कारण

See also: करुणा, करण, कर्ण, करणे, and कुराण

Hindi

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit कारण (kāraṇa, “cause”).

Pronunciation

• (Delhi) IPA^(key): /kɑː.ɾəɳ/, [käː.ɾɐ̃ɳ]

Noun

कारण • (kāraṇ) m (Urdu spelling کارَن)

1. cause

   यह सब आपके कारण हुआ। ― yah sab āpke kāraṇ huā. ― All this happened because of you.

2. reason

   इस पर विश्‍वास करने का कोई कारण नहीं है।

   is par viś‍vās karne kā koī kāraṇ nahī̃ hai.

   There is no reason to believe this.

Declension

Declension of कारण (masc cons-stem)

	singular	plural
direct	कारण kāraṇ	कारण kāraṇ
oblique	कारण kāraṇ	कारणों kāraṇõ
vocative	कारण kāraṇ	कारणो kāraṇo

Synonyms

• वजह (vajah)

Further reading

• McGregor, Ronald Stuart (1993) “कारण”, in The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, London: Oxford University Press
• Bahri, Hardev (1989) “कारण”, in Siksarthi Hindi-Angrejhi Sabdakosa [Learners' Hindi-English Dictionary], Delhi: Rajpal & Sons.
• “कारण”, in ریخْتَہ لُغَت (rexta luġat) - Rekhta Dictionary [Urdu dictionary with meanings in Hindi & English], Noida, India: Rekhta Foundation, 2025.
• Dāsa, Śyāmasundara (1965–1975) “कारण”, in Hindī Śabdasāgara [lit. Sea of Hindi words] (in Hindi), Kashi [Varanasi]: Nagari Pracarini Sabha

Konkani

Conjunction

कारण • (kāraṇ) (Latin script ?, Kannada script ?)

1. because

Marathi

Etymology

Inherited from Old Marathi 𑘎𑘰𑘨𑘜 (kāraṇa, “cause”), from Maharastri Prakrit 𑀓𑀸𑀭𑀡 (kāraṇa, “cause”), from Sanskrit कारण (kāraṇa, “cause”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka.ɾəɳ/
• Rhymes: -əɳ
• Hyphenation: का‧रण

Conjunction

कारण • (kāraṇ)

1. because

   तो खेळायला जाऊ शकत नाही कारण त्याने अजून त्याचे गृहपाठ पूर्ण केलेले नाही.

   to kheḷāylā jāū śakat nāhī kāraṇ tyāne ajūn tyāce gruhpāṭh pūrṇa kelele nāhī.

   He cannot go play because he hasn't finished his homework yet.

Noun

कारण • (kāraṇ) n

1. cause, reason

   मुसळधार पाऊस हे पुराचे कारण होते.

   musaḷdhār pāūs he purāce kāraṇ hote.

   Heavy rain was the cause of the flood.

2. excuse

   Synonyms: निमित्त (nimitta), सबब (sabab)

   तो नेहमी कामावरून लवकर निघण्यासाठी कारण शोधत असतो.

   to nehmī kāmāvrūn lavkar nighaṇyāsāṭhī kāraṇ śodhat asto.

   He is always looking for an excuse to leave work early.

Declension

Declension of कारण (neut cons-stem)
direct singular	कारण kāraṇ
direct plural	कारणे, कारणं kāraṇe, kārṇa
	singular एकवचन		plural अनेकवचन
nominative प्रथमा	कारण kāraṇ		कारणे, कारणं kāraṇe, kārṇa
oblique सामान्यरूप	कारणा kāraṇā		कारणां- kāraṇān-
acc. / dative द्वितीया / चतुर्थी	कारणाला kāraṇālā		कारणांना kāraṇānnā
ergative	कारणाने, कारणानं kāraṇāne, kāraṇāna		कारणांनी kāraṇānnī
instrumental	कारणाशी kāraṇāśī		कारणांशी kāraṇānśī
locative सप्तमी	कारणात kāraṇāt		कारणांत kāraṇāt
vocative संबोधन	कारणा kāraṇā		कारणांनो kāraṇānno
Oblique Note: The oblique case precedes all postpositions. There is no space between the stem and the postposition. Locative Note: -त (-ta) is a postposition.

