brā́hmaṇa mfn. relating to or given by a Brāhman, befitting or becoming a Brāhman, Brāhmanical, [AV.]; [TBr.]; [MBh.]
brāhmaṇá m. one who has divine knowledge (sometimes applied to Agni), a Brāhman, a man belonging to the 1st of the 3 twice-born classes and of the 4 original divisions of the Hindū body (generally a priest, but often in the present day a layman engaged in non-priestly occupations although the name is strictly only applicable to one who knows and repeats the Veda), [RV.] &c. &c.
= brāhmaṇācchaṃsin, [KātyŚr.]
a Brāhman in the second stage (between Mātra and Śrotriya), [Hcat.]
N. of the 28th lunar mansion, [L.]
brā́hmaṇa n. that which is divine, the divine, [AV.]
sacred or divine power, [ib.]; [ĀśvGṛ.]
Brāhmanical explanation, explanations of sacred knowledge or doctrine (esp. for the use of the Brāhmans in their sacrifices), [Br.]
the Brāhmaṇa portion of the Veda (as distinct from its Mantra and Upaniṣad portion) and consisting of a class of works called Brāhmaṇas (they contain rules for the employment of the Mantras or hymns at various sacrifices, with detailed explanations of their origin and meaning and numerous old legends; they are said by Sāyaṇa to contain two parts: 1. vidhi, rules or directions for rites; 2. artha-vāda, explanatory remarks; each Veda has its own Brāhmaṇa, that of the [RV.] is preserved in 2 works, viz. the Aitareya, sometimes called Āśvalāyana, and the Kauṣītaki or Śāṅkhāyana-Brāhmaṇa; the white Yajur-veda has the Śata-patha-Br°; the black Yajur-veda has the Taittirīya-Br° which differs little from the text of its Saṃhitā; the [SV.] has 8 Br°s, the best known of which are the Prauḍha or Pañca-viṃśa and the Ṣaḍviṃśa; the [AV.] has one Br° called Go-patha), [Nir.]; [GṛŚrS.] &c.
the Soma vessel of the Brahman priest, [RV.]; [AV.]
a society or assemblage of Brāhmans, a conclave, [W.]