Subhashita, Subhāṣita, Su-bhashita: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Subhashita means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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 Subhāṣita can be transliterated into English as Subhasita or Subhashita, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Subhashit.
In Hinduism
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismSubhashitas (सुभाषितम्) are Sanskrit aphorisms or maxims. Su in Sanskrit means good; bhashita means spoken; which together means well spoken. Subhashitas in Sanskrit are short verses that convey thoughtful messages or words of wisdom.
Subhashitas are known for their inherent moral and ethical advice, instructions in worldly wisdom and guidance in making righteous deeds. Subhashitas create an appeal as the inherent message is conveyed through poems which quote practical examples which are often rhythmic in nature. Some authors even relate Subhashitas to sugar coated bitter medicines considering their worthiness.
According to Mohana Bhāradvāja, Subhashita in Indian Literature is a single verse or single stanza, descriptive or didactic but complete in itself expressing a single idea, devotional, ethical or erotic in a witty or epigrammatic way. Author Ludwik Sternbach describes that such wise sayings in poetic form not only contain beautiful thoughts but they also make the expressions in cultivated language. He further says that such form of Indian literature had a tinge of poetry, the poetical skill being exhibited in the intricate play of words which created a slight wit, humour, satire and sententious precepts; they arose laughter, scorn, compass and other moods. The poetic style of narration found in Subhashita is also termed as muktaka (independent), as the meaning or the mood of which is complete in itself. This poetic form has been compared to Persian rubai or Japanese tanka by some authors.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraSubhāṣita (सुभाषित) refers to “(that which was) well spoken”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 3).—Accordingly, “[...] Skillful words (nipuṇa), well spoken (subhāṣita) come forth everywhere in the buddhadharma. Thus the Buddha said in the Vinaya: “What is the buddhadharma? The buddhadharma is that which has been spoken by five kinds of people: 1. that which the Buddha himself has spoken (buddha-bhāṣita); 2. that which the disciples of the Buddha have spoken (śrāvaka-bhāṣita); 3. that which the sages have said (ṛṣi-bhāṣita); 4. that which has been said by the gods (deva-bhāṣita); 5. that which apparitional beings have spoken (upapāduka-bhāṣita)’.”.
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāSubhāṣita (सुभाषित) refers to “eloquent speech”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then on that occasion the Lord uttered these verses: [...] (101) While remembering, reciting, and explaining various teachings of the dharma, if you do not have any conception of self, living beings or even the dharma, then that is being established in memory. (102) Keeping the words of the Victorious One (jina), satisfying all living beings by eloquent speech (subhāṣita), never being separated from concentration with pure recollection, that is the qualities of the certainty of the memory. [...]”.
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureSubhāṣita (सुभाषित) refers to a “(well-spoken) speech”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly,“Then the Bhagavān praised the great Garuḍa Lord, Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara, ‘Well done, well done, O Great Brahmā, well spoken is this speech (subhāṣita). A great spell is uttered. [...]’”.
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.
In Jainism
Jain philosophy
Source: archive.org: Anekanta Jaya Pataka of Haribhadra SuriSubhāṣita (सुभाषित) refers to “(that which is) well-said”, as occurring in the Anekāntajayapatākā-prakaraṇa, a Śvetāmbara Jain philosophical work written by Haribhadra Sūri.—[Cf. Vol. II, P. 165, l. 9]—‘Subhāṣita’ means well said. Same is the case with this word occurring on p 189, ll. 4-5.
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India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossarySubhāṣita.—(CII 4), a pithy saying in a stanza. Note: subhāṣita is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarysubhāṣita (सुभाषित).—n S Elegant or accurate speech or composition; fine discourse or writing.
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subhāṣita (सुभाषित).—a S Well-spoken, possessing facundity or elocution. 2 Spoken or written eloquently or ornately.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishsubhāṣita (सुभाषित).—n Elegant speech or composi- tion. a Well-spoken.
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 dictionarySubhāṣita (सुभाषित).—a.
1) spoken well or eloquent. (-tam) 1 fine speech, eloquence, learning; जीर्णमङ्गे सुभाषितम् (jīrṇamaṅge subhāṣitam) Bhartṛhari 3.2. -2la a witty saying, an apophthegm, an apposite saying; सुभाषितेन गीतेन युवतीनां च लीलया । मनो न भिद्यते यस्य स वै मुक्तोऽथवा पशुः (subhāṣitena gītena yuvatīnāṃ ca līlayā | mano na bhidyate yasya sa vai mukto'thavā paśuḥ) Subhāṣ.
3) a good remark; बालादपि सुभाषितम् (bālādapi subhāṣitam) (grāhyam).
Subhāṣita is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and bhāṣita (भाषित).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySubhāṣita (सुभाषित).—mfn.