Genitive declension of कारण (neut cons-stem)
	masculine object पुल्लिंगी कर्म		feminine object स्त्रीलिंगी कर्म		neuter object नपुसकलिंगी कर्म		oblique सामान्यरूप
	singular एकवचन	plural अनेकवचन	singular एकवचन	plural अनेकवचन	singular* एकवचन	plural अनेकवचन
singular subject एकवचनी कर्ता	कारणाचा kāraṇāċā	कारणाचे kāraṇāċe	कारणाची kāraṇācī	कारणाच्या kāraṇācā	कारणाचे, कारणाचं kāraṇāċe, kāraṇāċa	कारणाची kāraṇācī	कारणाच्या kāraṇācā
plural subject अनेकवचनी कर्ता	कारणांचा kāraṇānċā	कारणांचे kāraṇānċe	कारणांची kāraṇāñcī	कारणांच्या kāraṇāncā	कारणांचे, कारणांचं kāraṇānċe, kāraṇānċa	कारणांची kāraṇāñcī	कारणांच्या kāraṇāñcā
* Note: Word-final ए (e) in neuter words is alternatively written with the anusvara and pronounced as अ (a). Oblique Note: For most postpostions, the oblique genitive can be optionally inserted between the stem and the postposition.

Further reading

• Berntsen, Maxine (1982–1983) “कारण”, in A Basic Marathi-English Dictionary, New Delhi: American Institute of Indian Studies
• Molesworth, James Thomas (1857) “कारण”, in A dictionary, Marathi and English, Bombay: Printed for government at the Bombay Education Society's Press

Old Marathi

Noun

कारण (kāraṇa) n

1. Devanagari script form of 𑘎𑘰𑘨𑘜

Pali

Alternative scripts

Alternative scripts

• kāraṇa (Latin script)
• 𑀓𑀸𑀭𑀡 (Brahmi script)
• কারণ (Bengali script)
• කාරණ (Sinhalese script)
• ကာရဏ or ၵႃရꧣ (Burmese script)
• การณ or การะณะ (Thai script)
• ᨠᩣᩁᨱ (Tai Tham script)
• ກາຣຓ or ກາຣະຓະ (Lao script)
• ការណ (Khmer script)
• 𑄇𑄂𑄢𑄕 (Chakma script)

Noun

कारण n

1. Devanagari script form of kāraṇa

Declension

Declension table of "कारण" (neuter)

Case \ Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	कारणं (kāraṇaṃ)	कारणानि (kāraṇāni)
Accusative (second)	कारणं (kāraṇaṃ)	कारणानि (kāraṇāni)
Instrumental (third)	कारणेन (kāraṇena)	कारणेहि (kāraṇehi) or कारणेभि (kāraṇebhi)
Dative (fourth)	कारणस्स (kāraṇassa) or कारणाय (kāraṇāya) or कारणत्थं (kāraṇatthaṃ)	कारणानं (kāraṇānaṃ)
Ablative (fifth)	कारणस्मा (kāraṇasmā) or कारणम्हा (kāraṇamhā) or कारणा (kāraṇā)	कारणेहि (kāraṇehi) or कारणेभि (kāraṇebhi)
Genitive (sixth)	कारणस्स (kāraṇassa)	कारणानं (kāraṇānaṃ)
Locative (seventh)	कारणस्मिं (kāraṇasmiṃ) or कारणम्हि (kāraṇamhi) or कारणे (kāraṇe)	कारणेसु (kāraṇesu)
Vocative (calling)	कारण (kāraṇa)	कारणानि (kāraṇāni)

