उपनायक _upanāyaka

उपनायक a. Leading to.

-कः 1 (उप गौणो नायकः) A character in a dramatic or any other work of art next in importance to the hero; (नायकस्य गुणोत्कर्षकथका उपनायकाः); e. g. Lakṣmaṇa in Rāmāyaṅa; Makaranda in Mālatimādhava &c. &c.

-2 A paramour.