Nirukta

Nirukta (Sanskrit: निरुक्त, IPA: [n̪iɾuktɐ], "explained, interpreted") is one of the six ancient Vedangas, or ancillary science connected with the Vedas – the scriptures of Hinduism.^[1]^[2]^[3] Nirukta covers etymology, and is the study concerned with correct interpretation of Sanskrit words in the Vedas.^[3]

Nirukta is the systematic creation of a glossary and it discusses how to understand archaic, uncommon words.^[1] The field grew probably because almost a quarter of words in the Vedic texts composed in the 2nd-millennium BCE appear just once.^[2]^[4]^[5]

^ ^a ^b Monier Monier-Williams (1923). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. p. vi, 494.
^ ^a ^b James Lochtefeld (2002), "Nirukta" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N–Z, Rosen Publishing, ISBN 0-8239-2287-1, page 476
^ ^a ^b Harold G. Coward 1990, p. 105.
^ V. S. Apte, A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 556. Apte gives a nirukta sūtra for the word nirukta itself using a traditional definition as नाम च धातुजमाह निरुत्कं or "Name and root origins are nirukta".
^ Monier-Williams. A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. p. 553.
Macdonell, Arthur Anthony. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary. p. 142.

[monierwilliamsnirukta-1] Monier Monier-Williams (1923). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. p. vi, 494.

[jameslochtefeldsca476-2] James Lochtefeld (2002), "Nirukta" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N–Z, Rosen Publishing, ISBN 0-8239-2287-1, page 476

[FOOTNOTEHarold_G._Coward1990105-3] Harold G. Coward 1990, p. 105.

[4] V. S. Apte, A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, p. 556. Apte gives a nirukta sūtra for the word nirukta itself using a traditional definition as नाम च धातुजमाह निरुत्कं or "Name and root origins are nirukta".

[5] Monier-Williams. A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. p. 553.
Macdonell, Arthur Anthony. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary. p. 142.

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