In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Mithyāvāda (मिथ्यावाद) refers to “false deliberations and discussions”, and is used by the evil-minded Dakṣa to describe the Brahmins that walked out on his sacrifice, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.27. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] when the sage Dadhīci and others staged a walkout, the evil-minded Dakṣa, inimical to Śiva, said mocking at them.:—‘[...] They are slow-witted and senseless. They are rogues indulging in false deliberations and discussions (mithyāvāda). They are out of the Vedic circle. These men of evil conduct shall be eschewed from sacrificial rites’”.

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

Mithyāvāda (मिथ्यावाद) refers to the “the four kinds of evil speech” according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter X.

The four mithyāvādas are:

1. lies (mṛṣāvāda),
2. scandal (paiśunya),
3. harmful speech (pāruṣya),
4. frivolous speech (saṃbhinnapralāpa).

Bodhisattvas speak with a smiling face (smitamukha) because they have (among others) avoided the four kinds of evil speech (mithyāvāda). Some stanzas say:

    The person who avoids the four sins of speech;
    Lying (mṛṣāvāda), slander (paiśunya),
    Harmful speech (pāruṣya) and frivolous speech (saṃbhinnapralāpa)
    Gains a magnificent reward

    The kind, gentle person who seeks the Path,
    Wishes to save beings,
    And avoids the four sins of speech
    Is like a harnessed horse.

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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mithyāvāda (मिथ्यावाद).—an untrue speech, a falsehood, lie.

Derivable forms: mithyāvādaḥ (मिथ्यावादः).

Mithyāvāda is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mithyā and vāda (वाद). See also (synonyms): mithyāvacana, mithyāvākya.

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

Mithyāvāda (मिथ्यावाद).—adj. speaking untruth, lying, [Pañcatantra] iii. [distich] 85.

Mithyāvāda is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mithyā and vāda (वाद).

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

Mithyāvāda (मिथ्यावाद).—[masculine] = [preceding], adj. = seq.

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

1) Mithyāvāda (मिथ्यावाद):—[=mithyā-vāda] [from mithyā > mith] m. = vākya, [Mahābhārata]

2) [v.s. ...] mfn. = -vāc, [Pañcatantra] (also -vādin, [Manu-smṛti; Rāmāyaṇa etc.])

[Sanskrit to German]

Mithyavada 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Mithyāvāda (ಮಿಥ್ಯಾವಾದ):—

1) [noun] a false statement; falsehood.

2) [noun] the doctrine that the phenomenal world nothing but untrue or illusion, from the stand point of the eternal Supreme Brahman.

3) [noun] (Buddh.) the theory of consciousness of the yōgācāra school of Mahayāna.

context information

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)

Partial matches: Mithya, Vada, Vata.

Starts with: Mithyavadat.

Full-text: Paishunya, Mithyavakya, Mithyavacana, Sambhinnapralapa, Mrishavada, Smitamukha, Parushya, Apavada.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Mithyavada, Mithyāvāda, Mithya-vada, Mithyā-vāda; (plurals include: Mithyavadas, Mithyāvādas, vadas, vādas). 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)

Bodhisattva quality 16: speak with a smiling face < [Chapter X - The Qualities of the Bodhisattvas]

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Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)

Verses 4.8.22-23 < [Chapter 8 - In the Story of the Yajña-sītās, the Glories of Ekādaśī]

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