Shukta, Su-ukta, Sūkta, Śukta, Sukta: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Shukta means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi, biology. 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 term Śukta can be transliterated into English as Sukta or Shukta, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Sukt.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)
Sūkta (सूक्त) refers to a variety of fermented gruels (kāñjika), according the 17th-century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—The gruels prepared from roots is called Sūkta. It is prepared as follows: The mixture of different types of tubers, roots, fruits, salt and oil are allowed to ferment by soaking them in water.
Sūkta medicinal effects: It is light, dry, purgative and hot. It alleviates phlegm and imparts taste. It treats anaemia and worm infestation. It causes bleeding disorders.
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Śukta (शुक्त) refers to the “sour odor” (of certain elephants), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 8, “on marks of character”]: “12. Delighted with leavings (of food), right easily frightened, having a sour (śukta), acrid odor or that of a goat, of bones, or of a crab [śuktāmlabastāsthikulīragandhaḥ], wrathful, treacherous (changeable, ‘easy to be parted’), cowardly, ungrateful, this base elephant is a Śudra (serf) in character”.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Fermented liquors known as the Shukta (treacle, honey, fermented rice gruel, and curd cream kept in a new and clean vessel underneath a bushel of paddy for three consecutive days) bring on an attack of hæmoptysis. They disintegrate the lumps or knots of accumulated Kapham, are digestant and prove curative in jaundice and diseases due to the derangement of Kapham. They are light and vermifugenous, and strong and heat making in their potency. They act as diuretic, are pleasant, and pungent in digestion. Bulbs and roots pickled in Shukta acquire the properties of the latter.
Of the Shuktas prepared with treacle, juice of sugar-cane, or honey, each preceding one should be deemed heavier and as giving rise to greater secretions of internal organs than the one immediately following it in the order of enumeration.
1) Śukta (शुक्त):—This is the fermented liquidwhich becomes acidic by losing original sweetness
2) Vinegar, is prepared from many source drugs by the process of acetic fermentation. The properties differ according to the drugs used.
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.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Śukta (शुक्त) is a Sanskrit word referring to “that which has been very much soured by the contact of the juice of other things”. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (also see the Manubhāṣya verse 4.211)
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Sūkta (सूक्त) refers to the “(Vedic) hymns”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.30 (“The Celebration of Pārvatī’s Return”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] In the meantime the lord of mountains returned from the Gaṅgā. He saw the mendicant in the human form in his court-yard. [...] Then the lord of mountains saw the four-faced deity, the creator of worlds, red in colour and reciting the Vedic hymns (śruti-sūkta). Then the lord of mountains saw the form of the sun, the eye of the universe, much to his enthusiastic amazement. Then, O dear one, he saw him in the wonderful form of Śiva accompanied by Pārvatī. He was smiling and shining beautifully. [...]”.
Śukta (शुक्त).—Heat making rays of the sun.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 53. 22.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Mīmāṃsā (school of philosophy)
Sūkta (सूक्त) refers to one of the three principle styles found in Sanskrit literature.—Sūktas are the hymns of the Vedas, these are poetic compositions set to various different metres, some are comprehensible while others are cryptic and need interpretation.
Mimamsa (मीमांसा, mīmāṃsā) refers to one of the six orthodox Hindu schools of philosophy, emphasizing the nature of dharma and the philosophy of language. The literature in this school is also known for its in-depth study of ritual actions and social duties.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Śukta (शुक्त)—Sanskrit word corresponding to “sour”, “astringent”, “putrid”, “foul”, “stinking” “bitterness”, “sour liquid” or “acid beverage”.
Biology (plants and animals)
Sukta in India is the name of a plant defined with Tamarindus indica in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Tamarindus umbrosa Salisb. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Prodromus Stirpium in Horto ad Chapel Allerton vigentium (1796)
· Acta Botanica Austro Sinica (1989)
· Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences. Plant Sciences (1990)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1982)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2005)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2006)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Sukta, for example side effects, extract dosage, health benefits, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
sūkta (सूक्त).—a (S su & ukta) Well-spoken or said: also well, good, right, commendable;--used of a matter in general whether spoken or done. See observation under suktāsukta.
sūkta (सूक्त).—a Well-spoken or said. Well, right, commendable.
