Apte’s Choise Expressions and Idioms

APg. 1

स दैवाधीनः कृतः,यद्भावितद्भवतु इत्युक्त्वा परित्यक्त’he was abandoned to his fate.’

तव निर्णये स्थास्यामि, तव निर्णयः प्रमाणं ‘I shall abide by (bow to) your decision.’प्रतीज्ञा-अभिसंधां-पालयति’abides by his promise.’

यथाशक्ति,यावच्छक्यं’to the best (utmost) of one’s ability‘, all that one can do, as far as possible.

बहुकौतुकः स देशः‘the country abounds in curiosities.’

पञ्चवर्षदेशीयः ‘about five years old. मध्यान्हप्रायः-कल्प समयः ‘it is about noon.’किं कर्तुमुद्यतोसि,किं कार्यव्यग्रोसि,किमारम्भस्त्वं ‘what are you about’.

स सर्वेषां मूर्ध्नि तिष्ठति ‘he stands above (at the head of) all.’ अदत्ता-वकाशो मत्सरस्य ‘above envy.’

सा दारुणा प्रतिज्ञा लोके प्रकाशतां गता-प्रकाशीभूता ‘the dreadful vow became known abroad

शून्यमनस्क,शून्यहृदय,हृदयेनासन्निहित,विगतचेतन ‘absent-minded.’

कृतमेतादृशेन असन्गतेन प्रलापेन ‘do not talk so absurdly’

मनोरथानामगतिर्न विद्यते ‘nothing is inacccessible to desire.’

मरणं प्रकृतिः विकृतिर्जीवितमुच्यते‘death is nature, life is but an accident’

भावमनुप्रविश् ‘accommodate oneself to the -will of.’

एकचित्तिभूय‘with one accord.’यदृच्छया,स्वयं,स्वेच्छातः ‘of one’s own accord.’ तद्वचनानुसारेण–अनुरोधेन ’in accardance with his words.’

अनुज्येष्ठं ‘according to seniority.’

राजेति का मात्रा-गणना मम ‘of what account (consideration) is a king to me’ (I defy him).

 

Pg. 2

दैवहतकं, दग्धदैव, हतदैवं ‘accursed or wretched fate.’

बलवती शिरोवेदना मां बाधते ‘I am suffering from a strong (bad) headache.’

भवतोsविनयमंतरेण परिगृहीतार्थाकृतादेवी ‘the queen was made acquainted with your immodesty.’

ते स्वकर्म साधु-निरवाहयन् आचरन् ‘they acquitted themselves well.’

शासने तिष्ट भर्तुः ‘act up to your master’s orders.’ लक्ष्मीभूमिकायां वर्तमाना ‘acting the part of Lakshmi.’ कुरु प्रियसखीवृत्तिं सपत्नीजने ‘act the part of a dear friend towards your rivals.’ मनोवाक्कायकर्मभिः ‘in action, thought and speech’ (in thought, words and deed.)

कुशाग्रबुद्धिः ‘acuteness (sharpness) of intellect. ’

यथाकालं व्यवहर ‘adapt your conduct to circumstances’. तस्यैकदेशः अभिनेयार्थः कृतः ‘a portion of it has been adapted to the stage.’

लक्ष्मीं तनोति ‘adds to the lustre.’ गण्डस्योपरि पिटिका संवृता, अयमपरो गण्डस्योपरि स्फोटः ‘this is another evil to add to the first’ (lit. ‘a pimple has grown upon a boil’).

मधुरालाप, प्रियंवद ‘of agreeable address.’ अदत्तबाह्यनामा लेखः ‘a letter without any address upon it.’ दत्त-लिखित मद्बाह्य पत्रं प्रेषय ‘send the letter to my address. ’

आमन्त्रयस्व-आपृच्छस्व सहचरं ‘bid adieu to (take leave of, bid farewell to) your friend.’

सर्वविश्रमेष्वभ्यन्तरकिरणीया ‘she should be admitted to all confidential matters.’ तस्या विकारो विलंबाक्षमः ‘her illness admits of no delay.’ वयोवृद्ध,प्रवयस् ‘advanced in age.’ ज्ञानवृद्ध ‘advanced in knowledge.’

मम छिद्रेण लब्धावकाशः ‘taking advantage of my weak point.’

वसन्तसमयावतारः, मधुप्रवृत्तिः ‘advent or setting in of spring.’

