Atha: 14 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Atha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Alternative spellings of this word include Aath.
In Hinduism
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarAtha (अथ).—Uṇādi affix अथ (atha) prescribed in Uṇādi Sūtras 393-396 e.g. see शपथ, अवभृथ, आवसथ (śapatha, avabhṛtha, āvasatha) ctc.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryatha : (ind.) then; and also.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryAtha, (indecl.) (Sk. atha, cp. atho) copulative & adversative part. 1. after positive clauses, in enumerations, in the beginning & continuation of a story: and, and also, or; and then, now D. II, 2; III, 152, 199 (athâparaṃ etad avoca); M. I, 435; Sn. 1006, 1007, 1017; Sn. p. 126 (athâparaṃ etad avoca: and further, something else); Dh. 69, 119, 377; J. II, 158; Pv. II, 64; PvA. 3, 8 (atha na and not), 70.—2. after negative clauses: but M. I, 430; Sn. 990, 1047; Dh. 85, 136, 387; PvA. 68. Often combd. with other part. , e.g. atha kho (pos. & neg.) now, and then; but, rather, moreover Vin. I, 1; D. I, 141, 167, 174; A. V, 195; PvA. 79, 221, 251. na-atha kho na neither-nor PvA. 28. atha kho pana and yet D. I, 139. atha ca pana on the other hand J. I, 279. atha vā or (after prec. ca), nor (after prec. na) Sn. 134; Dh. 140, 271; Pv. I, 41; II, 14. athā vā pi Sn. 917, 921. (Page 25)

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 Dictionaryatha (अथ).—ind S An auspicious and inceptive particle, placed at the head of the first line of a book; denoting commencement, as our Finis denotesconclusion. It serves to introduce a remark, question &c.; and corresponds to Therefore, thus, further, afterwards, moreover. athapāsūna itiparyanta From beginning to end, throughout.
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āṭha (आठ).—a (aṣṭa S) Eight. Pr. āṭhīṃ jēvaṇēṃ maṭhīṃ nidrā Used of one who subsists amongst the eight (i. e. the people--who obtains a meal daily, in rotation, from charitable persons) and sleeps anywhere; an idle vagabond.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishāṭha (आठ).—a Eight. āṭha purabhayyē naū caukē Nine ovens for eight men i. e. disunited, unable to form a compact body. āḍha hāta lāṅkūḍa va naū hāta dhalapī Exaggeration. āṭhīṃ jēvaṇēṃ maṭhīṃ nidrā (Spoken of one who subsists on charity and sleeps any- where i. e. an idle vagabond).
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 dictionaryAtha (अथ).—(Ved. athā) ind. [arth-ḍa, pṛṣoda° ralopaḥ Tv.]
1) A particle used at the beginning (of works) mostly as a sign of auspiciousness, and translated by 'here', 'now' (begins) (maṅgala, ārambha, adhikāra) (Properly speaking 'auspiciousness' or maṅgala is not the sense of atha, but the very utterance or hearing of the word is considered to be indicative of auspiciousness, as the word is supposed to have emanated from the throat of Brahmā oṃkāraścāthaśabdaśca dvāvetau brahmaṇaḥ purā | kaṇṭhaṃ bhittvā viniryātau tena māṅgalikāvubhau || and therefore we find in Śāṅkara Bhāṣya arthāntaraprayuktaḥ athaśabdaḥ śrutyā maṅgalamāracayati); अथ निर्वचनम् (atha nirvacanam); अथ योगानुशासनम् (atha yogānuśāsanam); अथेदं प्रारभ्यते द्वितीयं तन्त्रम् (athedaṃ prārabhyate dvitīyaṃ tantram) Pt.2. (usually followed by iti at the end, iti prathamo'ṅkaḥ here ends &c.).
2) Then, afterwards (ānantarya) अथ प्रजानामधिपः प्रभाते (atha prajānāmadhipaḥ prabhāte) R.2.1; often as a correlative of यदि (yadi) or चेत् (cet); न चेन्मुनिकुमारोऽयं अथ कोऽस्य व्यपदेशः (na cenmunikumāro'yaṃ atha ko'sya vyapadeśaḥ) Ś.7; मुहूर्तादुपरि उपाध्याय- श्चेदागच्छेत् अथ त्वं छन्दोऽधीष्व (muhūrtādupari upādhyāya- ścedāgacchet atha tvaṃ chando'dhīṣva) P.III.3.9. Sk.
