Damsha, Daṃśa, Ḍaṃsa, Damsa: 22 definitions
Introduction:
Damsha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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 Daṃśa can be transliterated into English as Damsa or Damsha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Dansh.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaDaṃśa (दंश).—The giant who took birth as the worm 'Alarkkaṃ'. This giant came in the shape of a beetle and pierced the leg of Karṇa, the disciple of Paraśurāma. Daṃśa once kidnapped the wife of Bhṛgu, and the hermit cursed the giant and turned him to a beetle. He also said that Parameśvara would absolve him from the curse. (See Karṇa, Para 4).
Source: valmikiramayan.net: Srimad Valmiki RamayanaDaṃśa (दंश) refers to “mosquitoes”, according to the Rāmāyaṇa chapter 2.28. Accordingly:—“[...] soothening with kind words to Sītā, when eyes were blemished with tears, the virtuous Rāma spoke again as follows, for the purpose of waking her turn back: ‘[...] Oh, frail princess! Flying insects, scorpions insects including mosquitoes (daṃśa) and flies always annoy every one. Hence, forest is full of hardship’”.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha ChikitsaDaṃśa (दंश) refers to “snake-bites”, as taught in the Damśarūpa (“aspects of snake-bites”) section of the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Agadatantra or Sarpavidyā).—The author of the Kāśyapasaṃhitā discusses conditions under which snakes bite, types of fangs and bites, vital spots of bite which can be fatal, stages of envenomation and astrological considerations for snake-bite effect.
The Kāśyapasaṃhitā details various types of bites (daṃśa):
- non-poisonous bite;
- poisonous and curable bites;
- impossible to cure;
- poisonous and curable bites;
- fatal bite;
The Kāśyapa Saṃhitā cites eight reasons that cause snake-bites which are—fear, intoxication, hunger, attack, pride, lack of dwelling, previous enmity and fate. The symptoms, soon after snake-bite range from stupor, confusion, delirium to deep coma with total extinction of conciousness and lack of sensibility to external impressions
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsDaṃśa (दंश):—Biting
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and SubjectsDaṃśa (दंश, lit., ‘biter’), ‘gad-fly’ is mentioned in the Chāndogya-upaniṣad (vi. 9, 3; 10, 2).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureDaṃśa (दंश) refers to “stinging insects” (causing crop destruction), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [As the Bhagavān teaches an offering manual]: “[...] All crops, all flowers and fruits will be well protected. [...] All pests will be destroyed. Snakes, mice, mongooses, porcupines, goats, frogs, stinging insects (daṃśa), mosquitos (maśaka), locusts and so on, flocks of birds will perish. All worms will be destroyed. Furthermore, flying insects and so on do not occur. They are never able to destroy. [...]”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraDaṃśa (दंश) refers to “stinging insects” and represents one of the hardships (parīṣaha), or “series of trials hard to endure” according to the Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra 10.1 (Incarnation as Nandana). While practicing penance for a lac of years, Muni Nandana also endured a series of trials hard to endure (e.g., daṃśa). Nandana is the name of a king as well as one of Mahāvīra’s previous births.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryḍaṃsa : (m.) a gadfly.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryḍaṃśa (डंश).—m (daṃśa S) The bite or sting of a venomous creature. v kara, māra. 2 fig. Rancour, malice, hate. v rākha, ṭhēva, dhara.
--- OR ---
ḍāṃsa (डांस).—m (daṃśa S through () A large stinging fly, a gadfly. 2 A mosquito. 3 or ḍāsa m C or ḍāsā m C A morsure or bite. v ghē. 4 The part bitten.
--- OR ---
daṃśa (दंश).—m (S) Stinging or biting. 2 A morsure or bite. 3 fig. The point or sting (of a speech or of an affair). 4 fig. Spite, malice, rancor. 5 fig. A perplexing passage (in a book). 6 A gadfly.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishḍaṃśa (डंश).—m The bite or sting of a venomous creature. Rancour, malice.
--- OR ---
ḍāṃsa (डांस).—m A large stinging fly, a gadfly. A mosquito.
--- OR ---
daṃśa (दंश).—a A bite. Stinging. Fig. Spite, malice, rancour. The point or sting (of a speech or an affair).
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryDaṃśa (दंश).—[daṃś-aca bhāve ghañ vā]
1) Biting, stinging; मुग्धे विधेहि मयि निर्दयदन्तदंशम् (mugdhe vidhehi mayi nirdayadantadaṃśam) Gītagovinda 1.
2) The sting of a snake.
3) A bite, the spot bitten; छेदो दंशस्य दाहो वा (chedo daṃśasya dāho vā) M.4.4; Uttararāmacarita 3.35.
4) Cutting, tearing.
5) A gad-fly; R.2.5; Manusmṛti 1.4; Y.3.215.
6) A flaw, fault, defect (in a jewel).
7) A tooth; प्रुत्युप्तमन्तः सविषश्च दंशः (prutyuptamantaḥ saviṣaśca daṃśaḥ)
8) Pungency.
9) An armour; शितविशिखहतो विशीर्णदंशः (śitaviśikhahato viśīrṇadaṃśaḥ) Bhāgavata 1.9.38.
1) A joint, limb.
Derivable forms: daṃśaḥ (दंशः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryDaṃśa (दंश).—m.
