एकशृङ्ग
ekaśṛṅga
The Sanskrit word for unicorn is एकशृङ्ग (ekaśṛṅga).
The term is used to refer to the mythical horselike creature.
Meaning: mythical horselike creature (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of eka, meaning one and śṛṅga, meaning horn.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form एकशृङ्ग is a masculine noun or adjective used to describe the creature.
How do you pronounce it?
ekaśṛṅga
Did you know?
- The root word एक is a cognate of the English word 'one' and the Latin 'unus', sharing a common ancestor in Proto-Indo-European.
- In many Sanskrit-derived-languages, the concept of the unicorn is often conflated with the 'one-horned' rhinoceros, which was a real animal known to ancient Indian scholars.
- In ancient Indian iconography, the 'one-horned' description was sometimes applied to divine beings, moving the term from the realm of beasts to the realm of the sacred.
Examples in context
- एकशृंगो विचित्रवर्णो वने विहारति।The unicorn with a unique color wanders in the forest.
- एकशृङ्गः अति सुन्दरः अस्ति।ekaśṛṅgaḥ ati sundaraḥ asti.The unicorn is very beautiful.
- एषः एकशृङ्गः किमर्थं धावति?eṣaḥ ekaśṛṅgaḥ kimarthaṃ dhāvati?Why is this unicorn running?
Example conversation
Aryan and Ananya are reading a book of myths.
- अनन्या Ananyaआर्यन, पश्यतु! एषः एकशृङ्गः अस्ति।Āryan, paśyatu! eṣaḥ ekaśṛṅgaḥ asti.Aryan, look! This is a unicorn.
- आर्यन Aryanकिं एकशृङ्गः वास्तवतः भवति?kiṃ ekaśṛṅgaḥ vāstavataḥ bhavati?Does a unicorn actually exist?
- अनन्या Ananyaन, एषः केवलं कथासु अस्ति।na, eṣaḥ kevalaṃ kathāsu asti.No, it is only in stories.
- आर्यन Aryanकिन्तु एकशृङ्गः अतीव सुन्दरः अस्ति।kintu ekaśṛṅgaḥ atīva sundaraḥ asti.But the unicorn is very beautiful.
