The Sanskrit term Mahāśva can be transliterated into English as Mahasva or Mahashva, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Mahāśva (महाश्व).—A King celebrated in the Purāṇas. Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 8, Verse 19 says that this King now lives in Yama’s assembly.

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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Mahāśva (महाश्व) refers to a “great steed”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 4).—Accordingly, “[Question: Why is the Buddha called Arhat?]—[Answer]: Ara means enemy (ari) and hat means to kill (han). The expression therefore means ‘killer of enemies’. Some stanzas say: ‘The Buddha has patience (kṣānti) as his armor (varman), Energy (vīrya) as his helmet (śīrṣaka), Discipline (śīla) as his great steed (mahāśva), Dhyāna as his bow (dhanus), Wisdom (prajñā) as his arrows (śara). Outwardly, he destroys the army of Māra (mārasena). Inwardly, he destroys the passions (kleśa), his enemies. He is called Arhat. [...]’.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Mahāśva (महाश्व):—[from mahā > mah] m. (hāś) Name of a man, [Mahābhārata]

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahashva 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Ashva, Maha.

Starts with: Mahashvapati, Mahashvari, Mahashvasa, Mahashvasadhanika, Mahashvasakuthara, Mahashvasasarin, Mahashvashal-adhikrita, Mahashvashala.

Full-text: Mahashvashala, Dhanus, Ari, Shirshaka, Varman, Sara, Shala.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Mahashva, Mahāśva, Maha-ashva, Mahasva, Mahā-aśva, Maha-asva; (plurals include: Mahashvas, Mahāśvas, ashvas, Mahasvas, aśvas, asvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)

Part 3 - Why is the Buddha called Arhat < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]

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Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)

Section VIII < [Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva]

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