Sign Dictionary

297 signs · 180 distinct words · 91% of all signs written in the Indus texts. Each entry shows the sign, its IS number (after the ICIT sign list), the proposed word in Sanskrit and Devanagari, the Pāli form, the English meaning, and the number of distinct texts in which it appears. Signs that share one word are grouped in one entry.

People and offices

The human figure, and the same figure carrying a jar, a spear or a staff — the offices of the cities.

Sign	IS · name	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	IS1090	manuṣya मनुष्य	manussa	human being, person	149
	IS1175	gṛhastha गृहस्थ	gahaṭṭha	a seated human	24
	IS1176 +1	sādhaka साधक	sādhaka	seeker, adept (2 forms)	132
	IS1125	dhanurdhara धनुर्धर	dhanuggaha	archer, bowman	56
	IS1140 +1	dvārapāla द्वारपाल	dvārapāla	door guardian, gatekeeper (2 forms)	104
	IS1142	rakṣaka रक्षक	rakkhaka	guard, protector; a human figure with a staff	64
	IS1151	pāla पाल	pāla	bearer, keeper (office title; provisional)	79
	IS1152	kumbha-gaṇa कुम्भ-गण	kumbha-gaṇa	human with jar (office title; provisional); a person with a jar	1
	IS1154	kumbha-pāla कुम्भ-पाल	kumbha-pāla	bearer of jar (office title; provisional); a bearer figure with a jar and no hands shown	39
	IS1156	kumbha-kāra-pāla कुम्भ-कार-पाल	kumbhakāra-pāla	overseer of potters (office title; provisional); a bearer figure with a jar	47
	IS1159 +1	śakti-pāla शक्ति-पाल	satti-pāla	spear bearer (office title (2 forms)	18
	IS1692	ṛṣi / purohita ऋषि / पुरोहित	isi / purohita	seer, priest; the presiding office	68
	IS1384 +1	loka लोक	loka	royal name, unread (2 forms)	78
	IS1097	patheṣṭhā पथेष्ठा	pathika	standing on the road	13
	IS1091	dvi-manuṣya द्वि-मनुष्य	dvi-manussa	two humans	18
	IS1095	vandaka वन्दक	vandaka	worshipper; a human raising one hand	22
	IS1150	gopāla गोपाल	gopāla	herdsman, cowherd	6
	IS1130	kṛṣaka कृषक	kassaka	ploughman, farmer	14
	IS1111 +1	kumbha-dhara कुम्भ-धर	kumbha-dhara	pot-holder (2 forms)	17
	IS1160	śakti-dhara शक्ति-धर	satti-dhara	spear-holder, and also a title of Skanda	5
	IS1137	baddha-manuṣya बद्ध-मनुष्य	baddha-manussa	bound man, captive	9
	IS1104	jana जन	jana	people, folk, a group of men	20

Deities and the sacred

The horned god and his epithets, the trident, lamps, the fire drill, altars and the sacrificial post, the cymbals, the canopy, the sanctum and the act of homage.

