Sanskrit dictionary (beta)

[किम्-डतम्] (denotes that the rest of the word under consideration is to be suppliedमत् Neuter) ParasmaipadaII.1.63. Who or which of many; अपि ज्ञायते कतमेन दिग्भागेन गतः स जाल्म इति V.1; अथ कतमं पुनर्ऋतुमधिकृत्य गास्यामि Ś.1; कतमे ते गुणास्तत्र यानुदाहरन्त्यार्यमिश्राः Māl.1; G. Latin22; Ki.6.4. (sometimes it is used merely as a strengthened substitute for किम्). When followed by च and preceded by यतम it means 'any whosoever', 'whatsoever'. In negative sentences कतम with चन or अपि means 'not even one', 'none at all'. It also means 'best or excessively goodlooking.'

1. mfn(that the rest of a word is to be suppliedअत्). (superlative of 2. क; declined as a pronominal, Gram. 236), who or which of many? (exempli gratia, 'for example' कतमेन पथा यातास् ते, by which road have they gone?)
2. mfn(that the rest of a word is to be suppliedअत्). it is often a mere strengthened substitute for क, the superlative affix imparting emphasis
3. mfn(that the rest of a word is to be suppliedअत्). hence it may occasionally be used for "who or which of two?" (exempli gratia, 'for example' तयोः कतमस्मै, to which of these two?)
4. mfn(that the rest of a word is to be suppliedअत्). it may optionally be compounded with the word to which it refers (exempli gratia, 'for example' कतमः कठः, or कतम-कठः, which Kat2ha कठ out of many?)
5. mfn(that the rest of a word is to be suppliedअत्). when followed by च and preceded यतम an indefinite expression is formed equivalent to "any whosoever", "any whatsoever", etc. (exempli gratia, 'for example' यतमद् एव कतमच् च विद्यात् he may know anything whatsoever) . In negative sentences कतम with चन or कतम with अपि Equivalent to not even one, none at all (exempli gratia, 'for example' न कतमच्चना*हः, not even on a single day, on no day at all)
6. mfn(that the rest of a word is to be suppliedअत्). in addition to the a reference to some preceeding word (not necessarily in the same page) uses कतम is said to mean "best", "excessively good-looking" (confer, compare 3. क) fg-veda etc.