Prakrit

Noun

कारण (kāraṇa) n

1. Devanagari script form of 𑀓𑀸𑀭𑀡

Sanskrit

Alternative scripts

Alternative scripts

• কাৰণ (Assamese script)
• ᬓᬵᬭᬡ (Balinese script)
• কারণ (Bengali script)
• 𑰎𑰯𑰨𑰜 (Bhaiksuki script)
• 𑀓𑀸𑀭𑀡 (Brahmi script)
• ကာရဏ (Burmese script)
• કારણ (Gujarati script)
• ਕਾਰਣ (Gurmukhi script)
• 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌣 (Grantha script)
• ꦏꦴꦫꦟ (Javanese script)
• 𑂍𑂰𑂩𑂝 (Kaithi script)
• ಕಾರಣ (Kannada script)
• ការណ (Khmer script)
• ກາຣຓ (Lao script)
• കാരണ (Malayalam script)
• ᡬᠠ᠎᠊ᠠᡵᠠᢏᠠ (Manchu script)
• 𑘎𑘰𑘨𑘜 (Modi script)
• ᢉᠠᢗᠷᠠᢏᠠ᠋ (Mongolian script)
• 𑦮𑧑𑧈𑦼 (Nandinagari script)
• 𑐎𑐵𑐬𑐞 (Newa script)
• କାରଣ (Odia script)
• ꢒꢵꢬꢠ (Saurashtra script)
• 𑆑𑆳𑆫𑆟 (Sharada script)
• 𑖎𑖯𑖨𑖜 (Siddham script)
• කාරණ (Sinhalese script)
• 𑩜𑩛𑩼𑩪 (Soyombo script)
• 𑚊𑚭𑚤𑚘 (Takri script)
• காரண (Tamil script)
• కారణ (Telugu script)
• การณ (Thai script)
• ཀཱ་ར་ཎ (Tibetan script)
• 𑒏𑒰𑒩𑒝 (Tirhuta script)
• 𑨋𑨊𑨫𑨘 (Zanabazar Square script)

Etymology

Vṛddhi derivative of करण (káraṇa), from the root कृ (kṛ).

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /kɑː.ɾɐ.ɳɐ/
• (Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /kɑː.ɾɐ.ɳɐ/

Noun

कारण • (kāraṇa) stem, n

1. cause, reason, factor
   • c. 400 BCE, Bhagavad Gītā 13.22:

     पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान्। कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु॥

     puruṣaḥ prakṛtistho hi bhuṅkte prakṛtijānguṇān. kāraṇaṃ guṇasaṅgoʼsya sadasadyonijanmasu.

     The living entity in material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of nature. Its association with that material nature is the cause for this. Thus he meets with good and evil among various species.

   • c. 700 CE – 900 CE, Bhāgavata Purāṇa 11.18.6:

     स्वयं सञ्चिनुयात् सर्वमात्मनो वृत्तिकारणम्। देशकालबलाभिज्ञो नाददीतान्यदाहृतम्॥

     svayaṃ sañcinuyāt sarvamātmano vṛttikāraṇam. deśakālabalābhijño nādadītānyadāhṛtam.

     [A Vānaprastha] should personally collect whatever he requires for his bodily maintenance [lit. cause of his own sustenance], carefully considering the time, place and his own capacity. He should never collect provisions for the future.

   • c. 700 CE – 900 CE, Bhāgavata Purāṇa 11.18.45:

     भक्त्योद्धवानपायिन्या सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम्। सर्वोत्पत्त्यप्ययं ब्रह्म कारणं मोपयाति सः॥

     bhaktyoddhavānapāyinyā sarvalokamaheśvaram. sarvotpattyapyayaṃ brahma kāraṇaṃ mopayāti saḥ.

     My dear Uddhava, I am the Supreme Lord of all worlds, and I create and destroy this universe, being its ultimate cause. I am thus the absolute truth, the cause [of the universe] and one who worships me with unfailing devotional service comes to me.

