शस्त्र (shastr)

noun A formal/literary word for a weapon, especially a hand-held or bladed one (sword, dagger); it also appears in compounds meaning 'science/discipline' (as in शास्त्र-like formations), but as a standalone word it primarily means 'weapon'.
Sense 1 : weapon (especially a traditional hand-held or bladed one)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: हथियार (hathiyaar), अस्त्र (astr, often paired with this word)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word carries an epic, mythological flavor -- think of the शस्त्र (shastr) wielded by gods and warriors in the Mahabharat and Ramayan, like Arjun's bow or Shiv's trishul. It is often paired with अस्त्र (astr) in the phrase शस्त्र-अस्त्र (shastr-astr, 'weapons and missiles/projectiles'), a classical distinction between hand-held weapons and thrown/launched ones.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use this word interchangeably with हथियार (hathiyaar) in everyday speech, but शस्त्र (shastr) sounds formal or literary/mythological -- in a normal conversation about guns or knives, हथियार (hathiyaar) is the natural choice. 2) Do not confuse with शास्त्र (shaastr, 'scripture/treatise') -- the words look and sound similar but differ by a single vowel and mean completely different things.
Sample Sentences:
अर्जुन का शस्त्र गांडीव धनुष था। Arjun's weapon was the Gandiv bow.
(arjun kaa shastr gaandiiv dhanush thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
शिव का त्रिशूल एक दिव्य शस्त्र माना जाता है। Shiv's trishul is considered a divine weapon.
(shiv kaa trishool ek divy shastr maanaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
योद्धा ने अपना शस्त्र उठाया और युद्धभूमि की ओर चल दिया। The warrior picked up his weapon and set off toward the battlefield.
(yoddhaa ne apnaa shastr uthaayaa aur yuddhbhoomi kii or chal diyaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
प्राचीन काल में शस्त्र-अस्त्र का ज्ञान गुरुकुल में दिया जाता था। In ancient times, knowledge of weapons and missiles was given in the gurukul.
(praachiin kaal men shastr-astr kaa gyaan gurukul men diyaa jaataa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
हे वीर, अपना शस्त्र त्याग दो, अब युद्ध का कोई अर्थ नहीं! O warrior, lay down your weapon, this war has no meaning anymore!
(he viir, apnaa shastr tyaag do, ab yuddh kaa koii arth nahiin!)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
काश उसके पास कोई शस्त्र होता तो वह अपनी रक्षा कर पाता। If only he had had a weapon, he would have been able to defend himself.
(kaash uske paas koii shastr hotaa to vah apnii rakshaa kar paataa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
संग्रहालय में महाराणा प्रताप के शस्त्र प्रदर्शित हैं। Maharana Pratap's weapons are on display in the museum.
(sangrahaalay men mahaaraanaa prataap ke shastr pradarshit hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
हो सकता है कि उस मंदिर में देवी का शस्त्र आज भी सुरक्षित रखा हो। It's possible that the goddess's weapon is still kept safe in that temple even today.
(ho saktaa hai ki us mandir men devii kaa shastr aaj bhii surakshit rakhaa ho।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
रामायण में हर देवता का अपना विशेष शस्त्र होता था। In the Ramayan, every deity had their own special weapon.
(raamaayan men har devtaa kaa apnaa vishesh shastr hotaa thaa।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
जब तक शत्रु सामने न हो, शस्त्र को म्यान में ही रखना चाहिए। As long as the enemy is not in front of you, the weapon should be kept sheathed.
(jab tak shatru saamne n ho, shastr ko myaan men hii rakhnaa chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): शस्त्र (shastr)
(sg.m.oblique): शस्त्र (shastr)
(pl.m.direct): शस्त्र (shastr)
(pl.m.oblique): शस्त्रों (shastron)