क्लेशलेशैरभिन्न ‘not affected by the slightest fatigue.’ वेतालोपहत ‘affected by a devil.’ अनेकव्याध्युपसृष्ट ‘affected by many diseases.’ न नः किंचिच्छिद्यते ‘our position is not in the least affected (it does not affect us in the least).’ कृतकळलहं कृत्वा ‘affecting a quarrel.’ मम वचसा तस्य हृदयं

 

Pg. 3

द्रवीभूतं,मम वचस्तस्य हृदये दृढम् पदं लेभे ‘my words deeply affected his heart’ पण्डितंमन्योसौ ‘he affects learning’.

*द्वौ नलौ प्रकृतार्थ गमयतः‘two negatives make one affermative.

इति वार्ता प्रसृता ‘such a romour’ was afloat.’

अनुपूर्वशः ‘one after another.’ वृक्षं वृक्षं सिंचति ‘waters tree after tree.’ स पितामहनाम्नाsभिधीयते-आहयते ‘ he is called after his grand father.’

प्राप्तव्यव्यवहारदश ‘come of age.’ षोडशवर्षवयोवस्थामस्पृषत् ‘he reached the 16th year of his age.’

अस्मिन्विषये सर्वेषां तेषामैकमत्यम् ‘they all agree (there is a unanimity) on this point.’

शरसंधानं कुर्वन् ‘taking aim with his arrow.’ क्वानिर्दिष्टकारणं गम्यते ‘where are you going without any definite aim.’

वातमासेव् ‘to take the air.’ प्रकाशतां गम् ‘take air. ’ अवलेपमुद्रा ‘an air of conceit.’ निकृतमिवात्मानं संदर्श्य ‘with the air of one who is offended.’ गगनकुसुमानि-खपुष्पाणि-छ, मनो-राज्यविजृम्भणं कृ ‘to build castles in the air.’

अकस्मात्, सहसा, एकपदे ‘all of a sudden.’ एतावान्मे विभवो भवन्तं सेवितुं ‘this is all I can do to serve you.’जीवितसर्वस्वं all-in-all of one’s life.’ एवं पिण्डीकृत्य मह्यं विन्शतिं रूपकान्देहि ‘give me 20 rupees in all’ सर्वे मिलित्वा सप्त वयं ‘we are 7 in all.’

इयं कथा मामेव लक्षीकरोति ‘this story alludes to myself.’

क्षीणभूयिष्ठायां क्षपायां ‘when the night had almost worn away.’ अधुना प्रभात्प्राया-कल्पा रजनी ‘it is almost dawn now.’ मृतप्राय-कल्प ‘almost dead (all but dead).’

अन्या गतिर्नास्ति, अन्यच्छरणं नालोक्यते ‘there is no other alternative (course, help ).’

एष तव वचसो निष्कर्षः-पिण्डितोर्थः ‘your whole speech amounts to this’ (this is the purport or sum and substance of your speech).

 

Pg. 4

अराजके जनपदे ‘the country is in a state of anarchy,*

जन्मदिवसः ‘anniversary of birth’ *मृततिथि ‘anniversary of death.’

भवतु तथा इति स प्रत्युवाच ‘he answered very well,’ इदं मे इष्टसिद्धये कल्पेत ‘this will ansmer my purpose, will do for me.’

चिन्ताविषन्घोsगदः ‘an antidote against anxiety’ विषवैद्यः, जान्गुलिकः ‘dealer in antidotes.’

व्याजस्तुतिः ‘apparent praise.

अस्मिन्नर्थेअत्रभवन्तं प्रमाणीकरोमि, अत्र भवान् प्रमाणं ‘I appeal to your honour in this case’.

साक्षी नोपतस्थौ ‘the witness did not appeare.’ शोभनाकृति, सुभगाकृति, चारुदर्शन, प्रेक्षणीय ‘good in appearance’, तव कथा सत्येव प्रतिभाति-अवभासते ‘your story has an appearance of truth.’

सुखार्थे विषयशब्दं न प्रयुंजते ‘they do not apply the word द्वितीयगामी ण हि शब्द एष नः to happiness’. * ‘this our title does not apply to any one else’. कोपरो नियोगोनुष्ठियतामिति प्रार्थयामास ‘he applied for further orders’. वयं स्वकर्मण्यभीपुज्यामहे ‘we apply ourselves to our work.’

संकेतं-समयं अनुरुध्यस्वः अनुपालय ‘keep your appointment or engagement’. देवि सामायिका भवामः ‘Queen, Iet us keep (to) our appointment or engagement’, let us be punctual.

