Shadgunya, Ṣādguṇya, Ṣāḍguṇya: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Shadgunya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
The Sanskrit terms Ṣādguṇya and Ṣāḍguṇya can be transliterated into English as Sadgunya or Shadgunya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Shodhganga: Facts of society in the ManusamhitaṢādguṇya (षाद्गुण्य):—In addition to the application of this art of polit ics the king (rāja) must continuous ponder on six political ex pedients (ṣādguṇya) viz.
- Sandhi (alliance),
- Vigraha (war),
- Yāna (marching),
- Āsana (holding),
- Dvaidhībhāva (dividing the army)
- and Saṃśraya (seeking protection).
Kautilya states this view very clearly. According to him, the state policy is the root of six fold royal policies—ṣādguṇyasya prakṛmaṇḍalaṃ yoniḥ.

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: Universität Wien: Sudarśana's Worship at the Royal Court According to the AhirbudhnyasaṃhitāSādguṇya (साद्गुण्य) refers to “excellences” (of the king) (as opposed to Vaiguṇya—‘defectiveness’), according to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā, belonging to the Pāñcarātra tradition which deals with theology, rituals, iconography, narrative mythology and others.—Accordingly, “For only the Court Officiant accomplishes for Kings all seen and unseen aims, especially when this Deity is installed, worshipped and so on. Any defectiveness (vaiguṇya) of his (i.e. of the King) is due to the faults of the Court Officiant, and similarly [every] excellence (sādguṇya) of the same King in [the performance of] rituals [depends on the Officiant], oh Master of the Earth!”.

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryṢāḍguṇya (षाड्गुण्य).—[ṣaḍ guṇā eva ṣyañ]
1) The collection of six qualities.
2) Six expedients to be used by a king, six measures of royal policy; षाड्गुण्यसमुद्देशः (ṣāḍguṇyasamuddeśaḥ) Kau. A.6; षाड्गुण्यमुपुञ्जीत शक्त्यपेक्षी रसायनम् (ṣāḍguṇyamupuñjīta śaktyapekṣī rasāyanam) Śiśupālavadha 2.93; see under गुण (guṇa) also; षाड्गुण्यस्य प्रयोगेण तत्तन्मन्त्रबलेन च (ṣāḍguṇyasya prayogeṇa tattanmantrabalena ca) Śiva B.11.3.
3) Multiplication of anything by six.
4) Six properties.
Derivable forms: ṣāḍguṇyam (षाड्गुण्यम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryṢāḍguṇya (षाड्गुण्य).—n.
(-ṇyaṃ) 1. An aggregate of six properties or qualities. 2. The six acts of royal military policy. 3. Multiplication of anything by six. E. ṣaḍguṇa, and ṣyañ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryṢāḍguṇya (षाड्गुण्य).—i. e. ṣaṣ-guṇa + ya, n. An aggregate of six, six articles, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 7, 58; six measures, 7, 167; six kinds of behaving against an enemy, [Pañcatantra] 154, 9.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryṢāḍguṇya (षाड्गुण्य).—[neuter] the six measures of royal policy.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ṣāḍguṇya (षाड्गुण्य):—n. ([from] ṣaḍ-guṇa q.v.) the aggregate of the six qualities, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
2) the six good qualities or excellencies, [Caraka; Śiśupāla-vadha]
3) the six measures or acts of royal policy, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
4) six articles of any kind, multiplication of anything by six, [Horace H. Wilson]
5) Sādguṇya (साद्गुण्य):—n. ([from] sad-guṇa) the having good qualities, excellence, superiority, [Caraka]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryṢāḍguṇya (षाड्गुण्य):—(ṇyaṃ) 1. n. Six qualities; six duties; six-fold.
[Sanskrit to German]
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: Shadgunyagunavedin, Shadgunyaprayoga, Shadgunyasamyuta, Shadgunyavat, Shadgunyavidhi.
Full-text: Shadgunyaprayoga, Shadgunyasamyuta, Shadgunyavat, Shadgunyagunavedin, Sandhivigrahika, Samgramikaguna, Shadguna, Vaigunya, Badavanala, Shyan.
Relevant text
Search found 9 books and stories containing Shadgunya, Ṣādguṇya, Sadgunya, Ṣāḍguṇya, Sādguṇya; (plurals include: Shadgunyas, Ṣādguṇyas, Sadgunyas, Ṣāḍguṇyas, Sādguṇyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shishupala-vadha (Study) (by Shila Chakraborty)
Ṣāḍguṇya in the Śiśupālavadha < [Chapter 3 - Six fold policies of a king (Ṣāḍguṇya)]
Ṣāḍguṇya according to Kauṭilaya < [Chapter 3 - Six fold policies of a king (Ṣāḍguṇya)]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.4.116 < [Part 4 - Transient Ecstatic Disturbances (vyābhicāri-bhāva)]
Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis) (by S. Anusha)
Peace Time Strategy (Introduction) < [Chapter 4]
Weapons and War in Nīti works < [Chapter 1]
Ṣāḍguṇya (Six-fold policy) < [Chapter 4]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Siddhanta Sangraha of Sri Sailacharya (by E. Sowmya Narayanan)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 7.56 < [Section IV - Duties of the King]