निमेषाः
nimeṣāḥ
The English phrase "minutes" translates to Sanskrit as निमेषाः (nimeṣāḥ).
निमेषाः refers to short periods of time used to measure duration.
How do you pronounce it?
nimeṣāḥ
Did you know?
- In ancient Sanskrit texts, the duration of a निमेष (a single blink) was often used as a fundamental, infinitesimal unit of time to describe the speed of cosmic or divine actions.
- The root of the word relates to the Sanskrit verb 'ni-mi', which describes the action of shutting or closing the eyelids.
- In ancient Vedic mathematics, time was not measured by the movement of suns or stars alone, but by the rhythmic, physical movements of the human body like the breath or the blink.
Example conversation
Mira and Aditya are waiting for a class to start.
- मीरा Miraआदित्य, शिक्षकः कदा आगमिष्यति?Āditya, śikṣakaḥ kadā āgamiṣyati?Aditya, when will the teacher arrive?
- आदित्य Adityaसः चतुर्भ्यः निमेषेभ्यः अनन्तरम् आगमिष्यति।saḥ caturbhyaḥ nimeṣebhyaḥ anantaram āgamiṣyati.He will arrive after four minutes.
- मीरा Miraकिं वयं कतिचित् निमेषान् प्रतीक्षामहे?kiṃ vayaṃ katicit nimeṣān pratīkṣāmahe?Shall we wait for a few minutes?
- आदित्य Adityaआम्, अत्रैव तिष्ठतु।ām, atraiva tiṣṭhatu.Yes, stay right here.