Sign	IS · name	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	IS1100	paśupati पशुपति	pasupati	Paśupati, lord of animals; a horned human figure	111
	IS1101 +1	antar-candra-paśupati अन्तर्-चन्द्र-पशुपति	antarā-canda-pasupati	Paśupati between the moons (2 forms)	9
	IS1103	antar-nadī-paśupati अन्तर्-नदी-पशुपति	antarā-nadī-pasupati	sacred river; horned figure with flowing lines	5
	IS1390 +2	triśūla त्रिशूल	tisūla	trident (3 forms)	306
	IS1391	divya-triśūla दिव्य-त्रिशूल	dibba-tisūla	trident under a roof; celestial trident	9
	IS1455	triloka त्रिलोक	tiloka	the three worlds; a sign in three sections	42
	IS1413	dīpastambha दीपस्तम्भ	dīpathambha	lamp pillar, standing lamp	33
	IS1415	pañca-dīpa पञ्च-दीप	pañca-dīpa	five-wick lamp	129
	IS1416	daśa-dīpa दश-दीप	dasa-dīpa	ten-wick lamp	40
	IS1575	vedi वेदि	vedi	altar, shrine	70
	IS1585	yajña यज्ञ	yañña	sacrifice, fire altar	44
	IS1590	vedikā वेदिका	vedikā	small altar or railing	174
	IS1591	antar-vedikā अन्तर्-वेदिका	antarā-vedikā	small altar between lines	1
	IS1592	baddha-vedikā बद्ध-वेदिका	baddha-vedikā	small altar or railing confined	7
	IS1593	karka-vedikā कर्क-वेदिका	kakkaṭa-vedikā	small altar or railing marked with the karka figure	1
	IS1597 +1	yūpa यूप	yūpa	sacrificial post (2 forms)	50
	IS1705	tilaka तिलक	tilaka	forehead mark of a deity (tilaka); a pot with a centre line	167
	IS1717	jālaka जालक	jālaka	screen, lattice partition; separates the sanctum from the outside	50
	IS1790	garbha गर्भ	gabbha	womb, egg, inner seed; an oval outline	43
	IS1832 +2	eka-garbha एक-गर्भ	eka-gabbha	womb, egg, inner seed (3 forms)	49
	IS1830 +2	dvi-garbha द्वि-गर्भ	dvi-gabbha	womb, egg, inner seed (3 forms)	9
	IS1831	tri-garbha त्रि-गर्भ	ti-gabbha	womb, egg, inner seed; an oval outline with 3 inside	17
	IS1833	catur-garbha चतुर्-गर्भ	catu-gabbha	womb, egg, inner seed; an oval outline with 4 inside slanted	2
	IS1808	garbhāśaya गर्भाशय	gabbhāsaya	womb holding an embryo; an oval within an oval	8
	IS1837	vibhakta-garbha विभक्त-गर्भ	vibhatta-gabbha	divided womb	1
	IS1803 +1	jīva जीव	jīva	life, living being (2 forms)	217
	IS1804 +1	baddha-jīva बद्ध-जीव	baddha-jīva	bound or enclosed life (2 forms)	11
	IS1805	vṛkṣa-jīva वृक्ष-जीव	rukkha-jīva	tree life, plant life; a tree inside an oval	3
	IS1165	śaṅkha शङ्ख	saṅkha	conch; the conch shell, sounded in ritual	27
	IS1586	dvi-yajña द्वि-यज्ञ	dvi-yañña	two fires / two sacrifices	2
	IS1596	dvi-yūpa द्वि-यूप	dvi-yūpa	two sacrificial posts; items stacked around two poles	2
	IS1923	namas / namati नमस् / नमति	namo / namati	bow, homage; bows (to)	35
	IS1930	chattra छत्त्र	chatta	canopy	7
	IS1070	araṇi अरणि	araṇī	fire drill	37
	IS1772	dīpa-mālā दीप-माला	dīpa-mālā	row of lamps	10
	IS1167	tāla ताल	tāḷa	hand-cymbals, rhythm	9

Animals, plants and land

Fish, turtle, crab and bird — sacred and celestial as well as natural — leaves, trees, mountains and the river.

Sign	IS · name	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	IS1220 +2	mīnā मीना	mīnā	fish (3 forms)	538
	IS1231	eka-mīnā एक-मीना	eka-mīnā	fish with a stroke	83
	IS1219	dvi-mīnā द्वि-मीना	dvi-mīnā	a pair of fish	6
	IS1221 +2	antar-mīnā अन्तर्-मीना	antarā-mīnā	fish between brackets (3 forms)	21
	IS1226 +1	baddha-mīnā बद्ध-मीना	baddha-mīnā	bound or enclosed fish (2 forms)	45
	IS1232	eka-baddha-mīnā एक-बद्ध-मीना	eka-baddha-mīnā	bound or enclosed fish with a stroke	10
	IS1240 +1	kūrma कूर्म	kumma	turtle, tortoise (2 forms)	270
	IS1794	saṃyata-kūrma संयत-कूर्म	saññata-kumma	turtle, tortoise withdrawn/restrained	13
	IS1241	baddha-kūrma बद्ध-कूर्म	baddha-kumma	bound or enclosed turtle	12
	IS1798 +1	karka / karkaṭa कर्क / कर्कट	kakkaṭa	crab (2 forms)	131
	IS1550 +4	karka कर्क	kakkaṭa	crab, geometric form (5 forms)	151
	IS1552	dvi-karka द्वि-कर्क	dvi-kakkaṭa	two crabs, geometric forms facing	10
	IS1260 +4	pakṣin पक्षिन्	pakkhin	bird (5 forms)	23
	IS1262	haṃsa हंस	haṃsa	swan	2
	IS1261	dvi-pakṣin द्वि-पक्षिन्	dvi-pakkhin	two birds	1
	IS1267 +2	antar-pakṣin अन्तर्-पक्षिन्	antarā-pakkhin	bird between brackets (3 forms)	19
	IS1171	dvi-parṇa द्वि-पर्ण	dvi-paṇṇa	two leaves	21
	IS1382	parṇa पर्ण	paṇṇa	leaf	18
	IS1405 +1	vṛkṣa वृक्ष	rukkha	tree (2 forms)	85
	IS1927	nadī नदी	nadī	river	10
	IS1776 +1	vaṭa वट	vaṭa	fig tree, banyan (2 forms)	9
	IS1463	parvata पर्वत	pabbata	mountain range	24
	IS1460	śikhara शिखर	sikhara	mountain peaks	37

