apadama

 Apadama is a Sanskrit adjective meaning “without self‑restraint” or “of wavering/unstable fortune.”

Core meanings (attested in multiple dictionaries)

All major sources agree on two senses of apadama (अपदम):

• “Without self‑restraint” — a person lacking dama (self‑control)

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• “Of wavering or unsteady fortune” — someone whose luck or circumstances are unstable

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These two meanings appear consistently across Wisdom Library, Sanskritdictionary.com, and the Monier‑Williams–based dictionary.

Grammatical form

• Part of speech: adjective (mfn.)

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• Compound type: described as a bahuvrīhi compound (a possessive compound)

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  • This means apadama describes someone “who has the quality of being without restraint” or “who has unsteady fortune.”
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Etymology (from the sources)

Wisdom Library gives two possible internal analyses

Wisdom Library

:

1. apa + dama → “without self‑control” (apa = away, lacking; dama = restraint).
2. apada + mā → interpreted as “of unsteady fortune,” though this is a less common breakdown.

Usage notes

• The term is rare; Wisdom Library notes that no major textual occurrences were found in their searchable corpus

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• It appears mainly in lexical (dictionary) contexts rather than in widely cited classical literature.
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Not to be confused with apādāna

One result discusses apādāna (a grammatical case relation)

bhagwatdarshan.com

, but this is unrelated to apadama.

• Apadama = adjective meaning “without restraint / of wavering fortune.”
• Apādāna = a grammatical case (ablative‑like function).

Summary

Apadama (अपदम) is a Sanskrit adjective meaning:

• Without self‑restraint, or
• Of wavering, unstable fortune.

It is a bahuvrīhi compound and appears mainly in dictionary traditions rather than common literary usage.