Alternative spellings of this word include Varak.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

Varaka (वरक) refers an inferior variety of rice, and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—The discussions on rice can be seen only in post-Ṛgvedic literature. [...] According to Suśruta, among the vrīhi rice the black variety, which is called kṛṣṇavrīhi, was popular. Ṣaṣṭika rice was considered very nourishing and its daily use is also recommended in the text. Some inferior varieties of rice such as koradūṣaka, śyāmāka, nīvāra, varaka and priyaṅgu were used by the poor people and ascetics.

Varaka is classified as a type of grain (dhānya) in the section on tṛṇadhānya (grassy grains) in the Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana).—Tṛṇadhānya-prakaraṇa discusses the varieties and properties of grassy grains such as kaṅgu (foxtail millet), kadrava (kodo millet), śyāmāka, varaka and kurī (common millet).

Varaka or “wild kodo millet” is also mentioned as being mutually incompatible (viruddhāhāra) with Paya (milk).

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Varaka (वरक) is a Sanskrit word for a variety of rice (ṣaṣṭika) which is said to have a superior quality, according to Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. The literal translation of the word “cloak” or “cloth”. The plant Varaka is part of the Śūkadhānyavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of awned grains”. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic value of the plant. Varaka is said to be cold, unctuous, non-heavy, promoting the stability of and alleviates the three doṣas.

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Varāka (वराक) refers to “pitiable” (living beings), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Pitiable (varāka) living beings roam about perpetually in the ocean of life which is a great whirlpool having four states of existence [and] inflamed by the hell-fire of suffering. Embodied souls, living in immovable and movable bodies, are born [and] die constrained by the chains of their own actions”.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Varāka.—(CII 1), distressed. Note: varāka is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

1) Varaka in India is the name of a plant defined with Vigna aconitifolia in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Phaseolus palmatus Forssk. (among others).

2) Varaka is also identified with Panicum miliaceum It has the synonym Milium paniceum Mill. (etc.).

3) Varaka in Sri Lanka is also identified with Artocarpus heterophyllus It has the synonym Artocarpus brasiliensis Gomez (etc.).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Encyclopédie Méthodique, Botanique (1786)
· Grasses of Burma (1960)
· Methodus Plantas Horti Botanici … (1794)
· A Botanical Materia Medica (1812)
· Fragmenta Floristica et Geobotanica (1981)
· Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany (1985)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Varaka, for example health benefits, extract dosage, diet and recipes, side effects, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, have a look at these references.

context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

varaka : (m.) kind of grain. || varāka (adj.) wretched; a miserable person. vāraka (m.), a jar.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Vāraka, (cp. Sk. vāra & vāraka) a pot, jar Vin. II, 122 (three kinds: loha°, dāru° and cammakhaṇḍa°); J. I, 349; II, 70; III, 52 (dadhi°); Miln. 260; DhsA. 377 (phānita°). (Page 609)

— or —

1) Varaka, ² (adj.) (fr. vṛ) wishing or asking (in marriage) Th. 2, 406. (Page 602)

2) Varaka, ¹ (cp. *Sk. varaka) the bean Phaseolus trilobus J. II, 75 (where equal to kalāya); Miln. 267; DhA. I, 311. (Page 602)

— or —

Varāka, (adj.) (cp. Epic Sk. varāka) wretched, miserable S. I, 231; J. IV, 285; Vism. 315; VvA. 101; PvA. 120 (syn. for kapaṇa), 175 (id.). (Page 602)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

varāka (वराक).—a S Poor. 2 fig. Poor, petty, feeble, light, incompetent, impotent: also weak, pitiable, helpless.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Varaka (वरक).—[vṛ-vun Uṇādi-sūtra 5.44]

1) A wish, request, boon.

2) A cloak.

3) A kind of wild bean.

4) One who asks a female in marriage, a suitor, wooer.

-kam 1 The cover of a boat.

2) A towel, wiper.

Derivable forms: varakaḥ (वरकः).

--- OR ---

Varāka (वराक).—a. (-kī f.)

1) Poor, pitiable, miserable, wretched, unhappy, unfortunate (often used to show pity); तन्मया न युक्तं कृतं यत् स वराकोऽपमानितः (tanmayā na yuktaṃ kṛtaṃ yat sa varāko'pamānitaḥ) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1; तत् किमुज्जिहान- जीवितां वराकीं नानुकम्पसे (tat kimujjihāna- jīvitāṃ varākīṃ nānukampase) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 1.