3) If, supposing, now if, in case, but if (pakṣāntara); अथ कौतुक- मावेदयामि (atha kautuka- māvedayāmi) K.144, अथ तु वेत्सि शुचि व्रतमात्मनः पतिकुले तव दास्यमपि क्षमम् (atha tu vetsi śuci vratamātmanaḥ patikule tava dāsyamapi kṣamam) || Ś.5.27; अथ मरणमवश्यमेव जन्तोः किमिति मुधा मलिनं यशः कुरुध्वे (atha maraṇamavaśyameva jantoḥ kimiti mudhā malinaṃ yaśaḥ kurudhve) Ve.3.6. अथ गृह्णाति (atha gṛhṇāti) Ś.7; Ku.5.45; Mu.3.25; Ki.1.44; अथ चास्तमिता त्वमात्मना (atha cāstamitā tvamātmanā) R.8.51 while, but, on the other hand; oft followed by ततः (tataḥ) or तथापि (tathāpi), Bg.2.26;12.9,11; अथ चेत् (atha cet) but if Bg.2. 33;18.58.
4) And, so also, likewise (samuccaya); गणितमथ कलां वैशिकीम् (gaṇitamatha kalāṃ vaiśikīm) Mk.1. मातृष्वसा मातुलानि श्वश्रूरथ पितृष्वसा । संपूज्या गुरुपत्नीवत् समास्ता गुरुभार्यया (mātṛṣvasā mātulāni śvaśrūratha pitṛṣvasā | saṃpūjyā gurupatnīvat samāstā gurubhāryayā) || Ms.2.1.31; भीमोऽथार्जुनः (bhīmo'thārjunaḥ) G.M.
5) Used in asking or introducing questions (praśna) oft. with the interrogative word itself; अथ सा तत्रभवती किमाख्यम्य राजर्षेः पत्नी (atha sā tatrabhavatī kimākhyamya rājarṣeḥ patnī) Ś.7; अर्थवान् खलु मे राजशब्दः । अथ भगवाँल्लोकानुग्रहाय कुशली काश्यपः (arthavān khalu me rājaśabdaḥ | atha bhagavāṃllokānugrahāya kuśalī kāśyapaḥ) Ś.5; अथ शक्नोषि भोक्तुम् (atha śaknoṣi bhoktum) G. M.; अथात्रभवति कथमित्थंभूता (athātrabhavati kathamitthaṃbhūtā) M.5; अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः (atha kena prayukto'yaṃ pāpaṃ carati pūruṣaḥ) | Bg.3.36; अथ भवन्तमन्तरेण कीदृशोऽस्या दृष्टिरागः (atha bhavantamantareṇa kīdṛśo'syā dṛṣṭirāgaḥ) Ś.2; अथ माडव्यं प्रति किमेवं प्रयुक्तम् (atha māḍavyaṃ prati kimevaṃ prayuktam) Ś.6 (atha may in these two sentences mean 'but').
6) Totality, entirety (kārtsnya); अथ धर्मं व्याख्यास्यामः (atha dharmaṃ vyākhyāsyāmaḥ) G. M. we shall explain the whole धर्म (dharma) (dharma in all its details.) Śi;7.75.
7) Doubt, uncertainty (saṃśaya, vikalpa); शब्दो नित्यो ऽथानित्यः (śabdo nityo 'thānityaḥ) G. M. The senses of अथ (atha) usually given by lexicographers are :-अथोऽथ स्यातां समुच्चये । मङ्गले संशयारम्भा- धिकारानन्तरेषु च । अन्वादेशे प्रतिज्ञायां प्रश्नसाकल्ययोरपि (atho'tha syātāṃ samuccaye | maṅgale saṃśayārambhā- dhikārānantareṣu ca | anvādeśe pratijñāyāṃ praśnasākalyayorapi) || Some of these senses are indentical with those in (1), while some are not in general use.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryAtha (अथ).—followed by khalu, tarhi, or evaṃ (= Pali atha, and atha kho; seems not used in this sense in Sanskrit), after a negative clause: atha khalu (not…) but rather, German sondern Mahāvastu ii.161.15, 18; 162.1, 3; atha tarhi, id., Lalitavistara 19.11, 16, 20; 20.3; atha evaṃ anyatra Mahāvastu iii.66.8 and 15 (see s.v. anyatra, 1), but rather, on the contrary…
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAtha (अथ).—ind. An auspicious and inceptive particle; it serves to introduce a remark, a question, an affirmation, &c. and corresponds to. 1. After. 2. And 3. Now, (inceptive or premising) 4. What, (interrogatively) 5. All, (comprehensively) 6. Therefore, thus, further, moreover, &c. It also implies doubt or command, and is frequently redundant. E. artha to ask, ḍa affix, and ra is dropped, also atho.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAtha (अथ).—[a + tha] (probably for athā, Ved. cf. idam), adv. 1. Then, [Nala] 17, 35. 2. Now, at the beginning of works and parts of works. 3. But, [Nala] 22, 13. 4. In conditional sentences: If, atha tān nānu gacchāmi gamiṣyāmi yamakṣayam, ‘if I do not follow them, I shall go to the house of death,’ [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 60, 3.