तीक्ष्णमति ‘of quick apprehension.’ मन्दधी, स्थूलंबुद्धि ‘of dull apprehension, ‘dull-headed’.

प्रस्तावसदृशं,प्राप्तकालं, कालोचितं, समयानुरूपं ‘appropriate to (fit for) the occasion.’

न ते वचनोsभिनन्दामि ‘I do not approve of your speech’ (your speech does not commend itself to me).

युवानो विस्मरणशीलाः ‘youths are apt to forget’ अतिस्नेहः पापशंकी ‘over-affection is apt to suspect evil.’

लोके गुरुत्वं विपरीतां वा स्वचेष्टितान्येव नरं नयंति ‘man is the architect of his own fortune (the fortunate circumstances of our lives are of our own making)

 

Pg. 5

बध्नाति मे चक्षुश्चित्रकूटः ‘Chitrakuta mountain arrests my eye’.

अव्याजमनोहरं-अकृत्रिमलावण्यं-निसर्गरमणीयं वपुः ‘an artlessly (naturally) lovely body’.

गुणास्तावत्तस्य नैव, विद्यन्ते ‘as for merits, he has none’. शीघ्रमिति सुकरं ‘for doing it quickly, it is easy’. पितेति मां स मानयति ‘as a father he respects me’.

वेदोपलक्षणार्थं ‘to ascertain the time.’

कस्मिन् दोषं निक्षिपामि, कं दोषपक्षे स्थास्यामि ‘to whom shall I ascribe the blame’ (on whom shall I lay the blame). पापकर्म तस्य संभाव्यते ‘a sinful deed is ascribed to him.’

भस्मी-भस्मसात् कृ ‘to reduce to ashes,’ भस्मीभू ‘to be reduced to ashes.’

तस्य वदनं हर्षोत्फुल्लं बभौ ‘he had a cheerul aspect.’सर्व विपर्याप्तं यातं ‘all things wore a different aspect,’ उदगभिमुखं मे गृहं ‘my house has a northerly aspect.’

कवियशः प्रार्थी ‘Aspiring to the fame of a poet.’ दूरारूढाः-दूरधिरोहिणः उत्सर्पिणः खलु एते मनोरथाः ‘these are, indeed, high aspirations’ (ambitions, high soaring desires).

मृगा मृगैः संगमनुवज्रन्ति ‘dear associate with deer.’

कृतकं-मिथ्या-मौनं ‘assumed silence.’

इति मे निश्चयः, दृढं मन्ये ‘I assuredly feel,’ ‘I feel assured.’

उपचारातिक्रमं-प्रणिपातलङ्घनं-प्रमार्ष्टुमयमारम्भः ‘this is an act to ___ (make amends ) for the slighting of prostration.’

लोकापवादो बलवान्मतो मे ‘I attach great importance to public censure’. नृपं सुदृणमनुरक्ताः प्रजा ‘subjects are firmly attached to the king.’

युवतयो गृहिणीपदं यान्तिः ‘young women attain to the position of house-wives.’

उदार-आर्य-नेपथ्यभृत् ‘richly or splendidly attired.’

Pg. 6

वैरभावः, विपक्षवृत्तिः ‘hostile attitude’.

आत्मन्यारोपितालीकाभिमानाः ‘attributing to themselves false greatness.’

राजदर्शनं लेभे ‘had an audience of (interview with) the king.’ देर्शनानुग्रहमिच्छामि ‘I wish to be favonred with an audience.’

विपदुत्पत्तिमतामुपस्थिता, जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युः ‘destruction (death) awaits those that are born.’

चकितं नृपस्य पार्श्वमुपैमि ‘I approach the king with awe.

 

B

परोक्षे-क्षं ‘behind one’s back ’ (in one’s absence). उर्वशी प्रत्यादेशः श्रियः ‘Urvasi throws Lakshmi into the back-ground’ (obscures, eclipses her).

सकलवचनानामविषयं-वर्णनविष्यातिकान्तं-मोघवर्णनप्रयत्नं-तत्स्थानं ‘the place baffles description’.

ते कुलस्याधयः ‘they are a bane to the family.’

इति समयः कृतः ‘such a bargain waa struck.’ अपि च अपरञ्च ‘into the bargain.’

तस्मिन्वसरे तेन धीरं विक्रान्तं ‘he bore himself bravely on the occasion.’ चित्ते अवधृ, मनसि कृ,अनुस्मृ ‘bear in mind’. शोकवशं मा गमः ‘bear up under grief.’ गर्भेश्वरः ‘rich from his birth.’