2) Low, vile.

3) Impure.

-kaḥ 1 Name of Śiva.

2) War, battle.

--- OR ---

Vāraka (वारक).—a. [vṛ-ṇic ṇvul] Obstructing, opposing.

-kaḥ 1 A kind of horse.

2) A horse in general.

3) One of the paces of a horse.

4) A kind of vessel; Hch.

5) A person's turn.

-kam 1 The seat of pain.

2) A kind of perfume (vāla or hrīvera).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varaka (वरक).—n.

(-kaṃ) The cover or awning of a boat. m.

(-kaḥ) 1. A wild kidneybean. 2. A request. 3. A towel, a wiper. 4. A cloak. E. vṛ to cover, aff. vun .

--- OR ---

Varāka (वराक).—mfn.

(-kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) 1. Low, vile, impure. 2. Poor, pitiable. m.

(-kaḥ) 1. Siva. 2. War. E. vṛ to cover, &c., ṣākan aff.

--- OR ---

Vāraka (वारक).—mfn.

(-kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) Opposing, obstructing, an obstacle or agent of resistance. m.

(-kaḥ) 1. A horse’s paces. 2. A horse. n.

(-kaṃ) 1. The seat of pain. 2. A sort of fragrant grass: see vāla. E. vṛ to choose, &c., ṇvul aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varāka (वराक).—i. e. vṛ + aka, I. adj., f. kī. 1. Poor, [Pañcatantra] 108, 13. 2. Low, vile, impure, Böhtl. Ind. Spr. 429; [Daśakumāracarita] in Chr. 186, 2; [Pañcatantra] 81, 18. 3. Unhappy, [Pañcatantra] 41, 5. Ii. m. 1. Śiva. 2. War, battle.

--- OR ---

Vāraka (वारक).—i. e. vṛ + aka, I. adj. Opposing, an agent of resistance. Ii. m. 1. A horse’s paces. 2. A horse. Iii. n. 1. The seat of pain. 2. A sort of fragrant grass, Brahmav. 2, 50.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varaka (वरक).—1. [masculine] who asks a girl in marriage.

--- OR ---

Varaka (वरक).—2. [substantive] choice, wish.

--- OR ---

Varāka (वराक).—[feminine] ī wretched, miserable.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Varaka (वरक):—[from vara] 1. varaka m. a cloak, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

2) [v.s. ...] n. cloth, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] the cover or awning of a boat, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) Varāka (वराक):—[from vara] mf(ī)n. wretched, low, miserable, pitiable (mostly said of persons), [Kāvya literature; Kathāsaritsāgara] etc.

5) [v.s. ...] vile, impure (as money), [Kathāsaritsāgara]

6) [v.s. ...] m. (only [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]) Name of Śiva

7) [v.s. ...] battle, war

8) [v.s. ...] a kind of plant.

9) Varaka (वरक):—[from vara] 2. varaka m. one who asks a female in marriage, [Śāṅkhāyana-gṛhya-sūtra]

10) [v.s. ...] a wish, request, boon, [Mahābhārata]

11) [v.s. ...] Name of a prince, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa] ([varia lectio] dhanaka and kanaka)

12) [v.s. ...] Phaseolus Trilobus, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

13) [v.s. ...] a kind of rice, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

14) [v.s. ...] = parpaṭa or śara-parṇikā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

15) Vāraka (वारक):—[from vāra] m. a restrainer, resister, opposer, an obstacle, [Mahābhārata]

16) [v.s. ...] a kind of vessel, [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]

17) [v.s. ...] a person’s turn or time (keṇa ind. in turn), [Hemacandra’s Pariśiṣṭaparvan] (cf. śata-vārakam)

18) [v.s. ...] one of a horse’s paces, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

19) [v.s. ...] a sort of horse or any h°, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

20) [v.s. ...] n. a sort of perfumed or fragrant grass, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

21) [v.s. ...] the seat of pain (= kaṣṭa-sthāna), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

22) Varaka (वरक):—[from vṛ] a etc. See p. 921, col. 1.

23) [from vṛ] b etc. See p. 922, col. 1, and p. 923.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Varaka (वरक):—(kaṃ) 1. n. The covering of a boat; a towel; a wild kidney bean.

2) Varāka (वराक):—[(kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) a.] Low, vile. m. Shiva.

