Ashvatthaman, Aśvatthāman: 9 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. General definition
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also
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Introduction:

Ashvatthaman means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit term Aśvatthāman can be transliterated into English as Asvatthaman or Ashvatthaman, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Aśvatthāman (अश्वत्थामन्).—Son of Droṇa and Gautamī. (Kṛpi, vāyu-purāṇa.). Killed the sons of Draupadī while asleep thinking that it would please his master. Fought with Arjuna, was defeated and taken prisoner. Roused Draupadī's pity in that state and was released after being deprived of his crown and hair.¹ Hit the infant in the womb of Uttara with brahmaśiras. Kṛṣṇa's protection of Parīkṣit in the womb from Aśvathāman's arrow, and of Arjuna from Aśvathāman's arrows.² Destroyed the Kurus by his brahmāstra.³ In Duryodhana's army. Survived Kurukṣetra war.⁴ A sage of the first epoch of Śāvarṇa Manu⁵ hurled brahmāstra when Parīkṣit was in his mother's womb.⁶

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 7. 14-52; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 19. 68.
2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 8. 12; 12. 1; 15. 16; 16. 15.
3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 22. 34.
4) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 78. [95. (V) 16]; 80[2].
5) Vāyu-purāṇa 100. 12; Matsya-purāṇa 9. 32.
6) Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 20. 52.

1b) (Droṇaputra) becomes a sage of the 8th manvantara.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 13. 15.

1c) A son of Aśvinī and Akrūra.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 45. 32.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Ashvatthāman (अश्‍वत्‍थामां): Son of Dronacharya and last supreme commander of the Kaurava force, strong as a horse

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Aśvatthāman (अश्वत्थामन्).—m. [aśvasyeva sthāma balamasya, pṛṣo° samāsaḥ; cf. Mb. aśvasyevāsya yatsthāma nadataḥ pradiśo gatam | aśvatthāmaiva bālo'yaṃ tasmānnāmnā bhaviṣyati ||] Name of a celebrated Brāhmaṇa warrior and general on the side of the Kauravas, son of Droṇa and Kṛpī. [After the last great battle in which Duryodhana was mortally wounded, Aṣvatthāman, with two other surviving Kauravas, entered the Paṇdava camp at night, where he stamped Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the slayer of his father, to death and killed the five young sons of Pāṇḍavas, killing even Parīkṣit while yet in the mother's womb who was, however, restored to life by Kṛṣṇa. The next morning Draupadī clamoured for revenge upon the murderer of her children, but she consented to forego her demand for his blood if the precious jewel he wore on his head were brought to her. Bhīma, Arjuna, and Kṛṣṇa overtook Aśvatthāman and compelled him to yield the jewel which, Yudhiṣṭhira afterwards wore on his head. He is represented as a very brave, fiery-tempered, young warrior, the embodiment of Brāhmanic and saintly lustre, and his altercation with Karṇa about the nomination of a general to succeed Droṇa clearly brings out the chief features of his character; see Ve. 3rd act. He is one of the 7 Chirajivins 'ever-living persons'.] cf. अश्वत्थामा बलिर्व्यासो हनूमांश्च विभीषणः । कृपः परशुरामश्च सप्तैते चिरजीविनः (aśvatthāmā balirvyāso hanūmāṃśca vibhīṣaṇaḥ | kṛpaḥ paraśurāmaśca saptaite cirajīvinaḥ) ||

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Aśvatthāman (अश्वत्थामन्).—m.

(-mā) The name of a saint and warrior, the son of Drona. E. aśva, sthā to stand or stay, and manin affix; the story is that at his birth he made a noise like a horse; also with a final vowel aśvatthāma.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Aśvatthāman (अश्वत्थामन्).—i. e. aśva -sthā + man, m. A proper name, [Bhagavadgītā, (ed. Schlegel.)] 1, 8.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Aśvatthāman (अश्वत्थामन्).—[masculine] [Name] of an ancient warrior.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Aśvatthāman (अश्वत्थामन्):—[=aśva-tthāman] [from aśva] a See ss.vv. below.

2) [from aśva] b mfn. idem, [Pāṇini 4-1, 85; Siddhānta-kaumudī]

3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a son of Droṇa, [Mahābhārata]

4) [v.s. ...] of one of the seven Ṛṣis of the period of Manu Sāvarṇi, [Harivaṃśa 453.]

[Sanskrit to German]

Ashvatthaman in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Relevant text

Search found 16 books and stories containing Ashvatthaman, Aśvatthāman, Asvatthaman, Ashva-tthaman, Aśva-tthāman, Asva-tthaman; (plurals include: Ashvatthamans, Aśvatthāmans, Asvatthamans, tthamans, tthāmans). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Section CLIX < [Ghatotkacha-badha Parva]

Section CXCV < [Drona-vadha Parva]

Section CCI < [Drona-vadha Parva]

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Chapter 36 - Śiva’s incarnation as Aśvatthāman < [Section 3 - Śatarudra-saṃhitā]

Chapter 34 - The enumeration of Manvantaras < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]

Chapter 38 - The description of Arjuna’s penance < [Section 3 - Śatarudra-saṃhitā]

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Chapter 7 - Punishment of Āśvatthāman < [Book 1 - First Skandha]

Chapter 52(a) - Kṛtavarmā Deputed to Hastināpura < [Book 10 - Tenth Skandha]

Chapter 80(a) - The Story of the Brāhmaṇa Śrīdāman (introductory) < [Book 10 - Tenth Skandha]

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