Hindi

Noun

रक्षा • ‎(rakṣā) f ‎(Urdu spelling رکشا)

1. protection
2. safety
3. defence
4. support

Declension

Derived terms

• रक्षक ‎(rakṣak)

Synonyms

• (protection) हिफ़ाज़त ‎(hifāzat)
• (protection) मुहाफ़िज़त ‎(muhāfizat)
• (safety) सलामती ‎(salāmatī)

Sanskrit

Etymology

From रक्ष् ‎(rakṣ), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂lek- ‎(“to defend”), same source as Ancient Greek ἀλέξω ‎(aléxō, “I defend”). Other cognates include Old Armenian loanword երաշխիք ‎(erašxikʿ), and Old English ealgian ‎(“to protect, defend”).

Noun

रक्षा • ‎(rakṣā) f

1. the act of protecting or guarding, protection, care, preservation, security Mn. MBh. &c.
2. a guard, watch, sentinel Mṛicch. Kām.
3. any preservative, (esp.) a sort of bracelet or amulet, any mysterious token used as a charm BhP. Suṡr.
4. a tutelary divinity (cf. महा-र्°)
5. ashes (used as a preservative) L.
6. a piece of thread or silk bound round the wrist on partic. occasions (esp. on the full moon of श्रावण, either as an amulet and preservative against misfortune, or as a symbol of mutual dependence, or as a mark of respect) MW.

References

• Sir Monier Monier-Williams (1898) A Sanskrit-English dictionary etymologically and philologically arranged with special reference to cognate Indo-European languages, Oxford: Clarendon Press, page 0860