Vidura, Vidūra, Vidurā: 23 definitions

Introduction:

Vidura means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit. 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

Vidura (विदुर):—One of the sons of Vyāsa (the popular name for Bādarāyaṇa, who was begotten by Parāśara Muni through the womb of Satyavatī). (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.22.25)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Vidura (विदुर).—General information. Vidura was a superhuman being, very famous in the story of Mahābhārata, as a brother of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, as a man of colossal intelligence who had been closely watching the goings and comings of the Kauravas and the Pāṇḍavas, as the adviser of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and as a man of immense learning and wisdom. (See full article at Story of Vidura from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Vidura (विदुर).—A Kṣatriya who lived in Pāñcāla. The story of this Vidura, who had killed a Brahmin because of his want, is given in Padma Purāṇa, Bhūmikhanḍa, Chapter 91. The story is given below:

2) Long ago there lived a Kṣatriya, named Vidura, in Pāñcāla. Because of penury he killed a Brahmin. After that the Kṣatriya discarded his lock of hair and Brahmastring and went to every house saying "Look, here am I, a slayer of Brahmin. Please, give alms to the drunkard and killer of a Brahmin." Saying thus he walked from house to house and took alms. But he did not get remission of Brahmahatyā (killing of a Brahmin).

2) Filled with grief and sorrow and mental worry the sinner Vidura sat in the shade of a tree. At that time Candraśarmā, a Brahmin of Magadha came there. He was a wicked man who had killed his teacher because of inordinate lust in consequence of which he had been forsaken by his own people. Vidura asked Candraśarmā who wore no sign of a Brāhmaṇa, what he was. Candraśarmā told his story to Vidura who in return told him his sinful acts.

2) At this time another Brahmin named Vedaśarmā came there. He also was a sinner. The three of them told each other about their sinful acts. At this time Vallāla, a Vaiśya came there. He was a drunkard who had killed cows. These four desperate sinners travelled together and visited several tīrthas (holy baths). But they did not get remission of their sins. At last they started for Kālañjaragiri.

2) While these desperate sinners were living in Kālañjara a poor Brahmin came there. He asked them why they were so sad. They told him everything. When he heard their stories he felt pity for them. The old Brahmin said "You sinners should go to Prayāga, Puṣkara, Sarvatīrtha and Vārāṇasī and bathe in the Gaṅgā on New Moon days and you will become free from sin." They obeyed the old Brahmin and went to the holy places told by him. Thus Vidura and his friends became sinless.

3) Vidūra (विदूर).—A king of the Kuru dynasty. He was the son born to the great king Kuru by Śubhāṅgī, a damsel of Dāśārha family. Vidūra married Sampriyā, a princess of Madhu royal family. A son named Anaśvā was born to her. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 95, Stanzas 39-40).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Vidura (विदुर).—A Kṣetraja son of Vicitravīrya (through the female servants of the queens of Vicitravīrya, Viṣṇu-purāṇa); a son of Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana (Vyāsa) and a brother of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Yudhiṣṭhira narrated the services done by Vidura to the Pāṇḍavas from the beginning and asked about the welfare of Kṛṣṇa and others when Vidura spent sometime at Hāstinapura. Persuaded Dhṛtarāṣṭra to leave the capital secretly to the Himālayas for penance, Gāndhārī following him.1 Insulted by Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Śakuni and ordered to be banished. Left Hāstinapura and wandered through the holy places and reaching Prabhāsā, heard of the establishment of rule by Yudhiṣṭhira. Hearing of the death of his kinsmen he went back to the Sarasvatī and performed ablutions at eleven different places sacred to Trita, Uśanas, etc. Passing through the flourishing Surāṣṭra, Sauvīra and other countries, he reached the Yamunā and met Uddhava. Asked him about the welfare of his kinsmen including Ugrasena and sons of Kṛṣṇa. Entertained by him and having heard of the last days of Kṛṣṇa and the Yādavas and of the fact that Maitreya had been ordered by Kṛṣṇa to be his preceptor, Vidura left Yamunā for the Ganges where he met Maitreya.2 Being addressed, Maitreya said that Vidura was god Yama incarnate, and gave him a brief description of the creations and of the knowledge of one god, and that Hari was the goal. Listened to the story of Uttānapāda and his line, and the discourse on Ātman.3 Left for Hāstinapura; having abandoned his relatives came back to them. Welcomed by Yudhiṣṭhira and others. Invited for Yudhiṣṭhira's Rājasūya in which he took an active part, and approved of the anointment of Yudhiṣṭhira. Went to Syamantapañcaka for the solar eclipse, and left it after it was over.4 Seen by Akrūra, met by Kṛtavarman, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa.5 After the death of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and his wife, Vidura went on a pilgrimage and cast off his body at Prabhāsā. Had realised the Yoga power of Hari.6