सीता देव्याः किं वृत्तं ‘what became of the queen Sita,’ what was Sita’s fate?

आपतन्ति हि संसारपथमवतीर्णानामेते वृत्तान्ताः ‘such incidents befall worldly persons.’

अश्रुतपूर्णं ‘not heard before’.

लतांतरित-लताव्यवहित विग्रहः ‘concealing or hiding his body behind creepers’.

भूभङ्गं कृ ‘to bend the brow.’ स पुनरपि स्वकार्ये मनो बर्बधन्यवेशयत् ‘he bent his mind again to his task’. भवन्ति नम्रास्तरवः फलागमैः ‘trees bend

 

Pg. 7

* ‘down under the load of fruits’. कृतनिश्चयः, दृढनिश्चयः, कृतसंकल्प, विहितप्रतिज्ञ ‘bent on’. परस्परवधोद्यतौ ‘bent on (killing) each other.’

आनन्द्परवशः, आनन्देन विगतचेतन इव भूत्वा ‘beside oneself with joy’. अप्रास्ताविकं, अप्रस्तुतं,अप्रासंगिक, अप्रकृतं एतत् ‘this is beside the question, irrelevant, does not bear on the matter in question’.

अस्ति मे विशेषोsद्य ‘I am (feel) better to-day’. अभिभृ-अति रिच् pass. ‘to get the better of’.

दुर्गम, दुर्गेय,दुर्बोध ‘beyond comprehension’. आयाधिकं व्ययं करोति ‘he lives beyond his means’.स श्रुतिपथ आतक्रान्तः-व्यतीतः ‘he went beyond hearing’.

न मनागपि न स्तोकांशेनापि ‘not a bit, not in the least’.

मृत्पिण्डबुद्धिः ‘a block-head, clod-pated’.

समेत,संहत ‘in a body;‘ आसन्नपरिचारकः ‘a body-guard’.

भित्रोष्टधा विप्रससार वशः ‘the family branched-off into 8 parts’.

साहसे श्रीः प्रतिवसति ‘fortune favours the brave’.

प्रभाता रजनी ‘the day broke, it was day-break (dawn)’. विच्छेदमाप कथाप्रबन्धः ‘the story has suffered a break’. सभ्याः स्वं स्वं स्थानं प्रतिजग्मुः ‘the assembly broke up’. तस्याक्ष्णोः प्रभातमासीत् ‘the day broke upon his eyes.’

किं बहुना ‘to be brief, in short’.

हर्षरोमाञ्चित-पुलकित-कंटकित-तनुः ‘his body bristling or thrilling with joy’.

तस्याः सहसा प्रवर्तताश्रुधारा ‘sheburstinto tears’. संभूय प्रशंसागिर उदतिष्ठन् ‘there was a burst of applause’.

अप्रस्तुतं किमिति अनुसन्धीयते ‘why do you beat about the bush.’ ध्रुवाणि परित्यज्य अध्रुवनिषेवणम् नेष्टः अध्रुवाद् ध्रुवं वरं, वरमद्य कपोतो ण श्वो मयूरः or ‘a bird in the hand is worth

 

अनुदिवसं-दिनं, दिने दिने ‘day by day.’ शतशः ‘by hundreds.’एकैकशः आनुपूर्वेण ‘one by one ’.

 

Pg. 8

C

प्रयत्नसंवर्धित ‘brought up with care’. निपुणमन्विष्य ‘searching with care.’ अधुनाहं वीतचिन्तः ‘I do not care now’. न कामवृत्तिर्वचनीयमीक्षते ‘selt-willed person cares not for blame.’ प्रतिपात्रमाधीयतां यत्नः ‘let care be taken of each character.’

प्रस्तुतविषये, प्रकृते ‘in the case before us, in the present case’. तेन हि ‘if such be the case’, well then.

किं मिष्टमन्नं खरसूकराणां ‘why cast pearls before svine’.

ज्वलनमुपगतं-अग्निदीप्तं-गेहं ‘the house caught fire.’ कर्मगृहीत, रूपाभिग्राहित, लोप्त्रेणगृहीत ‘caught in the act (red-handed).’

किन्नर्मिथुनं यदृच्छयाद्राक्षीत् ’chanced to see two Kinnaras.’ घुणाक्षरन्या येन ‘by happy chance.’ स मया समापत्तिदृष्टः ‘I chanced to see him, I accidentally met him.’

