Dictionary
List of important Vedic Sanskrit words
Concepts
- Ṛta: Cosmic order and eternal truth
- Dharma: Moral duty, righteousness, or cosmic law
- Ātman: Self or soul
- Karma: Action, deed, or the principle of cause and effect
- Satya: Truth
- Tapas: Austerity, spiritual practice
- Mantra: Sacred utterances or sounds, integral to Vedic rituals.
- Deva: Deity or god
- Asura: Demon or anti-god
- Māyā: Illusion or magic
- Mantra: Sacred utterance or sound
- Brahman: The power of Vedic chanting and ritualistic speech
- Loka: World or realm
- Svarga: Heaven or celestial realm
- Naraka: Hell or underworld
Rituals
- Yajña: Ritual sacrifice or offering
- Agnihotra: Daily fire ritual
- Homa: Fire ritual involving offerings
- Upākarma: Annual ritual of changing the sacred thread
- Prāyaścitta: Atonement or expiatory ritual
- Śrāddha: Ancestor worship ritual
- Snāna: Cleaning rites performed before rituals
- Avabhṛtha: Post-ritual bath
- Samidh: Ritual kindling of fire
- Abhiṣeka: Ritual anointment
- Homāgni: The fire used in sacrificial rituals
- Ājya: Ghee or clarified butter used in rituals
- Yāga: Ritual sacrifice or worship
- Āhuti: Oblation, offering into the fire
- Śānti: Ritual for peace or tranquility
Family
- Gṛha: Home or household
- Janman: Birth or lineage
- Pitṛ: Father, ancestor
- Mātṛ: Mother
- Putrā: Son
- Duhitṛ: Daughter
- Svāsara: Brother-in-law or sister-in-law
- Bhāgina: Sister
- Bhrātṛ: Brother
- Śvaśura: Father-in-law
- Śvaśrū: Mother-in-law
- Samdhi: Father-in-law or mother-in-law (depending on context)
- Snushā: Daughter-in-law
- Prabhu: Master, lord, husband
- Patnī: Wife
Society
- Ārya: A member of Vedic society, the noble ones, who spoke Vedic sanskrit and followed Aryan Gods
- Dasyu: Native population that were labelled as "Destroyers" and "Barbarians". Did not follow Vedic rituals
- Varṇa: Social class or caste division
- Dvija: Twice-born, referring to initiation ceremony
- Jāti: Birth group or sub-caste
- Janapada: Nation or country
- Samāja: Community or assembly
- Kula: Family or clan
- Gotra: Lineage or clan
- Viś: Settlement
- Gana: Group, multitude, or tribe
- Brāhmaṇa: Priests or scholars
- Kṣatriya: Warriors and kings
- Rājan: King or ruler
- Rājanya: Noble or aristocrat, often synonymous with Kṣatriya
- Vaiśya: Merchants or agricultural workers, a member of the viś
- Śūdra: Servants and laborers, typically non-ārya who became servants
- Ṛṣi: Sage or seer
- Guru: Teacher or spiritual guide
- Sākhā: Branch or school (of a Vedic tradition)
- Vṛnda: Group or assembly
- Dāsa: Servant, slave, or bondsman
- Dāsī: Female servant or slave
- Mitra: Friend or ally
- Śatru: Enemy or adversary
- Yajamāna: Sacrificer or patron (the person for whom the sacrifice is performed)
- Purohita: Family priest or chief priest
- Kavi: Poet or sage with profound insight
- Vipra: Learned and inspired person, often a poet or sage
Animals
- Gau: Cow
- Aśva: Horse
- Ukṣā: Cow
- Vṛṣabha: Bull
- Varāha: Boar
- Mriga: Deer
- Haṁsa: Swan or goose
- Kṛśānu: Antelope
- Śarabha: Mythical creature, sometimes interpreted as a deer or antelope
- Vṛka: Wolf
- Ṛkṣa: Bear
- Varaṇa: Boar or pig
- Mṛgā: Doe or hind
- Khara: Ass or donkey
- Uṣṭra: Camel
- Śaśa: Hare or rabbit
- Śyena: Falcon or hawk
- Garuda: Eagle, specifically the mythical bird associated with Vishnu
- Mayūra: Peacock
- Kaṇṭaka: Porcupine
- Vāraha: Wild boar
- Meshá: Ram or sheep
Warfare
- Senā: Army or military force
- Yuddha: Warfare or battle
- Yoddha: Warrior or fighter
- Rāṇa: Battle or conflict
- Vīra: Hero or brave person
- Ratha: Chariot, often used in battles
- Ājīvaka: Mercenary or hired soldier
- Śastra: Weapon or implement, including weapons of war
- Asipatra: Sword or blade
- Dhanus: Bow, used in archery
- Bāṇa: Arrow, projectile
- Parigha: Mace or club
- Śūla: Spear or lance
- Śalya: Dart or javelin
- Varman: Armor or protective covering
- Abhivarman: Shield or defensive weapon
- Parākrama: Valor or prowess in battle
- Astra: Supernatural weapon, often associated with divine beings
- Amartya: Immortal, suggesting supernatural abilities in battle
- Pattis: Infantry or foot soldiers
- Rathis: Charioteers or those who drive chariots
- Prāpura: Fort or stronghold (note: not directly related to war, but included previously)
Nature and Elements
- Ākāśa: Sky or space
- Vāyu: Wind or air
- Agni: Fire
- Jala: Water
- Prithvī: Earth
- Dyaús Daylight sky
- Varṣā: Rain
- Himā: Snow
- Nadī: River
- Samudra: The Ocean
- Parvata: Mountain
- Candra: Moon
- Tara: Star
- Sūrya: Sun
- Megha: Cloud
- Stanayitnu: Thunder
- Vidyut: Lightning
- Giri: Hill
- Vana: Forest
- Vṛkṣa: Tree
- Patra: Leaf
- Puṣpa: Flower
- Bhūmi: Ground
Vedic Geography
Important Rivers
- Sarasvatī: The most important river in the Ṛgveda
- Sindhu: A of the major river where lots of aryans settled
- Gaṅgā: Revered river mentioned in various Vedic hymns
- Yamunā: Significant river praised in Vedic literature
- Sarasvatī: Mythical and important river celebrated in the Ṛgveda
- Satadru: Mentioned in the Ṛgveda, located in northwest India
- Vipāś: River mentioned in the Ṛgveda, located in Punjab region, known today as beas
- Kubhā River: Kubhā is a river flowing through the region of Gandhāra, known today as kabul river
Locations
- Sapta Sindhu: The region of seven rivers including the Sindhu (Indus), mentioned in the Ṛgveda
- Kuru: Region and kingdom associated with the Kuru dynasty, located around modern-day Delhi and Haryana
- Manas Sarovar: Sacred lake in the Himālayas mentioned in the Ṛgveda
- Himāvant: Sacred mountain range mentioned in Vedic texts as the abode of gods
- Mūjavant: Mt Muztagata in the Pamir range of Xinjiang, China. Where lots of Soma was gathered.
- Brahmāvarta: Sacred region for Vedic rituals, located in present-day Haryana
- Bhāratavarṣa: Bhāratavarṣa is the land ruled by the legendary king Bhārata.
- Naimiṣa Forest: Mentioned in Vedic texts as a sacred forest where sages performed rituals
- Gaṅgā Plain: Fertile region in northern India, mentioned in Vedic literature as an important agricultural and cultural area
- Videha: Ancient kingdom in the eastern Gaṅgātic plain, mentioned in Vedic texts and associated with King Janaka