(-śaḥ) 1. A gadfly. 2. A tooth. 3. Biting, stinging. 4. Armour, mail. 5. Cutting, dividing, tearing. 6. Fault, defect. 7. A joint, a limb. 8. The sting of a snake. 9. Pungency. f. (-śī) A small gadfly. E. daṃś to bite or sting, affix ac, diminutive affix ṅīṣ .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryDaṃśa (दंश).—[daṃś + a], m. 1. Biting, [Gītagovinda. ed. Lassen.] 10, 11. 2. Bite, [Mālavikāgnimitra, (ed. Tullberg.)] 47, 4. 3. A tooth, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 5, 13, 3. 4. A gad-fly, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 12, 62. 5. A coat of mail, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 3, 18, 9. 6. A proper name, Mahābhārata 12, 93.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryDaṃśa (दंश).—[masculine] biting, a bite or the spot bitten; gadfly; armour, mail.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Daṃśa (दंश):—[from daṃś] mfn. ‘biting’ See mṛga-
2) [v.s. ...] m. a bite, sting, the spot bitten (by a snake etc.), [Suśruta; Mālavikāgnimitra iv, 4 & 4/5, 3; Gīta-govinda x, 11; Kathāsaritsāgara lx, 131]
3) [v.s. ...] snake-bite, [Horace H. Wilson]
4) [v.s. ...] pungency, [Horace H. Wilson]
5) [v.s. ...] a flaw (in a jewel), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] a tooth, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] a stinging insect, gnat, gad-fly, [Chāndogya-upaniṣad; Manu-smṛti xii, 62; Yājñavalkya iii, 215; Mahābhārata] etc.
8) [v.s. ...] Name of an Asura, [xii, 93]
9) [v.s. ...] armour, mail, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa i, iii]
10) [v.s. ...] a joint of the body, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) [from daṃś] cf. kṣamā-, vṛṣa-.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryDaṃśa (दंश):—(śaḥ) 1. m. A gadfly; a tooth; a biting; a sting; a fault; pungency; mail. f. (śī) Small gadfly.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Daṃśa (दंश) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ḍaṃsa, Daṃsa.
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Ḍāṃsa (डांस) [Also spelled dance]:—(nm) a kind of large-sized mosquito.
2) Daṃśa (दंश) [Also spelled dansh]:—(nm) a sting; bite, biting; ~[na] stinging, biting; [daṃśita] bitten, stung.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Ḍaṃsa (डंस) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Daṃś.
2) Ḍaṃsa (डंस) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Daṃśa.
3) Ḍaṃsa (डंस) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Daṃśa.
4) Daṃsa (दंस) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Darśa.
5) Daṃsa (दंस) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Daṃś.
6) Daṃsa (दंस) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Daṃśa.
7) Daṃsa (दंस) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Darśa.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusDaṃśa (ದಂಶ):—
1) [noun] the act of biting or stinging; a bite.
2) [noun] a kind of fly that bites; a gadfly.
3) [noun] a wound caused by biting.
4) [noun] a tooth or stinging organ.
--- OR ---
Daṃsa (ದಂಸ):—[noun] = ದಂಶ - [damsha -] 2.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+1): Damshabhiru, Damshabhiruka, Damshaccheda, Damshaceshta, Damshaceshtita, Damshadesha, Damshadvaya, Damshaka, Damshakarana, Damshaki, Damshakotha, Damshamashaka, Damshamula, Damshana, Damshanashini, Damsharupa, Damshavadana, Damshavadarana, Damshavedana, Damsheccha.
Ends with (+22): Abadamsha, Adamsha, Ajadamsha, Alpadashanadamsha, Angulisamdamsha, Arbudamsha, Asitahidamsha, Avadamsha, Candamsha, Cidamsha, Dvidamsha, Jadamsha, Karasamdamsha, Khedamta, Kshamadamsha, Lingopadamsha, Mandamsha, Mrigadamsha, Mukhasamdamsha, Nirdamsha.
Full-text (+117): Damsas, Damshi, Damshamula, Vrikadamsha, Damsh, Damshavadana, Sadamshavadana, Damshabhiru, Uddamsha, Mrigadamsha, Sudamsas, Damshanashini, Gomakshika, Vidamsha, Avadamsha, Damshamashaka, Kshamadamsha, Sadamshaka, Damshana, Vrishadamsha.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Damsha, Daṃśa, Ḍaṃsa, Damsa, Ḍaṃśa, Ḍāṃsa, Daṃsa, Damśa; (plurals include: Damshas, Daṃśas, Ḍaṃsas, Damsas, Ḍaṃśas, Ḍāṃsas, Daṃsas, Damśas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 12.62 < [Section IX - Details of Transmigration]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Tattva 6: Saṃvara (methods of impeding karma) < [Appendix 1.4: The nine tattvas]
Part 17: Incarnation as Nandana < [Chapter I - Previous births of Mahāvīra]
Abhinaya-darpana (English) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 32 - On the enumeration of various hells for sinners < [Book 9]
Chapter 37 - On the eighty-six Kuṇḍas and their characteristics < [Book 9]
Chapter 34 - On the description of the various hells < [Book 9]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 155 - Attainment of Siddhi by Cāṇakya < [Section 3 - Revā-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 39 - The Greatness of Barkareśvara < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]