  • 1) Matsya-purāṇa 50. 47; Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 22. 25; I. 13. 8-29. Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 242;
  • 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 1. (whole) chh. 2 and 3; 4. 33-6; 5. 1.
  • 3) Ib. III. chh. 5 and 7 (whole); I. 13. 1-7; II. 10. 48-50; IV. 31. 30.
  • 4) Ib. 13. 1-7; X. 74. 10; 75. 6; 80. [5]; 82. 24; 84. 69[1]; XII. 12. 8.
  • 5) Ib. X. 49. 1 and 6; 52. [56 (v) 4 and 12]; 57. 2.
  • 6) Ib. I. 13. 57-58; 15. 49; II. 7. 45.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Vidura (विदुर) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.61.79) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Vidura) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Purana book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of vidura in the context of Purana from relevant books on Exotic India

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: ISKCON Press: Glossary

Vidura (विदुर).—The son of Vyāsadeva by a maidservant of Ambalikā and the half brother of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. He was an incarnation of the great devotee mahājana, Yamarāja, and an uncle of the Pāṇḍavas.

Vaishnavism book cover
context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Discover the meaning of vidura in the context of Vaishnavism from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

Vidura was the son of sage Vyasa and a servant girl of the princess Ambika. Asked to host the Vyasa for a second time (for she had closed her eyes the first time, and the resulting child was born blind), Amba was so disgusted, that she sent her servant girl instead. Since the servant girl was able to fulfill the condition of the penance, she begat a son who was very wise. This is the story of Vidura's birth, told in greater detail here.

He was a very wise man and was learned in all the scriptures. He was an incarnation of the Lord of justice, Dharma (Yama), who had been born as a mortal, thanks to a curse from a sage named Mandavya. He became the chief minister of his brother Pandu, and continued in that capacity to Dhritharashtra, when Pandu retired to the forest. He sought to counteract the excess partiality that Dhritharashtra displayed towards his sons, imploring him to give equal love to his nephews, the Pandavas. He was not always successful in this, though he tried hard.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Vidura (विदुर): Vidura was a son of a maid-servant who served the Queens of Hastinapura, Queen Ambika and Ambalika. A friend of pandavas. After Krishna, he was the most trusted advisor to the Pandavas and had warned them repeatedly about Duryodhana's plots.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

One of the wives of Udaya IV. She fixed a mandorla (padajala) on an image of the Buddha which was in the Mahavihara. Cv.liii.50.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Discover the meaning of vidura in the context of Theravada from relevant books on Exotic India

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

vidūra : (adj.) remote; distant.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Vidūra, (adj.) (vi+dūra) far, remote, distant A. II, 50 (su°). Mostly neg. not far, i.e. near Sn. 147; PvA. 14, 31, 78, 81. (Page 622)

— or —

Vidura, (adj.) (fr. vid, cp. Sk. vidura) wise, clever J. V, 399 (=paṇḍita C.). Cp. vidhura 2. (Page 621)

Pali book cover
context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Discover the meaning of vidura in the context of Pali from relevant books on Exotic India

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

vidura (विदुर).—a S Wise, knowing, intelligent.

