Upasunda: 9 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Upasunda 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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Upasunda (उपसुन्द).—A son of Nisunda.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 67. 71.

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

Upasunda (उपसुन्द) and Sunda are two Asura brothers, surpassing the three worlds in valour, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 15. Their story is told by sage Nārada to Udayana (king of Vatsa) and Yaugandharāyaṇa, at an auspicious hour, before starting their journey to Lāvānaka. Accordingly, the story of Upasunda and Sunda was first told by sag Nārada to Draupadī (wife of Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers).

According to the chapter 45, the Dānava Upasunda was reborn as Bhayaṅkara: one of the ministers of Sūryaprabha. Accordingly, as Kaśyapa said to Maya, Sunītha and Sūryaprabha: “... and those Dānavas, who formerly existed under the names of Sunda and Upasunda, have been born as his ministers Sarvadamana and Bhayaṅkara”.

The story of Upasunda was narrated by the Vidyādhara king Vajraprabha to prince Naravāhanadatta in order to relate how “Sūryaprabha, being a man, obtain of old time the sovereignty over the Vidyādharas”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Upasunda, 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

Upasunda (उपसुन्‍द) was an asura prince and the brother of Sunda. The brothers grew up to be very powerful and were always of one mind. Together, they embarked on a campaign of world domination that began with a program of extreme asceticism in the mountains. Their asceticism generated such extreme heat that the gods themselves became exceedingly alarmed. Unsuccessfully, the gods attempted to distract the brothers through the enticement of maidens and by means of disturbing illusions of rampaging Rakshasas. Finally, Brahma agreed to grant the brothers a boon, on condition that they desist from their asceticism. The brothers agreed to the condition, and received the boon of being completely invulnerable, except that they could be killed by each other. Leaving the mountains, Sunda and Upasunda returned home, mustered an army, and proceeded to conquer and to devastate the entire world. They even drove the gods from their celestial abode. Finally, Brahma was again moved to action. He created the beautiful apsara Tilottama and ordered her to cause dissent between the brothers. Tilottama found Sunda and Upasunda in the countryside with their retinue, drinking and celebrating their victories. Beholding Tilottama, they immediately fell to fighting over her, and ended up killing each other. Thus was the world order reestablished.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Upasunda (उपसुन्द).—Name of an Asura, son of Nikumbha and younger brother of Sunda.

Derivable forms: upasundaḥ (उपसुन्दः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Upasunda (उपसुन्द).—m.

(-ndaḥ) The name of a demon. E. upa, and sunda another demon.

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

Upasunda (उपसुन्द):—[=upa-sunda] m. ‘the younger brother of Sunda’, Name of a Daitya, [Mahābhārata; Viṣṇu-purāṇa; Hitopadeśa]

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

Upasunda (उपसुन्द):—[upa-sunda] (ndaḥ) 1. m. Name of a demon.

[Sanskrit to German]

Upasunda 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 13 books and stories containing Upasunda, Upa-sunda; (plurals include: Upasundas, sundas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Section CCXI < [Rajya-labha Parva]

Section CCXII < [Rajya-labha Parva]

Section CCX < [Rajya-labha Parva]

+ 5 more chapters / show preview

Notes on the story of Sunda and Upasunda < [Notes]

Chapter XV < [Book III - Lāvānaka]

Chapter CXXI < [Book XVIII - Viṣamaśīla]

+ 1 more chapters / show preview

Story of Yakṣa

Story of Kurukṣetra

Story of Tilottamā

+ 1 more chapters / show preview