In Hinduism

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstra

Yautaka (यौतक) is a Sanskrit technical term referring a “property derived from the father’s family”. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (See the Manubhāṣya, verse 9.131)

Source: Google Books: Manusmṛti with the Manubhāṣya

Yautaka (यौतक):—The term yautaka is applied to the separate property of a woman; of which she alone is the sole owner. Others apply it to only what she receives at marriage, and not to all that belongs to her; it is only over the former that she has an absolute right; as it is said that “women become their own mistresses, on obtaining presents at their marriage.” Others again hold that the term ‘yautaka’ applies to the savings that the young woman makes out of what she receives from her husband for her clothing and ornaments, and also for the daily household expenses.

According to Vivādaratnākara (p. 517), yautakam here stands for what has been given to the girl at the time of her marriage, by her father and other relatives. Halāyudha however holds that it stands for what has been given to the woman for such household purposes as the purchase of vegetables and other things, out of which, by her clever management, she may have saved and increased by judicious handling.

According to Parāśaramādhava (Vyavahāra, p. 372) yautakam is explained as “property obtained from the father’s family”.

According to Aparārka (p. 721), yautakam is explained as “property obtained from the father’s family” to the effect that when the mother’s property comes to be divided among her daughters, the unmarried ones have the preference over the married ones.

According to Smṛtitattva II (p. 186), the term yautaka is derived from the root ‘yu’ (to join), and hence signifying junction, or union, it stands for ‘what is given at marriage’.

According to Jīmūtavāhana (Dāyabhāga, p. 132), yautakam stands for the dowry obtained at marriage,—this being indicated by the root ‘yu’ (to join) from which the word is derived,—marriage being the ‘joining’ of the husband and wife.

(Also see the Manubhāṣya, verse 9.131)

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Yautaka (यौतक) refers to “dowry”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.19. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] after giving his daughter in marriage, Dakṣa gave her different articles in the form of dowry (yautaka). Many gifts were given to Śiva. Dakṣa gave monetary gifts to the Brahmins with great delight”.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Yautaka (यौतक).—a. (-kī f.) [युते विवाहकाले अधिगतं वुण् (yute vivāhakāle adhigataṃ vuṇ)] Forming the rightful or exclusive property of any one, rightfully belonging to any one; विभागभावना ज्ञेया ग्रह- क्षेत्रैश्च यौतकैः (vibhāgabhāvanā jñeyā graha- kṣetraiśca yautakaiḥ) Y.2.149.

-kam 1 Private property in general; मातुश्च यौतकं यत् स्यात् कुमारीभाग एव सः (mātuśca yautakaṃ yat syāt kumārībhāga eva saḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 13.45.12.

2) A woman's dowry, a woman's private property (given to her at marriage); मातुस्तु यौतकं यत् स्यात् कुमारीमभाग एव सः (mātustu yautakaṃ yat syāt kumārīmabhāga eva saḥ) Manusmṛti 9.131, यु मिश्रणे इति धात्वनुसाराद् विवाहकाले एकासनोप- विष्टयोर्वधूवरयोर्यद् बन्धुभिर्दीयते तत् युतयोरिदं यौतकमिति व्युत्पत्त्या यौतकमित्युच्यते (yu miśraṇe iti dhātvanusārād vivāhakāle ekāsanopa- viṣṭayorvadhūvarayoryad bandhubhirdīyate tat yutayoridaṃ yautakamiti vyutpattyā yautakamityucyate) | Vīramitrodaya; also यौतुक (yautuka) in this sense.

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

Yautaka (यौतक).—n.

(-kaṃ) A nuptial gift, presents made to a bride, at her marriage, by her father or friends; some consider it also implying a gift to the bridegroom. E. yutaka the same, pleonastic aff. aṇ .

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

Yautaka (यौतक).—i. e. yutaka + a, n. 1. Appropriating, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 214. 2. Property, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 131 (a nuptial gift, presents made to a bride by her father or friends.).

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

Yautaka (यौतक).—[adjective] belonging privately to a person; [neuter] gift, donation, private property, [especially] a woman’s dowry.

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

1) Yautaka (यौतक):—mf(ī)n. ([from] 1. yutaka) rightfully or exclusively belonging to any one, being the property of any one, [Mahābhārata]

2) n. a present, [Bhojaprabandha]

3) private property, ([especially]) property given at marriage, a woman’s dowry, presents made to a bride at her marriage by her father and friends ([according to] to some also ‘a gift to the bridegroom’), [Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata; Rājataraṅgiṇī]

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

Yautaka (यौतक):—(kaṃ) 1. n. A nuptial gift.

[Sanskrit to German]

Yautaka in German

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Yautaka (ಯೌತಕ):—[noun] a property, gift or gifts given by the parents of the bride to her and her husband, in the marriage.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Full-text: Yautuka, Yutaka, Yautaki, Yauta, Harana, Stridhana.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Yautaka; (plurals include: Yautakas). 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 9.131 < [Section XVII - Property of one who has no Male Issue: the ‘Appointed Daughter’]

Verse 9.214 < [Section XXVII - Property of Brothers, and their Mutual Relationship]

show preview

Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)

Politics and Administration (8): Social Evils < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]

show preview