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
Śukta (शुक्त).—p. p. [śuc-kta]
1) Bright, pure, clean; बलिषष्ठेन शुक्तेन दण्डेनाथापराधिनाम् (baliṣaṣṭhena śuktena daṇḍenāthāparādhinām) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.71.1.
2) Acid, sour; स्त्रीक्षीरं चैव वर्ज्यानि सर्वशुक्तानि चैव हि (strīkṣīraṃ caiva varjyāni sarvaśuktāni caiva hi) Manusmṛti 5.9;2.177.
3) Harsh, rough, hard, severe.
4) United, joined.
5) Deserted, lonely.
-ktam 1 Flesh.
2) Sour gruel.
3) A kind of acid liquid.
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Sūkta (सूक्त).—a. well-spoken, well-said; अथवा सूक्तं खलु केनापि (athavā sūktaṃ khalu kenāpi) Ve.3. (
Sūkta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and ukta (उक्त).
Śukta (शुक्त).—mfn.
(-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) 1. Sour, acid. 2. Pure, clean. 3. Harsh, hard. 4. Lovely. 5. United, joined. n.
(-ktaṃ) 1. Flesh. 2. Sour-gruel. 3. Vinegar, acid, or an acid preparation made from roots or fruits, by steeping them in oil and salt, drying them, and then leaving them in water, where they undergo the acetous fermentation: the fluid produce is used as vinegar. 4. Crabbed or harsh speech. 5. A hymn of the Vedas. f.
(-ktā) A sort of sorrel. E. śuc to be pure, &c., aff. kta .
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Sūkta (सूक्त).—mfn.
(-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) Well or properly said. n.
(-ktaṃ) 1. A hymn in the Rig-Veda. 2. A good or wise saying. f.
(-ktā) The Sharika or Maina. E. su well, ukta spoken, (by which.)
Śukta (शुक्त).—I. adj. 1. Sour, acid. 2. Harsh. 3. i. e. 2. śuc + ta, Clean, pure. Ii. n. 1. A preparation which has become acid by undergoing fermentation, as vinegar, etc., [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 177; 4, 211; 11, 153. 2. Sour gruel. 3. Flesh.
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Sūkta (सूक्त).—i. e. su-ukta (vb. vac), I. adj. Well or properly said. Ii. n. 1. A hymn. 2. A sentence, [Pañcatantra] 266, 5. 3. pl. Seducing words, Mahābhārata 8, 2037.
Śukta (शुक्त).—[adjective] sour, acid; harsh, rough (words); [neuter] sour drink or harsh speech.
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Sūkta (सूक्त).—[adjective] well spoken or recited; [neuter] good recitation (also sūkta), Vedic hymn.
1) Śukta (शुक्त):—mf(ā)n. (perhaps [from] √1. śuc and [originally] ‘fermented’) become acid or sour, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc. etc.
2) astringent and sour, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) putrid, stinking, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) harsh, rough (as words), [Gautama-dharma-śāstra; Baudhāyana-dharma-śāstra] etc.
5) void of men, lonely, deserted, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) united, joined (= śliṣṭa), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) pure, clean ([probably] [wrong reading] for śukra, or śukla), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) m. sourness, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) Name of a son of Vasiṣṭha, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa] (cf. śukra)
10) Śuktā (शुक्ता):—[from śukta] f. Rumex Vesicarius, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) Śukta (शुक्त):—n. anything fermented or become sour, any sour liquor or gruel ([especially] a kind of acid beverage prepared from roots and fruits), [Gautama-dharma-śāstra; Suśruta]
12) flesh, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
13) hard or harsh speech (?), [Yājñavalkya i, 33.]
14) Sūkta (सूक्त):—mfn. (5. su + ukta) well or properly said or recited, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
15) speaking well, eloquent, [Matsya-purāṇa]
16) Sūktā (सूक्ता):—[from sūkta] f. a kind of bird, the Sārikā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
17) Sūkta (सूक्त):—n. good recitation or speech, wise saying, song of praise, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
18) a Vedic hymn (as distinguished from a Ṛc or single verse of a hymn), [Brāhmaṇa; ???; Manu-smṛti; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
1) Śukta (शुक्त):—(ktaṃ) 1. n. Flesh; sour gruel; an acid; harsh speech. 1. f. Sorrel. a. Sour; clean; harsh.
2) Sūktā (सूक्ता):—(ktā) 1. f. The Shāri or Maina. n. Hymn in the Rig Veda. n. Well said.