(-taḥ-tā-taṃ) 1. Spoken well or eloquently. 2. Well-spoken, speaking or discoursing well. n.
(-taṃ) 1. Eloquence. 2. A witty saying, an apopthegm. m.
(-taḥ) A deified sage, according to the Baud'dhas. E. su good, excellent, bhāṣā speech, itac aff., or bhāṣ to speak, aff. kta .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySubhāṣita (सुभाषित).—[adjective] spoken or speaking well, eloquent; [neuter] a fine speech or a good word.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Subhāṣita (सुभाषित) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—miscellaneous verses. Bp. 263.
—by Harihara. L. 1851.
2) Subhāṣita (सुभाषित):—collections of miscellaneous verses. Bd. 526 (inc.). 527. Hpr. 2, 248. L.. 477.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Subhāṣita (सुभाषित):—[=su-bhāṣita] [from su > su-pakva] mf(ā)n. spoken well or eloquently, [Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] speaking or discoursing well, eloquent, [ib.]
3) [v.s. ...] m. a [particular] Buddha, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] n. good or eloquent speech, witty saying, g° counsel, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySubhāṣita (सुभाषित):—[su-bhāṣita] (taḥ-tā-taṃ) m. A Jaina deified sage. n. Eloquence. a. Speaking well; spoken well.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Subhāṣita (सुभाषित) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Suhāsiya.
[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 dictionarySubhāṣita (सुभाषित) [Also spelled subhashit]:—(a) well-said; (nm) a maxim; pithy/quotable saying; —[saṃgraha] analects.
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Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusSubhāṣita (ಸುಭಾಷಿತ):—
1) [adjective] having or characterised by, eloquence; fluent, forceful, and persuasive; eloquent.
2) [adjective] speaking correctly, charmingly.
3) [adjective] spoken well.
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Subhāṣita (ಸುಭಾಷಿತ):—
1) [noun] that which is said aptly and precisely; a fine speech.
2) [noun] an eloquent speech.
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: Bhasita, Cu, Shu.
Starts with (+11): Subhashitacandrika, Subhashitagavasin, Subhashitagaveshin, Subhashitaharavali, Subhashitakaustubha, Subhashitakavya, Subhashitamanjari, Subhashitamaya, Subhashitamuktavali, Subhashitani, Subhashitanivi, Subhashitaprabandha, Subhashitarasasvadajataromancakancuka, Subhashitaratnakara, Subhashitaratnakosha, Subhashitaratnamala, Subhashitaratnamanjari, Subhashitaratnasamdoha, Subhashitaratnavali, Subhashitarnava.
Ends with: Bhaskarasubhashita.
Full-text (+38): Subhashitamaya, Subhashitaharavali, Subhashitaratnakosha, Subhashitaratnasamdoha, Subhashitakavya, Subhashitacandrika, Subhashitamanjari, Subhashitakaustubha, Subhashitamuktavali, Subhashitasamuccaya, Subhashitasudha, Subhashitanivi, Subhashitaprabandha, Subhashitasamgraha, Subhashitaratnakara, Subhashitasuradruma, Subhashitashloka, Subhashitasudhanandalahari, Subhashitagaveshin, Subhashitarnava.
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Search found 24 books and stories containing Subhashita, Su-bhashita, Su-bhāṣita, Su-bhasita, Subhāṣita, Subhasita; (plurals include: Subhashitas, bhashitas, bhāṣitas, bhasitas, Subhāṣitas, Subhasitas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Atithi or Guest Reception (study) (by Sarika. P.)
Part 13 - References to Hospitality in Subhāṣita-Ratna-Bhāṇḍāgāra < [Chapter 4 - Atithi-saparyā in Classical Sanskrit Literature]
Part 11 - References to Hospitality in Kādaṃbari < [Chapter 4 - Atithi-saparyā in Classical Sanskrit Literature]
Significance of the Moon in Ancient Civilizations (by Radhakrishnan. P)
11. Human Feeling and Moon < [Chapter 7 - Moon the Significant Planet of Mind]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 2.240 < [Section XXXI - Acquiring of Learning from the Lowest]
Verse 2.239 < [Section XXXI - Acquiring of Learning from the Lowest]
Gemstones of the Good Dhamma (by Ven. S. Dhammika)
Mudrarakshasa (literary study) (by Antara Chakravarty)
6. Subhāśitas occuring in Mudrārākṣasa < [Chapter 5 - Adoption of Style and Language in Mudrārākṣasa]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 17 - Story of Dantila and Kohala < [Section 7 - Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya]
Chapter 20 - Merit from Gift of Lands < [Section 1 - Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya]
Chapter 2 - Glorification of Holy Places < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]