Calendar and sky

The moon and its days, full and new moon, rising and setting, twelve month signs, the fortnight, four seasons, directions, the third heaven, the celestial fish and the junctions of heaven and earth.

Sign	IS · name	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	IS1899 +4	candra / candramas चन्द्र / चन्द्रमस्	canda	moon (5 forms)	92
	IS1910	baddha-candra बद्ध-चन्द्र	baddha-canda	bound (enclosed) moon with one mark	2
	IS1904 +1	dvitīyā द्वितीया	dutiyā	second moon (2 forms)	61
	IS1914	caturthī चतुर्थी	catutthī	fourth day of the lunar fortnight	1
	IS1908	pañcamī पञ्चमी	pañcamī	fifth day of the lunar fortnight	3
	IS1906	śukla-kṛṣṇa शुक्ल-कृष्ण	sukka-kaṇha	moon phases facing away	16
	IS1920 +1	pūrṇimā पूर्णिमा	puṇṇamī	full moon (2 forms)	149
	IS1919	dvi-pūrṇimā द्वि-पूर्णिमा	dvi-puṇṇamī	two full moons	2
	IS1918	tri-pūrṇimā त्रि-पूर्णिमा	ti-puṇṇamī	three full moons	1
	IS1922	amāvāsyā अमावास्या	amāvasī	new moon, the dark moon	4
	IS1913	udaya-asta उदय-अस्त	udaya-attha	rising or setting sun or moon	1
	IS1909	tri-udaya-asta त्रि-उदय-अस्त	ti-udaya-attha	rising or setting sun or moon	3
	IS1057	antar-candra-dvādaśa अन्तर्-चन्द्र-द्वादश	antarā-canda-dvādasa	twelve between moon phases	1
	IS1319 +11	māsa मास	māsa	month (12 forms)	48
	IS1530 +7	pakṣa पक्ष	pakkha	fortnight (8 forms)	52
	IS1338	vasanta वसन्त	vasanta	spring; season sign, sprouts over legs	1
	IS1336	grīṣma ग्रीष्म	gimha	summer; season sign, open horns over a comb base	10
	IS1337	śarad शरद्	sarada	autumn, harvest time; season sign, horns over a solid bar (the full ear)	13
	IS1335	hemanta हेमन्त	hemanta	winter; season sign, a closed box under two marks (stored grain)	28
	IS1683	pradiś प्रदिश्	padisā	the four intermediate directions; a cross with four leaf-shaped ends	3
	IS1044	tridiva त्रिदिव	tidiva	the third heaven; three strokes under the sky-roof	1
	IS1235 +1	divya-mīnā दिव्य-मीना	dibba-mīnā	celestial fish (fish under a roof) (2 forms)	207
	IS1236	baddha-mīnā-rāśi बद्ध-मीना-राशि	baddha-mīnā-rāsi	bound or enclosed celestial fish	20
	IS1678	divya-sandhi दिव्य-सन्धि	dibba-sandhi	junction of the celestial	2
	IS1679	bhūmi-sandhi भूमि-सन्धि	bhūmi-sandhi	junction of the earth	17

Weights and measures

The weight and its many diamond forms, the stacked weights, the balance beam, the balance and the act of weighing; the plumb bob, the measure, the compasses, the knot, the rope and the chain.