--- OR ---

vidura (विदुर).—m (S) The proper name of the younger brother of dhṛtarāṣṭra and chief counselor of duryōdhana and the kaurava princes. 2 Hence (as vidura was illegitimate) a cant term for a male child born out of wedlock.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

vidura (विदुर).—a Wise, knowing, intelligent.

context information

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.

Discover the meaning of vidura in the context of Marathi from relevant books on Exotic India

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vidura (विदुर).—a. [vid-kurac P.III.2.162] Wise, intelligent.

-raḥ 1 A wise or learned man.

2) A crafty man, an intriguer.

3) Name of the younger brother of Paṇḍu. [When Satyavatī found that both the sons begotten by Vyāsa upon her two daughters-in-law were physically incapacitated for the throne-Dhṛtarāṣṭra being blind and Paṇḍu pale and sickly-she asked them to seek the assistance of Vyāsa once more. But being frightened by the austere look of the sage, the elder widow sent one of her slave-girls dressed in her own clothes, and this girl became the mother of Vidura. He is remarkable for his great wisdom, righteousness, and strict impartiality. He particularly loved the Pāṇḍavas, and saved them from several critical dangers.]

--- OR ---

Vidūra (विदूर).—a. Remote, distant; सरिद् विदूरान्तरभावतन्वी (sarid vidūrāntarabhāvatanvī) R.13. 48; Uttararāmacarita 6.39.

-raḥ Name of a mountain or city from which the Vaidūrya jewel or lapis lazuli is brought; विदूर- भूमिर्नवमेघशब्दादुद्भिन्नया रत्नशलाकयेव (vidūra- bhūmirnavameghaśabdādudbhinnayā ratnaśalākayeva) Kumārasambhava 1.24; see Malli. thereon, as well as on Śiśupālavadha 3.45; तत्र तस्मै विदूराद्रिरविदूर इवाभवत् (tatra tasmai vidūrādriravidūra ivābhavat) Śiva B.3.11. (The forms vidūram, vidūreṇa, vidūra- tas or vidūrāt are often used adverbially in the sense of 'from a distance', 'from afar', 'at a distance', 'far off'; vayaṃ vata vidūrataḥ kramagatā paśoḥ kanyakā Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 3.18.)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Vidurā (विदुरा).—name of a rākṣasī: Mahā-Māyūrī 243.16.

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

Vidura (विदुर).—mfn.

(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Wise, knowing, intelligent. m.

(-raḥ) 1. A libertine, an intriguer. 2. A learned or clever man. 3. The younger brother and counsellor of Dhritarashtra. E. vid to know, kurac aff.

--- OR ---

Vidūra (विदूर).—mfn.

(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Very far or remote. m.

(-raḥ) Name of a mountain whence the Lapis Lazuli is brought. E. vi intervening, dūra distant.

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

Vidura (विदुर).—[vid + ura], I. adj. Wise, knowing. Ii. m. 1. A learned or clever man. 2. An intriguer. 3. A proper name, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 176; [Johnson's Selections from the Mahābhārata.] 8, 2.

--- OR ---

Vidūra (विदूर).—[vi-dūra], I. m. The name of a mountain and city whence the lapis lazuli is brought. Ii. vi-dūra + tas, adv. Far, [Mālatīmādhava, (ed. Calc.)] 61, 12.

--- OR ---

Vidūra (विदूर).—I. adj. very far. Ii. m. the name of a mountain (vidūrādri i. e. vidūra-adri). A-vi, adj. not very far; ºrāt, adv. near, [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 48, 19.

Vidūra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms vi and dūra (दूर).

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

Vidura (विदुर).—[adjective] wise, intelligent, clever in (—°); [masculine] [Name] of an ancient hero.

