Kevatta, Kevaddha, Kevaṭṭa: 5 definitions

Introduction:

Kevatta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Kevatta (v.l. Kevaddha) - A householder of Nalanda. Once when the Buddha was staying in the Pavarika ambavana at Nalanda, Kevatta visited him. The interview is recorded in the Kevatta Sutta. (D.i.211ff).

Buddhaghosa (DA.i.388) speaks of him as a young householder, distinguished and wealthy, belonging to the gahapati maha sala kula, with forty crores of wealth. He was possessed of very great piety, and it was his extreme devotion to the Buddha which led him to make the request contained in the Kevatta Sutta.

2. Kevatta - Chaplain of Culani Brahmadatta, king of Uttarapancala. He was wise and learned and clever in device; the king followed his counsel and conquered all the territories of India except that of King Videha in Mithila (J.vi.391-5). When at last Brahmadatta laid siege to Mithila, Kevatta was responsible for the details of the siege, but his plans were upset by Mahosadha, who, though his junior in age, was far wiser. At one stage of the struggle Kevatta suggested that a trial of intellect be arranged between him and Mahosadha, the result of the conquest to decide the victory of Brahmadatta or Videha. The challenge was accepted, but Mahosadha, by a ruse, made Kevatta appear as though paying obeisance to him and rubbed Kevattas head in the dust, bruising it. After the return, in disgrace, of Brahmadatta to Uttarapancala, Kevatta meditated revenge through the instrumentality of Pancala candi. Kevatta visited Mithila with a proposal that Videha should go to Uttarapancala and marry Pancalacandi. During this visit, Kevatta went to visit Mahosadha, but the latter, guessing that the whole thing was a plot to kill Videha, refused to see Kevatta and caused him to be ill treated (J.vi.400-19). Kevatta was everywhere defeated in his schemes by Mahosadha. J.vi.424, 438, 461; for details see the Maha Umagga Jataka.

Kevatta is identified with Devadatta (J.vi.478). He is mentioned as having belonged to the Kosiyagotta and is addressed as Kosiya. J.vi.418, 419.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Kevatta in Pali glossary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

kevaṭṭa : (m.) a fisherman.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Kevaṭṭa, (on ke- see kedāra) fisherman D. I, 45 (in simile of dakkho k°) A. III, 31=342, cp. IV. 91; Ud. 24 sq.; J. I, 210; DhA. II, 132; IV, 41; PvA. 178 (°gāma, in which to be reborn, is punishment, fishermen being considered outcast); cp. J. VI, 399 N. of a brahmin minister, also D. I, 411 N. of Kevaḍḍha (?).

Pali book cover
context information

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Kevaṭṭa (केवट्ट).—m. (= Pali id., Sanskrit kaivarta), fisherman: Mahāvastu iii.166.11 (after kaivartakehi 10) te dāni kevaṭṭā (v.l. kaivartakā)…teṣāṃ kevaṭṭānāṃ (v.l. kaivarttānāṃ)…

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Kevatta (केवत्त).—adj., read by Senart for kevaka, q.v.

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.

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Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Kevaṭṭa (केवट्ट) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Kaivartta.

context information

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.

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