often used for the sake of emphasis, especially at the end of a line after iti or a verb (e.g. sarva-bhūtāni tam pārtha sadā paribhavanty uta, all creatures, O king, certainly always despise him, [MBh. iii, 1026]), [MBh.]; [Bhag.] &c. (As an interrogative particle, generally at the beginning of the second or following part of a double interrogation) or, utrum-an (e.g. katham nirṇīyate kiṃ syān niṣkāraṇo bandhur uta viśvāsa-ghātakaḥ, how can it be decided whether he be a friend without a motive or a violator of confidence? [Hit.]), [Kum.]; [Kathās.]; [Bhartṛ.]; [Sāh.] &c.
in this sense it may be strengthened by āho (e.g. kaccit tvam asi mānuṣī utāho surāṅganā, art thou a mortal woman or divine? Nala), or by āho-svit (e.g. śālihotraḥ kiṃ nu syād utāhosvid rājā nalaḥ, can it be Śālihotra or king Nala?) Rarely kim is repeated before used in this sense (e.g. kim nu svargāt prāptā tasyā rūpeṇa kimutānyāgatā, has she arrived from heaven or has another come in her form? [Mṛcch.]), [Amar.]; [MBh.] &c. (As a particle of wishing, especially at the beginning of a sentence followed by a potential) would that! utinam! (e.g. utādhīyīta, would that he would read!) ( preceded by kim) on the contrary, how much more, how much less (e.g. samartho 'si sahasram api jetuṃ kimutaikam, thou art able to conquer even a thousand, how much more one, [R.]), [Śak.]; [Vikr.]; [Ragh.] &c. ( preceded by prati) on the contrary, rather (e.g. eṣa pṛṣṭo 'smābhir na jalpati hanti praty-uta pāṣāṇaiḥ, this one questioned by us does not speak, but rather throws stones at us), [Kathās.]; [Pañcat.] &c.
uta vā, or else, and (e.g. samudrād uta vā purīṣāt, from the sea or from the moisture in the air)
vā — uta vā or utāho vāpi — vā, either — or
— , both — and (e.g. uta balavān utābalaḥ, both the strong and the weak)