— With following u, (atho): 1. afterwards, then,
— With following api, nevertheless, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 29, 7.
— With following vā: 1. or also, or, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 219. [Pañcatantra] i, [distich] 399, vātha instead of vātha vā (cf. [Pañcatantra] iii, [distich] 36. atho vā, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 202). 2. or even, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 10. 3. but no, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] 60, 18. 4. it is particularly used to introduce sentences: for, [Pañcatantra] 26, 14.
— With following kim: yes, well (in dialogue, cf. ).
— Cf. [Latin] at.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAtha (अथ).—[adverb] then, now; therefore, accordingly; further, also; however, but (often merely expletive). At the beginning of books or sections of books = now beginneth ([opposed] iti q.v.). Often followed by atas (athātas), api (athāpi), u (atho), gha, tu, punar, etc.
— atha vā ([rarely] atha alone or vātha) or, or rather, but, however, or if, even. atha vā—atha vā either or. atha kim how else?, i.e. of course. atha kimu so much the more.
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Athā (अथा).—[adverb] then, now; therefore, accordingly; further, also; however, but (often merely expletive). At the beginning of books or sections of books = now beginneth ([opposed] iti q.v.). Often followed by atas (athātas), api (athāpi), u (atho), gha, tu, punar, etc.
— atha vā ([rarely] atha alone or vātha) or, or rather, but, however, or if, even. atha vā—atha vā either or. atha kim how else?, i.e. of course. atha kimu so much the more.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Atha (अथ):—ind. (or [Vedic or Veda] athā) (probably [from] [pronominal] base a) an auspicious and inceptive particle (not easily expressed in English), now
2) then
3) moreover
4) rather
5) certainly
6) but
7) else
8) what? how else? etc.
9) Athā (अथा):—ind. atha (or [Vedic or Veda] athā) (probably [from] [pronominal] base a) an auspicious and inceptive particle (not easily expressed in English), now
10) then
11) moreover
12) rather
13) certainly
14) but
15) else
16) what? how else? etc.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+134): Atha-ca-pana, Atha-gani, Athabaili, Athabbana, Athabbanika, Athac, Athaca, Athadanem, Athaghata, Athahattara, Athaka, Athakem, Athaki, Athakim, Athakimu, Athalayunnada, Athalayuru Nadalvara, Athali, Athanahana, Athanantara.
Ends with (+1681): Abatha, Abhidhammakatha, Abhinandananatha, Abhisamaya Katha, Abhisambuddha Gatha, Abhiyajnagatha, Abhrapatha, Acalanatha, Acalasaptamivratakatha, Adakatha, Adarshanapatha, Adattadasyatha, Addhanadaratha, Adhikaranasamatha, Adhilokanatha, Adhinatha, Adhiratha, Adhivacanapatha, Adhvaratha, Adhvaryupatha.
Full-text (+323): Athava, Atho, Athaca, Athatu, Athakimu, Jivatha, Athavapi, Athapi, Athakim, Athova, Vancatha, Adasashta, Athim, Athatas, Athanantaram, Athatisa, Athara, Aththaya, Atha-gani, Dunem.
Relevant text
Search found 75 books and stories containing Atha, Āṭha, Athā, Aṭha; (plurals include: Athas, Āṭhas, Athās, Aṭhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa (by Dhrubajit Sarma)
Part 2d - Rasa (4): Hāsya or the sentiment of humour < [Chapter III - Literary Assessment Of The Śrīkaṇṭhacarita]
Part 5ac - Alaṃkāra (29): Sāmānya or sameness < [Chapter III - Literary Assessment Of The Śrīkaṇṭhacarita]
Part 7 - Comparison [of the Maṅkhakośa] with other koṣas < [Chapter V - The Maṅkhakośa]
The Practice Manual of Noble Tārā Kurukullā (by Dharmachakra Translation Committee)
Chapter 6 < [Appendix - Sanskrit Text]
Chapter 3 < [Appendix - Sanskrit Text]
Chapter 4 < [Appendix - Sanskrit Text]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 2.75 < [Section XVII - Rules of Study]
Verse 9.137 < [Section XVII - Property of one who has no Male Issue: the ‘Appointed Daughter’]
Verse 8.202 < [Section XXXIII - Fraudulent Sale]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.4.268 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Verse 2.1.182 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
Verse 2.4.61 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Shrimad Bhagavad-gita (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 2.33 < [Chapter 2 - Sāṅkhya-yoga (Yoga through distinguishing the Soul from the Body)]
Verse 3.36 < [Chapter 3 - Karma-yoga (Yoga through the Path of Action)]
Verse 1.26 < [Chapter 1 - Sainya-Darśana (Observing the Armies)]
Chandogya Upanishad (english Translation) (by Swami Lokeswarananda)