Sūkta (सूक्त) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Sutta.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Sūkta (सूक्त) [Also spelled sukt]:—(nm) a mantra of the Vedas; ~[draṣṭā] a composer/seer of a [sūkta].
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Śukta (ಶುಕ್ತ):—
1) [noun] three days old water in which rice was boiled.
2) [noun] the quality of being sour.
3) [noun] that which is fermented; a liquid that is sour; an acid.
4) [noun] the quality or fact of being harsh, hard; harshness; hardness.
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Sūkta (ಸೂಕ್ತ):—
1) [adjective] well-said; spoken aptly, appropriately.
2) [adjective] apt; appropriate; proper.
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Sūkta (ಸೂಕ್ತ):—
1) [noun] an appropriate speech, advice.
2) [noun] anything that is apt, appropriate.
3) [noun] a good, suitable, competent man.
4) [noun] the vedic hymns in praise of a deity.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
1) Śukta (शुक्त):—adj. 1. bright; pure; 2. acid; sour; 3. harsh; rough; 4. united; joined; 5. deserted; lonely; desolate; forlorn; left in the lurch;
2) Sūkta (सूक्त):—adj. full of knowledge and advice; well-said; well-spoken; n. Vedic hymn; invocation; prayer; epigram;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ukta, Cu, Shu.
Starts with: Shuktagandha, Shuktaka, Shuktapaka, Shuktasvara, Shuktatiktakashayaka.
Full-text (+412): Purusha-sukta, Madhushukta, Shrisukta, Shuktapaka, Gosukta, Devisukta, Rasashukta, Matsyasukta, Dvishukta, Manyusukta, Rudrasukta, Ratrisukta, Camakasukta, Oshadhisukta, Pitrisukta, Adityasukta, Ramasukta, Parjanyasukta, Medhasukta, Lakshmisukta.
Relevant text
Search found 187 books and stories containing Shukta, Su-ukta, Sūkta, Śukta, Sukta, Śuktā, Sūktā, Suktas; (plurals include: Shuktas, uktas, Sūktas, Śuktas, Suktas, Śuktās, Sūktās, Suktases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihaddevata attributed to Shaunaka (by Arthur Anthony Macdonell)
Part 20-21 - Two Khilas; Rigveda X.191; Mahanamni stanzas < [Chapter 8 - Deities of Rigveda X.98-191 (1-98); Conclusion (99-140)]
Part 24 - Rigveda III.53. 21-24; Deities of Rigveda III.54-60 < [Chapter 4 - Deities of Rigveda I.126–IV.32]
Part 3 - Deities of Rigveda X.102-103; The Khila of Nakula < [Chapter 8 - Deities of Rigveda X.98-191 (1-98); Conclusion (99-140)]
Satapatha-brahmana (by Julius Eggeling)
Kanda I, adhyaya 9, brahmana 1 < [First Kanda]
Kanda I, adhyaya 8, brahmana 3 < [First Kanda]
Kanda XIII, adhyaya 4, brahmana 3 < [Thirteenth Kanda]
Rivers in Ancient India (study) (by Archana Sarma)
1. The Vedic Literature < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
3(c). Sarasvatī and marriage ceremony < [Chapter 2 - The Rivers in the Saṃhitā Literature]
10. The river Puruṣṇī or Ravi or Irāvatī and its present status < [Chapter 6 - Changing trends of the Rivers from Vedic to Purāṇic Age]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 4.211 < [Section XIV - Other Duties]
Verse 11.251 < [Section XXXII - Expiation of Secret Sins]
Verse 5.10 < [Section II - Objectionable Food]
Narada Purana (English translation) (by G. V. Tagare)
Notes regarding Śānti-sūkta < [Notes]
Chapter 19 - Installation of the Banner (dhvajāropaṇa) < [Part 1 - Prathama-pāda]
1.2. The Mūla Purāṇas < [Introduction]
Atharvaveda ancillary literature (Study) (by B. R. Modak)
Part 5.3 - The Pancapatalika (introduction and summary) < [Chapter 1 - Ancillary Literature of the Atharvaveda (other than the Parisistas)]
Part 3b.8 - The Veda-vrata (vow) < [Chapter 2b - A Topical Analysis of the Atharvaveda-Parisistas]
Part 5.5 - The Brhatsarvanukramani (introduction and summary) < [Chapter 1 - Ancillary Literature of the Atharvaveda (other than the Parisistas)]
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