--- OR ---

Vidūra (विदूर).—[adjective] distant, remote. [neuter] vidūram far off, vidūrāt or ratas from afar, also = re far away.

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

1) Vidūra (विदूर):—[=vi-dūra] [from vi] a See sub voce

2) Vidura (विदुर):—[from vid] mfn. knowing, wise, intelligent, skilled in ([compound]), [Uttamacaritra-kathānaka, prose version]

3) [v.s. ...] m. a learned or clever man, [Horace H. Wilson]

4) [v.s. ...] an intriguer, [ib.]

5) [v.s. ...] Name of the younger brother of Dhṛta-rāṣṭra and Pāṇḍu (they were all three sons of Vyāsa, but only the latter two by the two widows of Vicitra-vīrya; when Vyāsa wanted a third son, the elder widow sent him one of her slave-girls, dressed in her own clothes, and this girl became the mother of Vidura, who is sometimes called Kṣattṛ, as if he were the son of a Kṣatriya man and Śūdra woman Vidura is described as sarva-buddhimatāṃ varaḥ and is one of the wisest characters in the Mahā-bhārata, always ready with good advice both for his nephews, the Pāṇḍavas, and for his brother Dhṛta-rāṣṭra), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Purāṇa] (cf. [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 376; 385 etc.])

6) Vidūra (विदूर):—[=vi-dūra] b mf(ā)n. very remote or distant, [Śāṅkhāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Kāvya literature] etc. ([accusative] with √kṛ, to remove; vi-dūram ind. far distant, far away, [Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa]; vi-dūrāt or ra-tas, from afar, far away; re, far distant; ra [in the beginning of a compound] far, from afar)

7) [v.s. ...] far removed from, not attainable by ([genitive case]), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

8) [v.s. ...] (ifc.) not caring for, [ib.]

9) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a son of Kuru, [Mahābhārata] ([Bombay edition])

10) [v.s. ...] of a mountain or town or any locality, [Śiśupāla-vadha [Scholiast or Commentator]] (cf. [Pāṇini 4-3, 84])

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

1) Vidura (विदुर):—[(raḥ-rā-raṃ) a.] Wise. m. A libertine; a pandit; younger brother of Dhritarāshtra.

2) Vidūra (विदूर):—[vi-dūra] (raḥ-rā-raṃ) a. Very far or remote; past, beyond.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Vidūra (विदूर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Viḍūra, Vidura.

[Sanskrit to German]

Vidura 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.

Discover the meaning of vidura in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

1) Viḍūra (विडूर) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Vidūra.

2) Vidura (विदुर) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Vidura.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

Discover the meaning of vidura in the context of Prakrit from relevant books on Exotic India

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Viḍūra (ವಿಡೂರ):—[noun] = ವಿಡ್ಡೂರ [viddura].

--- OR ---

Viḍūra (ವಿಡೂರ):—[noun] an azure-blue, opaque semiprecious stone, a mixture of various minerals; a lapis lazuli.

--- OR ---

Vidura (ವಿದುರ):—[adjective] knowing; wise; intelligent; skilled.

--- OR ---

Vidura (ವಿದುರ):—

1) [noun] a learned, intelligent or clever man.

2) [noun] a man who plots or schemes secretly or underhandedly; an intriguer.

3) [noun] the wise adviser to the king Dhřtarāṣṭra, in the epic Mahābhārata.

--- OR ---

Vidūra (ವಿದೂರ):—

1) [adjective] very distant in space; very far.

2) [adjective] difficult to get, receive, achieve, etc.

3) [adjective] not existing; absent.

--- OR ---

Vidūra (ವಿದೂರ):—

1) [noun] the fact or condition of being separated or removed in space; distance.

2) [noun] that which is not in existence or that which is lacking (something).

3) [noun] a man who is very far from.

4) [noun] an azure-blue, opaque semiprecious stone, a mixture of various minerals; a lapis lazuli.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Discover the meaning of vidura in the context of Kannada from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Related products

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: