definition)
- An amulet or mystical diagram possessing occult powers.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an amulet, mystical diagram supposed to possess occult powers, Kathās.; Pañcar. ( cf. Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 203 ). [ ID=170305 ]

### Surgical Instrument (1 definition)
- a surgical instrument  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a surgical instrument ( esp. a blunt one, such as tweezers, a vice &c., opp. to शस्त्र (śastra) ), Suśr.; Vāgbh. [ ID=170302 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

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