or hūm, ind. or an exclamation (of remembrance, doubt, interrogation, assent, anger, reproach, fear &c., not translatable); a mystical syllable used in spells and magical texts or sentences; in Vedic ritual used immediately before the singing of the Prastāva or prelude as well as during the chanting of the Pratihāra or response, [ŚrS.]; [MBh.]; [Kāv.] &c.