Vikalpa; 10 Definition(s)



In Hinduism

Arthashastra (politics and welfare)

Vikalpa (विकल्प) refers to “alternative” and is the name of a yukti, or ‘technical division’, according to which the contents of the Arthaśāstra by Cāṇakya are grouped. Cāṇakya (4th-century BCE), aka Kauṭilya, was the chief minister of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the famous Maurya Empire.

Source: Wisdom Library: Arthaśāstra
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Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Vikalpa (विकल्प).—Choice or option re: the application of a rule as stated by the word वा, विभाषा, अन्यतरस्याम् (, vibhāṣā, anyatarasyām) or the like; cf.नेति प्रतिषेधो वेति विकल्पः तयोः प्रतिषेधविकल्पयोः (neti pratiṣedho veti vikalpaḥ tayoḥ pratiṣedhavikalpayoḥ) 'विभाषा (vibhāṣā)' इति संज्ञा भवति विभाषाप्रकरणे प्रतिपधेविकल्पौ उपतिष्टेते । तत्र प्रतिपेधेन समीकृते विषये प्रश्चद्विकल्पः प्रवर्तते (iti saṃjñā bhavati vibhāṣāprakaraṇe pratipadhevikalpau upatiṣṭete | tatra pratipedhena samīkṛte viṣaye praścadvikalpaḥ pravartate) Kas. on P, I. 1 44.

Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammar
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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Vikalpa in Purana glossary... « previous · [V] · next »

Vikalpa (विकल्प).—An ancient country of India famous in the Purāṇas. (Mahābhārata, Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9, Stanza 59).

Source: Puranic Encyclopaedia

Vikalpa (विकल्प) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.10.57) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Vikalpa) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places
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Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)


Cirañjīva defines vikalpa-alaṃkāra as follows—“vākārādairvikalpaścedalaṅkāraḥ sa eva hi”.—“When alternative is mean by the use of the word etc. the figure of speech vikalpa takes place”.

Example of the vikalpa-alaṃkāra:—

abandho bandho vā bhavatu bhavakārāgṛhamanu stutirvā nindā vā prasaratu satāṃ saṃsadi sadā |
sarojālīśaṅkākṣaṇamiladalivrātamalināḥ kaṭākṣāste sākṣātkhathamapi na yāsyanti hṛdayāt ||

“Let the prison in the form of this world be fruitful or fuetile in future. Let praise or censure always be spread out in the assembly of virtuous people; but your direct sidelong glances which are dark as multitude of bees and which are opened for a while due to fear from the friend of lotuses (bees) will never subside from my heart”.

Notes: In this verse the prison in the form of world has been described to be fruitful or futile alternatively with the use of the word in the first line. This word has again been used to mention praise or censure alternatively, so it is an example of vikalpa.

Source: Shodhganga: The Kavyavilasa of Ciranjiva Bhattacarya (natyashastra)
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In Buddhism

General definition (in Buddhism)

Vikalpa (विकल्प) refers to the “three kinds of discrimination” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 135):

  1. anusmaraṇa-vikalpa (discrimination through recollection),
  2. saṃtīrana-vikalpa (discrimination through investigation),
  3. sahaja-vikalpa (innate discrimination).

The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (eg., vikalpa). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Vikalpa in Marathi glossary... « previous · [V] · next »

vikalpa (विकल्प).—m (S) Opposition or difference of opinion respecting. 2 An opposite or a different opinion. 3 An alternative, a sphere or a subject of option. 4 Suspicion, surmise, evil apprehension concerning: also an evil, bad, or wrong surmise or thought. 5 Dubiety, doubt, indecision, doubleness of opinion or of intention regarding. Ex. aisē divasa lōṭatāṃ phāra || avalīsa vi0 pātalā thōra ||. 6 A thought, fancy, notion about. Generally pl. 7 In grammar. Admission of more than one form or rule. vi0 ghālaṇēṃ To cast doubt upon; or to inject doubtfulness. Ex. āmucēṃ tēthēṃ rata hōtēṃ citta || tyānta vi0 ghātalā tuṃvā ||.

