Somaka: 11 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Somaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

Somaka (सोमक):—One of the four sons of Mitrāyu (son of Divodāsa, the male counterpart of the twin children of Mudgala). He had one hundred sons, such as Jantu, but the younges was called Pṛṣata. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.22.1)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Somaka (सोमक).—It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 122, Verse 40, that all the Kṣatriyas of the Somaka dynasty are called Somakas. (See full article at Story of Somaka from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Somaka (सोमक).—General information. A King of Pāñcāla. This generous King was the son of Sahadeva and the grandson of Subhāsa. In accordance with the advice of Brahmins, the King once sacrificed his son. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 128 that on completion of the sacrifice he got one hundred sons. Other details.

2) (i) This King Somaka travelled with his priests, through the holy worlds and hell and returned. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 128, Verse 11).

2) (ii) King Somaka made offerings of cows as alms and attained heaven. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 76, Verse 25).

2) (iii) Never had he eaten flesh in his life. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 115, Verse 63).

2) (iv) Mention is made in Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 8, Stanza 8, that this Somaka stays in the palace of Yama prasing him.

Source: Sacred Texts: The Vishnu Purana

1) Somaka; son of Saudāsa (also called Sahadeva). He had a hundred sons, of whom Jantu was the eldest, and Pṛṣata the youngest. The son of Pṛṣata was Drupada; his son was Dhṛṣṭadyumna; his son was Dṛṣṭaketu.

2) According to the Matsya and Brāhma P. the race of Ajamīḍha became extinct in the person of Sahadeva, but Ajamīḍha himself was reborn as Somaka, in order to continue his lineage, which was thence called the Somaka family. It was in the reign of Drupada that the possessions of the Pānchālas were divided; Droṇa, assisted by the Pāṇḍavas, conquering the country, and ceding the southern portion again to Drupada, as related in the Mahābhārata. The two princes last named in the list figure in the great war.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Somaka (सोमक).—A son of Sahadeva and father of Janhu and 99 other sons of whom the youngest was Pṛṣarṭa, in previous birth Ajamīḍha.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 22. 1-2; Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 208; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 19. 71-2.

1b) A son of Kṛṣṇa and Kālindī.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 61. 14.

1c) One of the seven mountains of Plakṣadvīpa (Śākadvīpa, Matsya-purāṇa) which enters the sea; from it Garuḍa took amṛta for his mother.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 18. 77; 19. 11-12; Matsya-purāṇa 122. 15; Vāyu-purāṇa 47. 74; 49. 10; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 4. 7.

1d) A son of Sudāsa; Ajamīḍha was reborn when the line was delayed.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 50. 15.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Somaka (सोमक) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.185.1, V.177.3, VI.112.64, VIII.17.21, XIII.116.67, XIII.115) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Somaka) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Somaka (सोमक) is the name of an ancient king who was conquered by Mahāsena, king of Ujjayinī, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 49. Accordingly, as Vītabhīti narrated to Sūryaprabha “... and the next morning Vikramaśakti sent an ambassador to Mahāsena, and after making peace with him returned home with his army. But Mahāsena conquered Somaka, and having obtained elephants and horses, returned to Ujjayinī a victor, thanks to Guṇaśarman”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Somaka, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

1) King Somaka was the son of Sahadeva, and a most excellent maker of gifts and he performed a sacrifice on the banks of Yamuna. King Somaka is listed among the great kings of ancient India.

2) Somaka seems to be a name used to denote all the tribes of Panchalas. The word Somaka, means “the one who belonged to the Lunar Dynasty”. This name could have given by rulers of Solar Dynasty.

3) According to Bhagavata Purana, Somaka was the youngest son of Kalindi and Krishna.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Somaka (सोमक).—[soma + ka], m. 1. Grandfather of Drupada. 2. pl. Name of the whole family, [Johnson's Selections from the Mahābhārata.] 42, 51; Chr. 3, 2.

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

Somaka (सोमक).—[masculine] [Name] of a Ṛṣi etc.; [plural] [Name] of a people. [feminine] somikā [Name] of a crow.

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

1) Somaka (सोमक):—[from soma] m. Name of a Ṛṣi, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā]

2) [v.s. ...] of a king, [Ṛg-veda; Aitareya-brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] of a son of Kṛṣṇa, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

4) [v.s. ...] of a [particular] Bharaṭaka, [Catalogue(s)]

5) [v.s. ...] of a people or country, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

6) [v.s. ...] a king or native of Somaka, [ib.]

7) [v.s. ...] [plural] the descendants of the king Somaka (-tva n.), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

8) [v.s. ...] the family of Drupada, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

[Sanskrit to German]

Somaka 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.

Relevant text

Search found 22 books and stories containing Somaka; (plurals include: Somakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Rig Veda 4.15.9 < [Sukta 15]

Rig Veda 4.15.8 < [Sukta 15]

Rig Veda 4.15.7 < [Sukta 15]

+ 2 more chapters / show preview

Part 2.1n - The Pāñcāla Dynasty < [Chapter 3 - Historical aspects in the Matsyapurāṇa]

Part 1 - An Introduction to Purāṇas < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

show preview

Section CXXVIII < [Tirtha-yatra Parva]