Sign	IS · name	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	IS1861 +28	tulā / tulayati तुला / तुलयति	tulā	weight, balance (29 forms)	524
	IS1854 +2	baddha-tulā बद्ध-तुला	baddha-tulā	weight of unknown value confined (3 forms)	6
	IS1503	bhāra भार	bhāra	weights	45
	IS1645	sandhi सन्धि	sandhi	junction, joint, the point where two things meet	19
	IS1625	caturasra चतुरस्र	caturassa	square, four-cornered figure	11
	IS1368	tulā-daṇḍa तुला-दण्ड	tulādaṇḍa	balance beam or hanger	106
	IS1690	tulayati तुलयति	tuleti	balance	76
	IS1504	tulādhāra तुलाधार	tulādhāra	weighing scales, balance; one who holds the balance	9
	IS1752	avalamba अवलम्ब	olamba	plumb bob	21
	IS1350	lambaka लम्बक	lambaka	plumb bob; centring something vertically, such as a spire over its base	48
	IS1482	māna मान	māna	measure	26
	IS1534	karkaṭaka कर्कटक	kakkaṭaka	compasses, dividers	3
	IS1255	granthi ग्रन्थि	gantha	knot	103
	IS1435	ut-kal उत्-कल्	ukal	rope	56
	IS1215	bandhana बन्धन	bandhana	chain	9

Farming, fields and settlement

The plough, the furrow and the seed drill, fields counted and divided, the house with its window and ladder, the village, the city and its banner.

Sign	IS · name	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	IS1061 +2	sīra सीर	sīra	plough (3 forms)	77
	IS1400 +1	sītā सीता	sītā	furrow (2 forms)	303
	IS1401	dvi-sītā द्वि-सीता	dvi-sītā	double furrow	7
	IS1299	bahuśaṅku बहुशङ्कु	bahusaṅku	seed-planting tool with multiple pointed prongs	2
	IS1630 +5	kṣetra क्षेत्र	khetta	field (6 forms)	67
	IS1636 +1	dvi-kṣetra द्वि-क्षेत्र	dvi-khetta	two fields (2 forms)	17
	IS1638	tri-kṣetra त्रि-क्षेत्र	ti-khetta	three fields; a marked box with three inner sections	1
	IS1639	ardha-kṣetra अर्ध-क्षेत्र	khetta	half a field; a marked box with a half circle	1
	IS1626	catur-bhāga-kṣetra चतुर्-भाग-क्षेत्र	catu-bhāga-khetta	field of four parts	8
	IS1480	gṛha / geha गृह / गेह	geha / ghara	house, dwelling	36
	IS1621	gavākṣa गवाक्ष	gavakkha	window	22
	IS1317	sopāna सोपान	sopāna	ladder	12
	IS1615	grāma ग्राम	gāma	village, town; a grid	40
	IS1617	nagara नगर	nagara	township, city; a double grid	59
	IS1495	ketu केतु	ketu	banner marking a place	26

Vessels and household

The jar — the commonest sign in the script — and the pots of the kitchen, the mortar, the wheel, the bangles and the loom.

Sign	IS · name	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	IS1740	pati, -pati पति, -पति	pati, -pati	lord; after a name, the title -pati	1332
	IS1741	eka-kumbha एक-कुम्भ	eka-kumbha	jar with 1 mark; the jar sign with one stroke	200
	IS1742	dvi-kumbha द्वि-कुम्भ	dvi-kumbha	jar with 2 marks; the jar sign with two strokes	49
	IS1745	tri-kumbha त्रि-कुम्भ	ti-kumbha	jar with 3 marks; the jar sign with three strokes	31
	IS1748	catur-kumbha चतुर्-कुम्भ	catu-kumbha	jar with 4 marks; the jar sign with four strokes	2
	IS1700	pātra पात्र	patta	pot, vessel; plain and general purpose, and counted	109
	IS1702	dvi-pātra द्वि-पात्र	dvi-patta	pot with two marks	10
	IS1703	tri-pātra त्रि-पात्र	ti-patta	pot with three marks	11
	IS1701	divya-dvi-pātra दिव्य-द्वि-पात्र	dibba-dvi-patta	pot with two marks under roof	1
	IS1760 +1	udaka-kumbha उदक-कुम्भ	udaka-kumbha	water pot (2 forms)	112
	IS1706	ulūkhala उलूखल	udukkhala	mortar; a pot or bowl used with a pestle	81
	IS1732	ukhā उखा	ukkhali	pot on firewood	2
	IS1820	cakra चक्र	cakka	wheel, cycle	212
	IS1821	dvi-cakra द्वि-चक्र	dvi-cakka	double wheels	11
	IS1840	valaya वलय	valaya	bangles, bracelets	96
	IS1527	tantra तन्त्र	tanta	loom; threads stretched between two beams	59

Weapons and the goad

Arrow, arrowhead, bow, spear, fork and the thunderbolt, and the goad that controls animals. The spear is also śakti, power.

