Sanskrit dictionary (beta)

[Compare Uṇ.4.119]

1. An inspired poet or sage, a singer of sacred hymns, (Exempli gratia, for example( )कुत्स, वसिष्ठ, अत्रि, अगस्त्य etc.). (These Ṛiṣis form a class of beings distinct from gods, men, Asuras etc. (Av.1.1.26). They are the authors or seers of the Vedic hymns; ऋषयो मन्त्रद्रष्टारो वसिष्ठादयः; or, according to Yāska, यस्य वाक्यं स ऋषिः, id est, that is they are the persons to whom the Vedic hymns were revealed. In every Sūkta the ऋषि is mentioned along with the देवता, छन्दस् and विनियोग. The later works mention seven Ṛiṣis or saptarṣis whose names, according to Śat. Br., are गौतम, भरद्वाज, विश्वामित्र, जमदग्नि, वसिष्ठ, कश्यप and अत्रि; according to Mahābhārata, मरीचि, अत्रि, अङ्गिरस्, पुलह, क्रतु, पुलस्त्य and वसिष्ठ; Manu calls these sages Prajāpatis or progenitors of mankind, and gives ten names, three more being added to the latter list, id est, that is दक्ष or प्रचेतस्, भृगु and नारद. In astronomy the seven Ṛiṣis form the constellation of "the Great Bear"); यत्रा सप्त ऋषीन् पर एकमाहुः Rv.1.82.2.
2. A sanctified sage, saint, an ascetic, anchorite; (there are usually three classes of these saints; देवर्षि, ब्रह्मर्षि and राजर्षि; sometimes four more are added; महर्षि, परमर्षि, श्रुतर्षि and काण्डर्षि.
3. A ray of light.
4. An imaginary circle.
5. A hymn (मन्त्र) composed by a Ṛiṣi; एतद्वोऽस्तु तपोयुक्तं ददामीत्यृषि- चोदितम् Mb.12.11.18;
6. The Veda; ParasmaipadaIII.2.186.
7. A symbolical expression for number seven.
8. Life; Bhāg.1.87.5.
9. The moon.

1. masculine gender (√2. ऋष् commentator or commentary on Un2. iv, 119; ऋषति ज्ञानेन संसार-पारम् T.; perhaps from an obsolete √ऋष् for √दृश्, "to see ?" confer, compare ऋषि-कृत्), a singer of sacred hymns, an inspired poet or sage, any person who alone or with according to others invokes the deities in rhythmical speech or song of a sacred character (exempli gratia, 'for example' the ancient hymn-singers Kutsa कुत्स, Atri अत्रि, Rebha रेभ, Agastya अगस्त्य, Kus3ika कुशिक, Vasisht2ha वसिष्ठ, Vy-as3va व्य्-अश्व) fg-veda AV. VS. etc.
2. masculine gender the R2ishis ऋषि s were regarded by later generations as patriarchal sages or saints, occupying the same position in India history as the heroes and patriarchs of other countries, and constitute a peculiar class of beings in the early mythical system, as distinct from gods, men, Asuras असुर s, etc. AV. x, 10, 26 S3Br. AitBr. Ka1tyS3r. Mn. etc.
3. masculine gender they are the authors or rather seers of the Vedic hymns id est according to orthodox Hindu1 Hindu ideas they are the inspired personages to whom these hymns were revealed, and such an expression as "the R2ishi ऋषि says" is equivalent to "so it stands in the sacred text"
4. masculine gender seven R2ishis ऋषि s, सप्त ऋषयः, or सप्तऋषयः or सप्तर्षयः, are often mentioned in the Bra1hman2as ब्राह्मण s and later works as typical representatives of the character and spirit of the pre-historic or mythical period
5. masculine gender in S3Br. xiv, 5, 2, 6 their names are given as follows, Gotama गोतम, Bharadva1ja भरद्वाज, Vis3va1-mitra विश्वा-मित्र, Jamadagni जमदग्नि, Vasisht2ha वसिष्ठ, Kas3yapa कश्यप, and Atri अत्रि
6. masculine gender in MBh. xii, Mari1ci मरीचि, Atri अत्रि, An3giras अङ्गिरस्, Pulaha पुलह, Kratu क्रतु, Pulastya पुलस्त्य, Vasisht2ha वसिष्ठ are given as the names of the R2ishis ऋषि s of the first Manvantara मन्वन्तर, and they are also called Praja1patis प्रजापति s or patriarchs
7. masculine gender the names of the R2ishis ऋषि s of the subsequent Manv-antaras मन्व्-अन्तर s are enumerated in Hariv. 417 ff.
8. masculine gender afterwards three other names are added, viz. Pracetas प्रचेतस् or Daksha दक्ष, Bhr2igu भृगु, and Na1rada नारद, these ten being created by Manu मनु Sva1yambhuva स्वायम्भुव for the production of all other beings including gods and men A1s3vS3r. MBh. VP. etc.
9. masculine gender in astronomy the seven R2ishis ऋषि s form the constellation of "the Great Bear" fg-veda x, 82, 2 AV. vi, 40, 1 S3Br. A1s3vGr2. MBh. etc.
10. masculine gender (metaphorically the seven R2ishis ऋषि s may stand for the seven senses or the seven vital airs of the body VS. xxxiv S3Br. xiv Ka1tyS3r.)
11. masculine gender a saint or sanctified sage in general, an ascetic, anchorite (this is a later sense; sometimes three orders of these are enumerated, viz. Devarshis देवर्षि s, Brahmarshis ब्रह्मर्षि s, and Ra1jarshis राजर्षि s; sometimes seven, four according to others being added, viz. Maharshis महर्षि s, Paramarshis परमर्षि s, S3rutarshis श्रुतर्षि s, and Ka1n2d2arshis काण्डर्षि s) Mn. iv, 94
12. masculine gender xi, 236 S3ak. Ragh. etc.
13. masculine gender the seventh of the eight degrees of Bra1hmans Brahmans Hcat.
14. masculine gender a hymn or Mantra मन्त्र composed by a R2ishi ऋषि
15. masculine gender the Veda वेद commentator or commentary on MBh. and Pat.
16. masculine gender a symbolical expression for the number seven
17. masculine gender the moon
18. masculine gender an imaginary circle
19. masculine gender a ray of light Lexicographers
20. masculine gender the fish Cyprinus R2ishi ऋषि Lexicographers; ([confer, compare Hibernian or Irish arsan, "a sage, a man old in wisdom"; अर्रछ्, "old, ancient, aged."]),
21. (in compound)