Vartaka, aka: Vārtāka, Vartakā, Vārtaka; 7 Definition(s)
Introduction
Vartaka means something in 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
1) Vartaka (वर्तक) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “male bustard”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Āyurvedic literature. The animal Vartaka is part of the group of birds named Vartakādi, which is a sub-group of Viṣkira, refering to “birds similar to common quail who eat while scattering the gains”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Āyurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.
2) Vārtāka (वार्ताक) is a Sanskrit word referring to Solanum melongena (eggplant), from the Solanaceae family. Certain plant parts of Vārtāka are eaten as a vegetable (śāka), according to Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Āyurvedic work. The plant is therefore part of the Śākavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of vegetables/pot-herbs”.
According to the Bhāvaprakāśa it has the following synonyms: Vṛntaka, Vārttaku, Bhaṇṭakī and Bhaṇṭikā. The Bhāvaprakāśa is a 16th century medicinal thesaurus authored by Bhāvamiśra.
Vārtāka can also be seplled as Vārttāka, which is identified as a synonym for Vārttākī, referring to the same Solanum melongena, according to Narahari in his Rājanighaṇṭu (verse 7.194-195), which is a 13th-century medicinal thesaurus.
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyVartaka (वर्तक)—Sanskrit word for a bird, corresponding to “quail”. This animal is from the group called Viṣkira (which scatter). Viṣkira itself is a sub-group of the group of animals known as Jāṅghala (living in high ground and in a jungle).
Source: archive.org: Sushruta samhita, Volume I
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Vārtāka (वार्ताक).—Brinjal, not fit for śrāddha.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 78. 48.

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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Vārtāka (वार्ताक) refers to a type of vegetables fit for use in oblation offerings, according to verse 25.121b-125 of the Īśvarasaṃhitā.
Source: archive.org: Isvara Samhita Vol 5
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
Marathi-English dictionary
vartaka (वर्तक).—m An officer of a town or village,
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi 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-English dictionary
Vartaka (वर्तक).—a. [vṛt-ṇvul]
1) Living, being, existing.
2) Devoted to; अभिगन्तुं स काकुत्स्थमियेष गुरुवर्तकम् (abhigantuṃ sa kākutsthamiyeṣa guruvartakam) Rām.2.98. 1.
-kaḥ 1 A quail; कौशिकं तु ततो हृत्वा नरो जायति वर्तकः (kauśikaṃ tu tato hṛtvā naro jāyati vartakaḥ) Mb.13.111.14.
2) A horse's hoof; कर्तयन्त इवाश्वीयवर्तकै- र्व्योममण्डलम् (kartayanta ivāśvīyavartakai- rvyomamaṇḍalam) Śiva B.13.6.
-kam A sort of brass or bell-metal.
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Vartakā (वर्तका).—A kind of quail.
See also (synonyms): vartakī.
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Vārtaka (वार्तक) or Vārtāka (वार्ताक).—A kind of quail.
Derivable forms: vārtakaḥ (वार्तकः), vārtākaḥ (वार्ताकः).
See also (synonyms): vārtīka.
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Vārtāka (वार्ताक).—f., [vārtākin] m., [vārtākī] f., [vārtākuḥ] m., f. The egg-plant.
Derivable forms: vārtākaḥ (वार्ताकः).
See also (synonyms): vārtāki, vārtākin, vārtāku.
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryVartakā (वर्तका).—(= Pali vaṭṭakā; Sanskrit Gr. °akā; Sanskrit °aka, m., °ikā), quail: °kā-potaka, young quail, Jm 98.7, 15; 99.10 (all prose).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Relevant definitions
Search found 14 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
Vartakadi |
Vartakādi (वर्तकादि) is the Sanskrit name for the first sub-group of Viṣkira, “birds who eat... | |
Vrintaka | Vṛntāka (वृन्ताक).—The egg-plant.Derivable forms: vṛntākaḥ (वृन्ताकः).See also (synonyms): vṛnt... | |
Vishkira | Viṣkira (विष्किर).—m. (-raḥ) 1. A bird in general. 2. Pulling or tearing to pieces. 3. A cock. ... | |
Vartika | Vartikā (वर्तिका).—in pāṣāṇa-v°, app. gravel: MSV ii.28.13 ff.; in 29.12 replaced by pāṣāṇa-śar... | |
Bhantaki | Bhaṇṭākī (भण्टाकी) is another name for Bṛhatī, a medicinal plant identified with Solanum indicu... | |
Varttaku | Vārttāku (वार्त्ताकु).—m. (-kuḥ) The egg-plant, (Solanum melongena.) E. vṛt to be, kāku Unadi a... | |
Vattaka | Vāṭṭaka (वाट्टक).—n. (-kaṃ) Fried barley; also read vāṭyaka . | |
Vartaki | Vārtākī (वार्ताकी) is another name for Bṛhatī, a medicinal plant identified with Solanum indicu... | |
Varttaki | Vārttāki (वार्त्ताकि).—f. (-kiḥ or kī) The egg-plant, (Solanum melongena.) E. vṛt to be, kākin ... | |
Varttaka | Varttaka (वर्त्तक).—mfn. (-kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) Who is or abides, exists, lives, &c. mf. (-kaḥ-kā or... | |
Shakavarga | Śākavarga (शाकवर्ग) or Śāka is another name for Mūlakādi: the seventh chapter of the 13th-centu... | |
Bhantika |
Bhaṇṭikā (भण्टिका) is another name (synonym) for Vārtāka, which is the Sanskrit word for Sol... | |
Vartakin | Vārtākin (वार्ताकिन्).—f., [vārtākin] m., [vārtākī] f., [vārtākuḥ] m., f. The egg-plant.See als... | |
Vartaku | Vārtāku (वार्ताकु).—f., [vārtākin] m., [vārtākī] f., [vārtākuḥ] m., f. The egg-plant.Derivable ... |
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Vartaka, Vārtāka, Vartakā or Vārtaka. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 5.15 < [Section II - Objectionable Food]
The Markandeya Purana (by Frederick Eden Pargiter)
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 5: Treatment of various afflictions (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Sushruta Samhita, volume 1: Sutrasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)