Sign	IS · name	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	IS1520	śakti शक्ति	satti	spear; also power (śakti), and the suffix -śakti in compounds	229
	IS1515	śara शर	sara	arrow	13
	IS1519	dvi-śara द्वि-शर	dvi-sara	double arrows	15
	IS1500	śalya शल्य	salla	arrowhead	14
	IS1501 +1	tri-śalya त्रि-शल्य	ti-salla	arrowhead with three marks (2 forms)	7
	IS1892 +2	dhanus धनुस्	dhanu	bow and arrow (3 forms)	70
	IS1893	dvi-dhanus द्वि-धनुस्	dvi-dhanu	double bow and arrow	4
	IS1895	baddha-dhanus बद्ध-धनुस्	baddha-dhanu	bow and arrow confined	1
	IS1824	vajra वज्र	vajira	thunderbolt; an oval with four points, four-cornered	20
	IS1392	dvi-śūla द्वि-शूल	dvi-sūla	fork	6
	IS1440	aṅkuśa अङ्कुश	aṅkusa	hook, goad, control, restrain	44

Numbers

Strokes count. Short strokes and long strokes are two sets of the same numbers; grouped strokes (4+3 for seven) are read as one number; numbers between brackets are set apart.

Sign	IS · name	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	IS1001 +1	eka एक	eka	number 1 (2 forms)	410
	IS1002 +2	dvi द्वि	dvi	number 2 (3 forms)	1081
	IS1003 +2	tri त्रि	ti	number 3 (3 forms)	442
	IS1004 +2	catur चतुर्	catu	number 4 (3 forms)	124
	IS1005 +2	pañca पञ्च	pañca	number 5 (3 forms)	74
	IS1006 +2	ṣaṭ षट्	cha	number 6 (3 forms)	53
	IS1007 +2	sapta सप्त	satta	number 7 (3 forms)	74
	IS1018	aṣṭa अष्ट	aṭṭha	number 8; short strokes in groups (4+4)	7
	IS1019 +1	nava नव	nava	number 9 (2 forms)	7
	IS1020	daśa दश	dasa	number 10; short strokes in groups (5+5)	2
	IS1055	dvādaśa द्वादश	dvādasa	number 12; short strokes in groups (4+4+4)	51
	IS1042	baddha-eka बद्ध-एक	baddha-eka	number 1 confined; one long stroke	2
	IS1056	caturviṃśati चतुर्विंशति	catuvīsati	24 short lines	3
	IS1047	antar-tri अन्तर्-त्रि	antarā-ti	three lines between brackets	1
	IS1050 +1	antar-ṣaṭ अन्तर्-षट्	antarā-cha	six lines between brackets (2 forms)	7
	IS1049	antar-sapta अन्तर्-सप्त	antarā-satta	seven within brackets	5

Grammar signs

A sign that carries no object of its own but joins the words around it.

Sign	IS · name	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	IS1060	-sya -स्य	-ssa	genitive marker 'of'; links the word before it to the words after it. Shaped like an elephant's trunk, hence the alternative reading gaja (elephant)	209

Composite words

Signs that regularly stand together and make sense together form one word (Grammar, Rule 3). Each composite is shown with its signs in reading order; a family of variant forms (the fish forms, the jar forms) is shown by its first member.

Signs	Sanskrit	Pāli	English	Texts
	sapta-yajña-pati सप्त-यज्ञ-पति	satta-yañña-pati	lord of the seven sacrifices	14
	mīnā-śakti मीना-शक्ति	mīnā-satti	the goddess Mīnā-śakti, fish-power	83
	tri-śakti त्रि-शक्ति	ti-satti	threefold power; three spears	51
	trilokapati त्रिलोकपति	tilokapati	lord of the three worlds	7
	sītā-pati सीता-पति	sītā-pati	lord of the furrow	32
	mīnā-pati मीना-पति	mīnā-pati	lord of Mīnā — an epithet of the god	54
	tulayati तुलयति	tuleti	weighs; the one who weighs	244
	triśūla-pati त्रिशूल-पति	tisūla-pati	lord of the trident — an epithet of the god	39
	vaṭapati वटपति	vaṭapati	lord of the banyan	2
	śaktivān शक्तिवान्	sattimant	the powerful one; the spear-holder	1
	Śiva-jīva शिव-जीव	siva-jīva	Śiva's living being (under review)	16
	Śiva-mīnā शिव-मीना	siva-mīnā	Śiva-Mīnā (under review)	28

† Read on the photograph of M-147, where the catalogue string runs the other way; not yet counted in the corpus.