Introduction

In Hinduism

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstra

Stena (स्तेन) refers to a “thief” (one who takes away what belongs to another), and according to the Manusmṛti 8.302: “The King shall, make the best efforts for suppressing thieves; by the suppression of thieves comes fame and the kingdom prospers”. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti.

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects

Stena (स्तेन) is a common word for ‘thief’ from the Rigveda onwards. See Taskara.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Stena (स्तेन).—1 U. (Strictly a denom. from stena; stenayati-te)

1) To steal, rob; यस्त्वेतान्युपक्लृप्तानि द्रव्याणि स्तेनयेन्नरः (yastvetānyupaklṛptāni dravyāṇi stenayennaraḥ) Ms.8. 333.

2) To be dishonest in speech; वाच्यर्था नियताः सर्वे वाङ्मूला वाग्विनिःसृता । तां तु यः स्तेनयेद्वाचं स सर्वस्तेनकृन्नरः (vācyarthā niyatāḥ sarve vāṅmūlā vāgviniḥsṛtā | tāṃ tu yaḥ stenayedvācaṃ sa sarvastenakṛnnaraḥ) || Ms.4.256.

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Stena (स्तेन).—[sten-kartari ac]

1) A thief, robber; न तं स्तेना न चामित्रा हरन्ति न च नश्यति (na taṃ stenā na cāmitrā haranti na ca naśyati) Ms.7.83; यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः (yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ) Bg.3.12.

2) A kind of perfume.

-nam Thieving, stealing.

Derivable forms: stenaḥ (स्तेनः).

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

Stena (स्तेन).—m.

(-naḥ) A thief. n.

(-naṃ) Thieving, stealing. E. sten to steal, aff. ac

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

Stena (स्तेन).—m. A thief, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 197.

— Cf. prebably [Gothic.] stilan; A. S. stelan, stal, stalian, stalu.

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

Stena (स्तेन).—[masculine] thief, robber; [feminine] ā.

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

1) Stena (स्तेन):—[from sten] m. ([probably] [from] √stā) a thief, robber, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

2) [v.s. ...] a kind of perfume, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā [Scholiast or Commentator]]

3) [v.s. ...] thieving, stealing, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Stenahrita, Stenahritadana, Stenanigraha, Stenaprayoga, Stenay.

Ends with: Adhistena, Astena, Brahmastena, Heshtena, Vacastena.

Full-text (+6): Astena, Styena, Trikvan, Rikvan, Astenamanin, Staina, Stenanigraha, Adhistena, Stainya, Stauna, Ribhvan, Stenaprayoga, Steya, Hurashcit, Taskara, Vacastena, Asteya, Brahmastena, Takvan, Sten.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Stena; (plurals include: Stenas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)

Verse 4.255 < [Section XX - Control of Speech]

Verse 8.302 < [Section XLIII - Theft (steya)]

Verse 4.210 < [Section XIV - Other Duties]

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Shrimad Bhagavad-gita (by Narayana Gosvami)

Verse 3.12 < [Chapter 3 - Karma-yoga (Yoga through the Path of Action)]

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