varṣāṇi

The Sanskrit word "varṣāṇi" translates to "years" 

in English, representing a plural form of "varṣa," 

which means "year."

Meaning and Usage:

• Singular Form: The noun varṣa (वर्ष) refers to one year.
• Plural Form: Varṣāṇi (वर्षाणि) is the plural form and is used 
• when counting multiple years, equivalent to saying "years" 
• in English.
• Grammatical Note: Varṣa is a masculine noun in the Sanskrit 
• language. Varṣāṇi is its nominative/accusative plural form, 
• commonly found in classical Sanskrit texts describing durations, 
• ages, or long periods.

Example in Context:

• Sanskrit: सः पञ्चविंशतिवार्षाणि जीवितवान्
• Translation: He lived for twenty-five years.
  Here, "पञ्चविंशतिवार्षाणि" literally means “twenty-five years,” 
• with -varṣāṇi denoting the plural "years."

In summary, varṣāṇi is the plural form of varṣa and directly 

translates to "years," commonly used when expressing durations 

of time spanning multiple years.

Also translates as:

 In Sanskrit, "varṣāṇi" also means “downpours” or periods 

of rainfall, and can also refer to specific land tracts 

or divisions named after the seven sons in certain 

Vedic contexts.

Literal Meaning

The term varṣāṇi (वर्षाणि) is the plural form derived from 

varṣa, which relates to rain, rainfall, or an annual period. 

In classical usage, especially in Vedic literature, varṣāṇi 

commonly denotes heavy rains or downpours

Sanskrit Dictionary

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Alternative Interpretation in Vedic Literature

Some sources indicate that varṣāṇi may also refer to the 

“tracts of land according to the names of the seven sons”, 

a meaning found in specific Vedic or epic contexts. Here, the 

word is associated with territorial divisions or allotments, 

showing that its interpretation can vary depending on 

textual reference 

Sanskrit Dictionary

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Usage in Sanskrit Texts

• Vedic references: Used in the Ṛgveda and Atharvaveda 
• to denote periods of rainfall or the yearly cycle of monsoons.
• Epic context: In some classical texts, it refers to land areas 
• or divisions assigned to descendants, showing a figurative 
• extension from the concept of “annual division” or “measure”.

Summary

• Primary meaning: downpours, heavy rains, monsoon periods 

  1

  .
• Secondary/figurative meaning: tracts of land associated 
• with the seven sons, as described in Vedic literature 

  1

  .
• Understanding the context within a given text is essential 
• to determine whether varṣāṇi refers to rainfall or land divisions.
• 

  

  2 Sources

Thus, the word varṣāṇi can denote natural phenomena (rain) 

or a socio-geographical concept (land tracts), reflecting the 

richness and flexibility of Sanskrit vocabulary.