vyaya

Vyaya (Sanskrit: व्यय) is a term meaning expenditure, outlay, or waste. It denotes the act of spending resources—money, time, energy—or the result of such spending. Depending on context, vyaya can also carry a sense of depletion or destruction of resources.

In classical Indian literature and administration, vyaya is used as a technical category for expenditures. In economic and political treatises such as the Arthashastra, vyaya refers to government or household outlays for governance, defense, public works, and daily maintenance, in contrast to income or revenue.

In philosophy and ethics, vyaya is discussed as part of discussions on impermanence and prudent use of wealth. The term is neutral in itself; moral judgments arise from context and speaker intent rather than from the word alone.

In modern usage, vyaya remains a common term in Indian languages to denote expenses or costs, and it appears in finance, accounting, and budgeting contexts. It is also encountered in scholarly discussions of ancient economic and administrative systems.

Etymology: Vyaya derives from Sanskrit and has a broad semantic field that includes expenditure, consumption, and waste. The term is attested across classical and later Indian texts and continues to be used in contemporary language to express financial outlays.