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

vikalpa (विकल्प).—m A different opinion. An alter- native. Suspicion. A fancy. vikalpa pālaṇēṃ To cast doubt upon.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English
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Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vikalpa (विकल्प).—1 Doubt, uncertainty, indecision, hesitation; तत् सिषेवे नियोगेन स विकल्पपराङ्मुखः (tat siṣeve niyogena sa vikalpaparāṅmukhaḥ) R.17.49.

2) Suspicion; Mu.1.

3) Contrivance, art; मायाविकल्परचितैः (māyāvikalparacitaiḥ) R.13.75.

4) Option, alternative (in gram.); तुल्यार्थयोर्हि तुल्यविषययो- र्विकल्पो भवति न नानार्थयोः (tulyārthayorhi tulyaviṣayayo- rvikalpo bhavati na nānārthayoḥ) ŚB. on MS.1.6.33.

5) Sort, variety; दण्डविकल्पः (daṇḍavikalpaḥ) Ms.9.228; भूषणानां विकल्पम् (bhūṣaṇānāṃ vikalpam) Me.76.

6) An error, a mistake, ignorance.

7) Distinction; एवं सुरासुरगणाः समदेशकालहेत्वर्थकर्ममतयोऽपि फलेऽविकल्पाः (evaṃ surāsuragaṇāḥ samadeśakālahetvarthakarmamatayo'pi phale'vikalpāḥ) Bhāg.8.9.28.

8) A division of Kalpa; यावान् कल्पो विकल्पो वा यथा कालोऽनुमीयते (yāvān kalpo vikalpo vā yathā kālo'numīyate) Bhāg.2.8.12.

9) A god; वैकारिको विकल्पानाम् (vaikāriko vikalpānām) Bhāg.1.85.11.

1) Origin (utpatti); आत्मा केवल आत्मस्थो विकल्पापायलक्षणः (ātmā kevala ātmastho vikalpāpāyalakṣaṇaḥ) Bhāg.11.25.27.

11) Admission, statement.

12) Fancy, imagination.

13) Mental occupation.

Derivable forms: vikalpaḥ (विकल्पः).

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary
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Relevant definitions


nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प).—a Of unchanging purpose. Not admitting of difference.
Daṇḍavikalpa (दण्डविकल्प).—discretion given to an officer in awarding punishment or fine; Ms.9....
Anusmaraṇavikalpa (अनुस्मरणविकल्प) or simply Anusmaraṇa refers to “discrimination through recol...
Saṃtīraṇavikalpa (संतीरणविकल्प) or simply Saṃtīraṇa refers to “discrimination through investiga...
Santīraṇavikalpa (सन्तीरणविकल्प) or simply Santīraṇa refers to “discrimination through investig...
Sahajavikalpa (सहजविकल्प) or simply Sahaja refers to “innate discrimination” and represents one...
Upāyavikalpa (उपायविकल्प).—Alternative strategic means; Kau. A.9.Derivable forms: upāyavikalpaḥ...
Vikalpajāla (विकल्पजाल).—a net-like indecision, a dilemma.Derivable forms: vikalpajālam (विकल्प...
Arthavikalpa (अर्थविकल्प).—1) deviation from truth, perversion of fact. 2) prevarication; also ...
Vikalpopahāra (विकल्पोपहार).—an optional offering. Derivable forms: vikalpopahāraḥ (विकल्पोपहार...
Vyavasthitavikalpa (व्यवस्थितविकल्प).—a fixed option; व्यवस्थितविभाषया साधुः (vyavasthitavibhāṣ...
Prapañca (प्रपञ्च) or Prapañcatantra refers to one of the thirty-three Dakṣiṇatantras, belongin...
Niyama (नियम).—m. (-maḥ) 1. Agreement, contract, engagement, assent, promise. 2. Any religious ...
Jñāna (ज्ञान).—nt. (= Sanskrit; Pali ñāṇa), knowledge; for dis-tinction from vijñāna see the la...

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