Sutra 31

Devanagari script

द्वौ लवौ निमेषः ॥ कZ_०२.२०.३१ ॥

Transliteration

dvau lavau nimeṣaḥ

Translation

Two lava units constitute one nimeṣa (blink-moment).

Word by Word

• द्वौ: two
• Type: Numeral (Adjective)
• Root: द्वि
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक-विशेषणम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-द्विवचनम् (लवौ इति विशेष्यस्य)

• लवौ: two lavas (a unit of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लव
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-द्विवचनम्

• निमेषः: a nimeṣa (a blink; a unit of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमेष
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विधेय-पदम् (सम्बन्धः: ‘द्वौ लवौ’ = ‘निमेषः’)

Entities Mentioned

• lava
• nimeṣa

More Details

FAQs

What administrative need is served by defining nimeṣa?

It provides a shared baseline for measuring larger official time blocks (e.g., muhūrta) and for specifying durations in procedures and duties.

What is the relation between lava and nimeṣa?

1 nimeṣa = 2 lava.