   • c. 700 CE – 900 CE, Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.17.1:

     मैत्रेय उवाच
     निशम्यात्मभुवा गीतं कारणं शङ्कयोज्झिताः। ततः सर्वे न्यवर्तन्त त्रिदिवाय दिवौकसः॥

     maitreya uvāca
     niśamyātmabhuvā gītaṃ kāraṇaṃ śaṅkayojjhitāḥ. tataḥ sarve nyavartanta tridivāya divaukasaḥ.

     Śrī Maitreya said: The demigods, the inhabitants of the higher planets, were freed from all fear upon hearing the cause of the darkness explained by Brahmā, who was born from Viṣṇu. Thus they all returned to their respective planets.

2. instrument, means
   • c. 400 BCE, Bhagavad Gītā 6.3:

     आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणम्उच्यते। योगारूढस्यतस्यैव शमः कारणम्उच्यते॥

     ārurukṣormuneryogaṃ karma kāraṇamucyate. yogārūḍhasyatasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇamucyate.

     For one who is a neophyte in the eightfold yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who is already elevated in yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.

3. motive, origin, principle
4. an element, elementary matter
5. the origin or plot of a play or poem
6. that on which an opinion or judgement is founded (a sign, mark, a proof, a legal instrument, document)
7. an organ of sense
8. an action
9. agency, instrumentality, condition
10. "the cause of being", a father
11. "cause of creation", a deity
12. the body
13. a kind of musical instrument
14. a sort of song
15. a number of scribes or kāyasthas
16. killing, injury

Declension

Neuter a-stem declension of कारण

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	कारणम् (kāraṇam)	कारणे (kāraṇe)	कारणानि (kāraṇāni) कारणा¹ (kāraṇā¹)
accusative	कारणम् (kāraṇam)	कारणे (kāraṇe)	कारणानि (kāraṇāni) कारणा¹ (kāraṇā¹)
instrumental	कारणेन (kāraṇena)	कारणाभ्याम् (kāraṇābhyām)	कारणैः (kāraṇaiḥ) कारणेभिः¹ (kāraṇebhiḥ¹)
dative	कारणाय (kāraṇāya)	कारणाभ्याम् (kāraṇābhyām)	कारणेभ्यः (kāraṇebhyaḥ)
ablative	कारणात् (kāraṇāt)	कारणाभ्याम् (kāraṇābhyām)	कारणेभ्यः (kāraṇebhyaḥ)
genitive	कारणस्य (kāraṇasya)	कारणयोः (kāraṇayoḥ)	कारणानाम् (kāraṇānām)
locative	कारणे (kāraṇe)	कारणयोः (kāraṇayoḥ)	कारणेषु (kāraṇeṣu)
vocative	कारण (kāraṇa)	कारणे (kāraṇe)	कारणानि (kāraṇāni) कारणा¹ (kāraṇā¹)

• ¹Vedic

Descendants

• Ashokan Prakrit: 𑀓𑀸𑀭𑀡 (kāraṇa)
  • Prakrit: 𑀓𑀸𑀭𑀡 (kāraṇa) (see there for further descendants)
• Old Javanese: kāraṇa
  • Javanese: ꦏꦫꦤ (karana, “reason, cause; because”), ꦏꦿꦤ (krana, “reason; because of”), ꦏꦼꦫꦤ (kerana, “because”)
  • → Balinese: ᬓᬭᬡ (karana, “cause, origin, reason”)
• Pali: kāraṇa
• → Hindi: कारण (kāraṇ)
• → Kannada: ಕಾರಣ (kāraṇa)
• → Malayalam: കാരണം (kāraṇaṁ)
• → Old Marathi: 𑘎𑘰𑘨𑘜 (kāraṇa)
  • Marathi: कारण (kāraṇ)
• → Tamil: காரணம் (kāraṇam)
• → Telugu: కారణము (kāraṇamu)

Further reading

• Monier Williams (1899) “कारण”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 274, column 2.
• Apte, Vaman Shivram (1890) “कारण”, in The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary, Poona: Prasad Prakashan
• Hellwig, Oliver (2010–2025) “kāraṇa”, in DCS - The Digital Corpus of Sanskrit, Berlin, Germany.
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “kāraṇa”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press