View source for Seva (सेवा)

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The term 'Seva'<ref>Vaman Shivram Apte (1890), [https://ia600505.us.archive.org/19/items/ldpd_7285627_000/ldpd_7285627_000.pdf The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary], Poona: Shiralkar & Co.; Book-Sellers & c. &c. See: सेवा (p.1138)</ref> is primarily used in the sense of 

# Service, servitude, dependence
# Attending to as in [[Hitopadesha (हितोपदेश)|Hitopadesha]] - हीनसेवा न कर्तव्या...॥११॥<ref>Hitopadesha, Vigraha, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB Katha 2]</ref> Meaning, A mean person should not be served.<ref name=":2">M.R.Kale (1967), [https://ia601506.us.archive.org/34/items/gQXu_hitopadesa-of-narayana-edited-with-a-sanskrit-commentary-maram-prakasika-and-not/Hitopadesa%20Of%20Narayana%20Edited%20With%20A%20Sanskrit%20Commentary%20Maram%20Prakasika%20And%20Notes%20In%20English%20By%20M%20R%20Kale%2C%201967%20-%20Motilal%20Banarsidas.pdf Hitopadesa of Narayana], Motilal Banarsidass, p.42</ref>
# Worship, homage, honouring.
# [[Bhakti (भक्तिः)|Devotion]] to, fondness for.
# Frequenting, resorting to.
# Flattery, coaxing or flattering words.

The root of the word 'Seva' is generally traced back to the dhatu सेव्<ref name=":1">Vaman Shivram Apte (1890), [https://ia600505.us.archive.org/19/items/ldpd_7285627_000/ldpd_7285627_000.pdf The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary], Poona: Shiralkar & Co.; Book-Sellers & c. &c. See: सेव् (p.1137)</ref> which could mean

# to serve, wait or attend upon, honour, worship, obey, etc.
# to attach or devote oneself to, attend to, cultivate, practise, perform as in [[Manusmrti (मनुस्मृतिः)|Manusmrti]] - विद्वद्भिः सेवितः सद्भिर्नित्यमद्वेषरागिभिः । हृदयेनाभ्यनुज्ञातो यो धर्मस्तं निबोधत । । २.१ । ।<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 2]</ref> Meaning, Learn that [[Dharma (धर्मः)|Dharma]] which has been ever followed by and sanctioned by the heart of the learned and the good who are free from love and hate.<ref>Ganganath Jha (1920-39), Manusmrti with the Manubhashya of Medhatithi ([https://ia601503.us.archive.org/5/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.46009/2015.46009.Manusmrti--Vol-3_text.pdf Vol.3]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref>
# to resort to, betake oneself to, dwell in, frequent, inhabit as in [[Panchatantra (पंचतंत्र)|Panchatantra]] - अर्थार्थी जीवलोकोऽयं श्मशानमपि सेवते। त्यक्त्वा जनयितारं स्वं निःस्वं यच्छति दूरतः॥१.९॥<ref>Panchatantra, Tantra 1: Mitrabheda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A8 1-20]) </ref> Meaning, This mortal world, desirous of riches, recourses even to a cremation ground and relinquishing one's indigent progenitor-father even, goes far.<ref name=":0">Dr. Naveen Kumr Jha & Dr Anjana (2016), Pancatantram, Delhi: J.P.Publishing House. </ref>
# to watch over, guard, protect

The Indian Epigraphical Glossary notes the presence of the term 'seva' in tamizh epigraphs as 'sevai' that denotes the sense of 'service'. These epigraphs also talk about an 'inām' for services and tax-free land given to servants for enjoyment in lieu of salary.<ref>D.C. Sircar (1966), Indian Epigraphical Glossary, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, See: [https://archive.org/details/indianepigraphic00sircuoft/page/310/mode/2up?view=theater Seva]</ref>

In Sanskrit, the 'sevaka'<ref>Vaman Shivram Apte (1890), [https://ia600505.us.archive.org/19/items/ldpd_7285627_000/ldpd_7285627_000.pdf The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary], Poona: Shiralkar & Co.; Book-Sellers & c. &c. See: सेवक (p.1138)</ref> refers to 
# a servant, dependant as in Hitopadesha सेवया धनम् इच्छद्भिः सेवकैः पश्य यत् कृतम् । स्वातन्त्र्यं यच्छरीरस्य मूढैस्तद् अपि हारितम् ॥२०॥<ref>Hitopadesha, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AD Suhrdbheda]</ref> Meaning, See what servants who wish to acquire wealth by means of service have done - those fools have allowed even the independence of their body to be lost !<ref name=":2" />
# a votary, worshipper
However, in the Indian epigraphical glossary, the term sevaka is also used to reffer to a soldier.<ref>D.C. Sircar (1966), Indian Epigraphical Glossary, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, See: [https://archive.org/details/indianepigraphic00sircuoft/page/310/mode/2up?view=theater Sevaka]</ref>

The concept of Seva is also closely associated with 

* dharma as in सेवाधर्मः<ref>Vaman Shivram Apte (1890), [https://ia600505.us.archive.org/19/items/ldpd_7285627_000/ldpd_7285627_000.pdf The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary], Poona: Shiralkar & Co.; Book-Sellers & c. &c. See: सेवाधर्मः (p.1138)</ref> or the duty of service as seen in the Panchatantra viz. सेवाधर्मः परमगहनो योगिनाम् अप्यगम्यः ॥पञ्च_१.३०८॥<ref>Panchatantra, Tantra 1: Mitrabheda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A8%E0%A4%9B 301-350])</ref> Meaning, the duty of service is highly mysterious, even yogis are not able to measure its depth.<ref name=":0" />
* Vyavahara as in सेवाव्यवहारः or the practice or law of service.<ref>Vaman Shivram Apte (1890), [https://ia600505.us.archive.org/19/items/ldpd_7285627_000/ldpd_7285627_000.pdf The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary], Poona: Shiralkar & Co.; Book-Sellers & c. &c. See: सेवाव्यवहारः (p.1138)</ref>

And 'sevana'<ref>Vaman Shivram Apte (1890), [https://ia600505.us.archive.org/19/items/ldpd_7285627_000/ldpd_7285627_000.pdf The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary], Poona: Shiralkar & Co.; Book-Sellers & c. &c. See: सेवन (p.1138)</ref> is
# the act of serving, service, attendence upon, worship.
# following, practising, employing as in Manusmrti - इन्द्रियाणां प्रसङ्गेन धर्मस्यासेवनेन च । पापान्संयान्ति संसारानविद्वांसो नराधमाः । । १२.५२ । ।<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 12]</ref> Meaning, Foolish men of the lowest class go through the vilest migratory states, in consequence of being addicted to the senses and by not attending to duties.<ref>Ganganath Jha (1926), Manusmrti with the Manubhashya of Medhatithi ([https://ia800908.us.archive.org/34/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.281746/2015.281746.Manu-Smrti_text.pdf Vol.5]), University of Calcutta, p.606</ref>
# Using, enjoying
# devotion to, fondness for
# frequenting, dweling in

== References ==