[kṛ-ṇic lyuṭ] 1 A cause, reason; kāraṇakopāḥ kuṭuṃbinyaḥ M. 1. 18; R. 1. 74; Bg. 13. 21; oft. with loc. of the effect; Bh. 2. 84.

2 Ground, motive, object kiṃ punaḥ kāraṇaṃ Mbh.; Y. 2. 203; Ms. 8. 347; kāraṇamānuṣīṃ tanuṃ R. 16. 22.

3 An instrument, means; Y. 3. 20, 65.

4 (In Nyāya phil.). A cause, that which is invariably antecedent to some product and is not otherwise constituted; or, accord- ing to Mill,...