स्वभावो दुरतिक्रमः ‘nature can’t be changed.’ क्षीरं दधिभावेन परिणमते, दधिभावमापद्यते ‘milk is changed into curds.’

हस्ते निक्षिप् ‘or समर्पय् ‘give in charge of’ अयं जनः कस्य हस्ते समर्पितः निक्षिप्तः ‘in whose charge has this person been given.’

समाश्वसिहि, धैर्यं निधेहि हृदये ‘be of good cheer, or cheer up, take courage.’

एवं गते-सति ‘under these circumstances’. ‘such being the case’. दुर्गत, दुर्दशापत्र, दुस्थित ‘in bad circumstances.’ येन केनापि प्रकारेण ‘under any circumstances, ‘any how.’ यथावसरं, यथाकालं ‘according to circumstances.’

अतिभूमिं गतो रणरणकोsस्याः ‘her anxiety has reached its climax’, or the highest pitch.

निमिमील नरोत्तमप्रिया ‘the king’s beloved closed her eyes in death.’ अद्य निर्वातं नभः ‘it is closed to-day.’

मृत्युमुखान्मुक्तः ‘rescued from the clutches (jaws) of death’.

यद्भावि तद्भवतु ‘come what may.’ यद्भावि तद्भवतु शुभमशुभं वा ‘come harm, come good.’ प्रकृतिमापद्, संज्ञां-चेतनां-लभ् or प्रतिपद्, प्रकृतौस्था ‘come

 

Pg. 9

to oneself, regain conciousness, to come to one’s senses’. आगामिनि सोमवासरे ‘on the coming Monday.’ तां सुखशयितं पृच्छ ‘ask her whether she has had a comfortable sleep. रात्रावपि निकामं शयितव्यं नास्ति ‘I can’t sleep comfortably even at night.’

दीर्घिकावलोकनगवाक्षगता ‘sitting at a window commanding (the view of) a well’. आकृतिविशेषेष्वादरः पदं करोति ‘good forms command respect.

पदं हि सर्वत्र गुणैर्निधीयते ‘merits command notice or attention.’ तनुवाग्विभवोपि सन् ‘though I have no command of language’ (though possessec of scanty powers of speech or description). तं वाग्वश्येवानुवर्तते ‘he has command of language.’

इदं वृत्तं लेख्यं-पत्रं आरोपय पत्रे निवेशय ‘commit this matter to writing’.

अस्माभिः सहैककार्याणां ‘who have made common cause with us.’

सहाध्यायिन् ‘a companion at school’, ‘a fellow-student.’ समदुःखसुख ‘a companion in joy and sorrow.’

अहमहमिकया प्रणामलालसाः ‘a competing wih one another to salute first.’

अभिनन्द्य ब्रवीति ‘says or writes after presenting complimentes.’ च्यवनाय मां-प्रणिपातय or मदीयो नमस्कारो वाच्यः ‘givemy compliments to Chyavana.’ उपचारपदं ‘a complimentary saying.’

स नाद्यापि पर्यवस्थापयति-संस्तंभयति आत्मानं ‘he does not yet campot (collect) himself.’

महदपि राज्यं न मे सौख्यमावहति ‘even my large kingdom does not conduce to my happiness.’

अपि रक्ष्यते त्वया रहस्यनिक्षेपः ‘have you kept the secret confided you.’ विश्वास-विश्रम्भ-भूमि स मम ‘he is my confident.’ विश्रम्भस्थाने मन् ‘to take into confidence.’

प्रसवकालः, प्रसावावस्था ‘confinement of a woman’. प्रसूता or प्राप्तप्रसवतद्भार्या ‘his wife is confined (is in child-bed).’

दिष्टया सुतमुखदर्शनेन आयुष्मान्वर्धते ‘youare to be congratulated upon seeing your son’s face,’ or ‘I congratulate you upon seeing’.

 

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प्रसन्नः-उपपत्र-ते तर्कः ‘your conjuncture is clear (you have rightly conjuctured or guessed).

अग्निसात्कुरु, ज्वलनाय समर्पय ‘consign to the flames’.

तस्याचरणं वचसा न विसंवदति ‘his conduct is not inconsistent with his words’. स्वार्थाविरोधेन ‘consistently with their own interest’. अभिरूपभूयिष्ठा परिषद् ‘an assembly mostly consisting of learned men.

तस्य वचसि दुराशयं मा कल्पय-आरोपय ‘do not put a bad construction upon his words’.

तत्परतयैव वेदान्तवाक्यानि योजयन्ति ‘construe Vedantic sentences as referring to it’.