Atha; 6 Definition(s)

Introduction

Atha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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.

In Hinduism

Vyākaraṇa (Sanskrit grammar)

Atha (अथ).—Uṇādi affix अथ (atha) prescribed in Uṇādi Sūtras 393-396 e.g. see शपथ, अवभृथ, आवसथ (śapatha, avabhṛtha, āvasatha) ctc.

In Buddhism

Pali

atha : (ind.) then; and also.

Atha, (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 comb^d. 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)

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

atha (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.

āṭha (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).

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Atha (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.

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