कतम [ katama ] [ katamá ] mfn ( [ °at ] ) . ( superlative of 2. [ ka ] ; declined as a pronom. , Gram. 236) , who or which of many? (e.g. [ katamena pathā yātās te ] , by which road have they gone?)

it is often a mere strengthened substitute for [ ka ] , the superlative affix imparting emphasis

hence it may occasionally be used for " who or which of two? " (e.g. [ tayoḥ katamasmai ] , to which of these two?)

it may optionally be compounded with the word to which it refers (e.g. [ katamaḥ kaṭhaḥ ] , or [ katama-kaṭhaḥ ] , which Kaṭha out of many?)

when followed by [ ca ] and preceded [ yatama ] an indefinite expression is formed equivalent to " any whosoever " , " any whatsoever " , (e.g. [ yatamad eva katamac ca vidyāt ] he may know anything whatsoever) . In negative sentences [ katama ] with [ cana ] or [ katama ] with [ api ] = not even one , none at all (e.g. [ na katamaccanāhaḥ ] , not even on a single day , on no day at all)

in addition to the above uses [ katama ] is said to mean " best " , " excessively good-looking " ( cf. 3. [ ka ] ) Lit. RV.