सप्तन् [ saptan ] [ saptán ] sg. and pl. (nom. acc. [ saptá ] ; instr. [ °tábhis ] ; dat. abl. [ °tábhyas ] ; gen. [ °tānā́m ] loc. [ °tásu ] ) seven ( a favourite number with the Hindūs , and regarded as sacred , often used to express an indefinite plurality ( in the same manner as " three" , by which it is sometimes multiplied ) ; hence 7 Mātṛis , 7 streams , 7 oceans , 7 cities ( Lit. RV. i , 63 , 7 ) , 7 divisions of the world , 7 ranges of mountains , 7 Ṛishis , 7 Vipras ( Lit. RV. i , 62 , 4 ) , 7 Ādityas , 7 Dānavas , 7 horses of the Sun , 7 flames of fire , 7 Yonis of fire , 7 steps round the fire at marriage , 7 Samidhs , 7 tones , 7 sacrificial rites , 7 Maryādās , thrice 7 Padāni or mystical steps to heaven ( Lit. RV. i , 72 , 6 ) , thrice 7 cows ) Lit. RV. Lit. ( cf. Zend (hapta) ; Gk. 1 ; Lat. (septem) ; Lith. (septynī) ; Slav. (sedmi) ; Goth. (sibun) ; Germ. (sieben) ; Eng. (seven) . ) ( 1149,1 )