Nrishamsa, Nṛśaṃsa, Nri-shamsa: 16 definitions
Introduction:
Nrishamsa means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Nṛśaṃsa can be transliterated into English as Nrsamsa or Nrishamsa, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Nrashans.
In Hinduism
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstraNṛśaṃsa (नृशंस) is a Sanskrit word referring to “cruel person” (one devoid of pity). The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (also see the Manubhāṣya verse 4.216)
Source: Google Books: Manusmṛti with the ManubhāṣyaNṛśaṃsa (नृशंस).—is one who sings the praises of men, known as the bandī (‘bard’). Or, it may stand for the pitiless man. (See the Manubhāṣya verse 4.216)
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesNṛśaṃsa (नृशंस) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. XIV.8.23, XIV.8) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Nṛśaṃsa) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraNṛśaṃsa (नृशंस) refers to “sinners”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 16) (“On the planets—graha-bhaktiyoga”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “[...] Mars presides over citizens, farmers, chemists, firemen, soldiers, forest-men, citadels, chief towns, butchers, sinners (nṛśaṃsa), haughty men, kings, children, elephants, fops, infanticides, shepherds, red fruits, red flowers, corals, commanders of armies, jaggery, wine, cruel men, storehouses, Agnihotrins, metal mines, the Śākyas in red robes, the Buddhists, thieves, rogues, vindictive and gluttonous persons. [...]”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarynṛśaṃsa (नृशंस).—a S Mischievous, injurious, disposed to destroy or hurt.
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 dictionaryNṛśaṃsa (नृशंस).—a. [nṝn śaṃsati hiṃsati śaṃs-aṇ]
1) Wicked, malicious, cruel, mischievous, base; किमिदानीं नृशंसेन चारित्रमपि दूषितम् (kimidānīṃ nṛśaṃsena cāritramapi dūṣitam) Mṛcchakaṭika 3.25; Manusmṛti 3.41; Y.1.164.
2) Ved. To be praised by men.
-sam a wicked, vile act; विचित्रवीर्यस्य सुतः सपुत्रः कृत्वा नृशंसं बत पश्यति स्म (vicitravīryasya sutaḥ saputraḥ kṛtvā nṛśaṃsaṃ bata paśyati sma) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 3.119.12.
--- OR ---
Nṛśaṃsa (नृशंस).—a. A vile and cruel man; इतरेषु तु शिष्टेषु नृशंसानृतवादिनम् (itareṣu tu śiṣṭeṣu nṛśaṃsānṛtavādinam) Ms.
Nṛśaṃsa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nṛ and śaṃsa (शंस).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNṛśaṃsa (नृशंस).—mfn.
(-saḥ-sā-saṃ) Malicious, wicked, hurtful, injurious, mischievous, destructive. E. nṛ man, śasi to hurt, aff. aṇa .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNṛśaṃsa (नृशंस).—[nṛ-śaṃs + a], adj. 1. Malicious, mischievous, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 41. 2. Base, Mahābhārata 13, 513.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNṛśaṃsa (नृशंस).—[adjective] cursing or wronging men, malicious, base (also vant); [abstract] tā [feminine]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nṛśaṃsa (नृशंस):—[=nṛ-śaṃsa] [from nṛ] m. (nṛ-) Name of a god, [Ṛg-veda ix, 81, 5] (cf. narā-s under nara)
2) [v.s. ...] mf(ā)n. injuring men, mischievous, noxious, cruel, base, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNṛśaṃsa (नृशंस):—[nṛ-śaṃsa] (saḥ-sā-saṃ) a. Malicious, wicked, injurious, destructive.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Nṛśaṃsa (नृशंस) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ṇisaṃsa, Ṇissaṃsa.
[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 dictionaryNṛśaṃsa (नृशंस) [Also spelled nrashans]:—(a) atrocious; savage, cruel.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusNṛśaṃsa (ನೃಶಂಸ):—[noun] a man disposed to inflict pain and suffering; a very cruel man.
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: Nrishamsahridaya, Nrishamsakarin, Nrishamsakrit, Nrishamsana, Nrishamsata, Nrishamsate, Nrishamsavadin, Nrishamsavant, Nrishamsavarna, Nrishamsavat, Nrishamsavritta, Nrishamseccha.
Ends with: Anrishamsa, Anrishamsya, Atinrishamsa, Sunrishamsa.
Full-text (+4): Nrishamsavritta, Nrishamsata, Nrishamsya, Nissamsa, Anrishamsa, Nrishamsita, Nrishamsavant, Nrishamsavat, Nrishamsakarin, Nrishamsakrit, Nrishamsavadin, Sunrishamsa, Anrishamsata, Sunrishamsakrit, Anrishamsatva, Nirucattan, Anrishamsya, Nisamsa, Nrashans, Pataniya.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Nrishamsa, Nṛśaṃsa, Nrsamsa, Nri-shamsa, Nṛ-śaṃsa, Nr-samsa, Nṛśamsa, Nṛ-śamsa; (plurals include: Nrishamsas, Nṛśaṃsas, Nrsamsas, shamsas, śaṃsas, samsas, Nṛśamsas, śamsas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 14 < [Chapter 3 - Tṛtīya-yāma-sādhana (Pūrvāhna-kālīya-bhajana–niṣṭhā-bhajana)]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 3.41 < [Section IV - The Eight Forms of Marriage]
Verse 4.216 < [Section XIV - Other Duties]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 9.81.5 < [Sukta 81]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Shukra Niti by Shukracharya (by Benoy Kumar Sarkar)