कर्मन्
karman/kɐ́ɾ.mɐn/neuter
The Sanskrit word for karma is कर्मन् (karman).
In Sanskrit, karma refers to the total effect of a person’s actions and conduct during the successive phases of their existence.
Meaning: the total effect of a person’s actions and conduct during the successive phases of his existence (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word कर्मन् literally means 'action', 'deed' or 'work'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many Sanskrit grammatical contexts, the final 'n' is dropped to form the stem कर्म.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /kɐ́ɾ.mɐn/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In ancient Sanskrit grammar, कर्मन् can refer to the 'object' of a sentence, the thing being acted upon.
- The Sanskrit root कृ which forms कर्मन् is a distant relative of the English word 'create'.
- In the Vedic period, कर्मन् often referred specifically to ritual actions or sacrificial rites rather than general morality.
Example sentences for Sanskrit are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing philosophy in a park.
- आदित्य Adityaमीरे, किं त्वं कर्मसिद्धान्ते विश्वसिषि?Mīre, kiṃ tvaṃ karmasiddhānte viśvasiṣi?Mira, do you believe in karma?
- मीरा Miraआदित्य, अहं विश्वासं करोमि।Āditya, ahaṃ viśvāsaṃ karomi.Aditya, I believe in it.
- आदित्य Adityaकर्म अस्माकं भाग्यं निर्धारयति।Karma asmākaṃ bhāgyaṃ nirdhārayati.Karma determines our destiny.
- मीरा Miraसत्यम्, अतः सत्कर्मणि प्रवृत्ताः भवेम।Satyam, ataḥ satkarmaṇi pravṛttāḥ bhavema.True, therefore we should engage in good karma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “karma” translations and entries कर्मन्, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries कर्मन्, CC BY-SA 4.0.