3) Vāraka (वारक):—[(kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) a.] Opposing. m. A horse’s paces; a horse. n. Seat of pain; fragrant grass.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Varaka (वरक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Varaga, Varaya, Vāraga.

[Sanskrit to German]

Varaka in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Varaka (वरक) [Also spelled varak]:—(nm) thin and fine leaves of silver or gold; page of a book; the petals of a flower; ~[sāja] a manufacturer of thin and fine silver or gold leaves; hence ~[sājī] (nf); —[ulaṭanā] to turn a page, to open up a new page.

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Varaka (ವರಕ):—

1) [noun] a veil; a cloak.

2) [noun] a request; solicitation; a petition.

3) [noun] a man who requests, petitions earnestly for something.

4) [noun] a man seeking for a girl to marry (one’s son etc.) or to get married.

--- OR ---

Varāka (ವರಾಕ):—

1) [adjective] arousing or deserving pity; pitiable; pitiful.

2) [adjective] of inferior quality; mean; lacking values.

--- OR ---

Varāka (ವರಾಕ):—

1) [noun] a man in a wretched or pitiable condition.

2) [noun] a man of inferior quality; a man lacking basic values; a rascal; a rogue; a wretch.

3) [noun] Śiva.

4) [noun] a war; battle.

5) [noun] that which has a blemish, fault; an imperfect thing.

--- OR ---

Vāraka (ವಾರಕ):—[adjective] avoiding; turning off; warding off; preventing.

--- OR ---

Vāraka (ವಾರಕ):—

1) [noun] he who avoids, prevents, wards off (some eveil).

2) [noun] a particular breed of horses.

3) [noun] a particular gait of horses.

--- OR ---

Vāraka (ವಾರಕ):—[noun] a presentation, gift received or given.

--- OR ---

Vāraka (ವಾರಕ):—[noun] any of the two vertical half of the body (either left or right half).

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with (+27): Vara-kattalaitampiran, Varakacammarar, Varakaciyam, Varakada, Varakaka, Varakakarni, Varakakarpam, Varakakkiranti, Varakala, Varakalyana, Varakam, Varakamavastha, Varakamikirar, Varakamkshi, Varakamottankoti, Varakamte, Varakan, Varakan-pullikulikai, Varakanetai, Varakankshin.

Ends with (+43): Agnivaraka, Ahvaraka, Aladvaraka, Apadvinivaraka, Apavaraka, Arishtanivaraka, Ashvavaraka, Asvaraka, Avaraka, Avavaraka, Aveshanivaraka, Bahivaraka, Bahuvaraka, Catvaraka, Chirachirachivaraka, Chivaraka, Ciraciracivaraka, Civaraka, Dadhivaraka, Davaraka.

Full-text (+60): Varaya, Marivyasanavaraka, Avaraka, Varaga, Vajravaraka, Varakin, Ashvavaraka, Rathavaraka, Bahuvaraka, Varakam, Pravaraka, Shatavarakam, Apavaraka, Varakena, Yannavarakam, Bahuvarakaphala, Varakakkiranti, Sthulakangu, Turavuvarakam, Puvarakam.

Relevant text

Search found 18 books and stories containing Varaka, Vāraka, Varāka; (plurals include: Varakas, Vārakas, Varākas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)

Verse 1.1.2 < [Part 1 - Qualities of Pure Bhakti (bhagavad-bhakti-bheda)]

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Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)

Rig Veda 9.88.8 < [Sukta 88]

Rig Veda 1.128.7 < [Sukta 128]

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Kautilya Arthashastra (by R. Shamasastry)

Chapter 19 - The Superintendent of Weights and Measures < [Book 2 - The duties of Government Superintendents]

Chapter 15 - The Superintendent of Store-house < [Book 2 - The duties of Government Superintendents]

Chapter 29 - The Superintendent of Cows < [Book 2 - The duties of Government Superintendents]

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Charaka Samhita (English translation) (by Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society)

Chapter 27a - The group of awned cereals (Shukadhanya—monocotyledons) < [Sutrasthana (Sutra Sthana) — General Principles]

Chapter 3 - The Formation of the Fetus (garbha-avakranti) < [Sharirasthana (Sharira Sthana) — Section on Human Embodiment]

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Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikā (by Sarasvati Thkura)

Text 15 < [First Stabaka]

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Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)

Verse 1.1.43-44 < [Chapter 1 - Bhauma (the earthly plane)]

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