Sanskrit Numerals

A positional numeral system using Devanagari script

About Sanskrit Numerals

Sanskrit numerals use the Devanagari script, which is a positional numeral system similar to Arabic numerals. The system uses distinct symbols for digits 0 through 9, and numbers are written by combining these digits in a left-to-right positional notation.

The Devanagari numeral system is used for writing numbers in Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, and other languages that use the Devanagari script. It is a decimal (base-10) positional system, where the position of each digit determines its value.

Key Features:

  • Uses 10 distinct symbols (0-9) in Devanagari script.
  • Positional notation system where each digit's position determines its value.
  • Read from left to right, with the rightmost digit representing ones, next representing tens, and so on.
  • Similar structure to Arabic numerals but with different visual symbols.
  • Used in classical Sanskrit texts, modern Indian languages, and mathematical notation.

Further Reading:

Sanskrit Numeral Table

Digits (0-9)

Value Devanagari Numeral Sanskrit Word Transliteration
0शून्यśūnya
1एकम्ekam
2द्वेdve
3त्रीणिtrīṇi
4चत्वारिcatvāri
5पञ्चpañca
6षट्ṣaṭ
7सप्तsapta
8अष्टaṣṭa
9नवnava

Examples of Numbers:

Value Sanskrit Numeral
12 १२
85 ८५
153 १५३
999 ९९९
1234 १२३४
12345 १२३४५
54321 ५४३२१

Larger Numbers:

Value Sanskrit Numeral
1000 १०००
2000 २०००
5000 ५०००
10000 १००००
50000 ५००००
100000 १०००००
1000000 १००००००