purā

 Purā (पुरा) in Sanskrit commonly means 

“formerly” or “in the past,” and is used as 

an adverb to denote a time before the present.

Basic Definition

In Sanskrit, purā is an adverbial form derived from “pura,” which 

generally refers to something previous or ancient. It is often used

to describe events, states, or conditions that existed formerly, 

previously, or in ancient times

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 . For example, 

in classical texts like the Lalitavistara and Mahāvastu, purā 

appears in contexts indicating “a former existence” or an earlier 

time period 

Sanskrit Dictionary

.

Related Forms

• Pura (पुर): The root term has several meanings depending on context:
  • City or town: In Hindu, Jain, and historical texts, “pura” denotes 
  • a city, stronghold, or walled settlement, often appearing in place
  • names or descriptions of urban areas 

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    .
  • Abode or residence: It can also refer to a palace, house, or temple 

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  • Complete or full: Used in literature to denote fullness, completeness,
  • or plenitude 

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  • Harem or specific places in Shaktism: Sometimes, "pura" denotes 
  • a place within a ritual or bodily context in tantric and Shakta literature 

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• Usage in Literature:
  • In Bhagavad Gita and the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, pura conveys
  • the sense of “formerly” or “as in the past” when narrating 
  • mythological or historical events 

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  • In Yoga texts, a related form pūra can appear metaphorically, 
  • sometimes describing the “completeness” or inhalation in 
  • Prāṇāyama 

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• 

  

  3 Sources

Linguistic Notes

• Sanskrit adverbial use: purā functions primarily to reference time 
• that precedes the current moment, making it an essential word in 
• storytelling, historical narrative, and scriptural contexts 

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• Derivation: It is linked etymologically to the root púr-, which conveys 
• notions of filling, preceding, or being full 

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• 

  

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Examples

• yathā purā: “as it was formerly” or “in the past” (used in Bhāgavatam 
• and other texts).
• kṛṣṇa-prema-amṛta-pura: “the city of Krishna’s beauty” (symbolic 
• usage in devotional literature) 

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• pura-grama-vrāja-adisu: “in towns, cities, and villages here and
• there” (geographical or poetic usage) 

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  1 Source

In summary, purā in Sanskrit is primarily an adverb meaning ‘formerly’ 

or ‘in the past’, while its root pura encompasses secondary senses 

such as city, residence, completeness, or fullness, depending on

the textual and cultural context 

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. This dual semantic 

range is central to classical Sanskrit writings, epic narratives, 

and religious texts.