Brahmadatta: 17 definitions

Introduction:

Brahmadatta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.

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In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Brahmadatta in Purana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त):—Son of King Nīpa and his wife Kṛtvī (daughter of Śuka). He was a great yogi and had a son named Viṣvaksena by the womb of his wife, Sarasvatī. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.21.25)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त).—A famous king of Kāṃpilyapura. Birth. Brahmadatta was born in the family of Bṛhatkṣatra who was a scion of the Solar dynasty. Bṛhatkṣatra begot Suhotra, Suhotra begot Hasti, Hasti begot Ajamīdha, Ajamīdha begot Bṛhadiṣu, Bṛhadiṣu begot Bṛhaddhanus, Bṛhaddhanus begot Bṛhaddharmā, Bṛhaddharmā begot Satyajit, Satyajit begot Viśvajit, Viśvajit begot Senājit and Senājit begot Rucira, Rucira begot Pṛthusena, Pṛthusena begot Nīpa, Nīpa begot Para, Para begot Pṛthu, Pṛthu begot Sukṛta, Sukṛta begot Vibhrāja, Vibhrāja begot Aṇuha, and Aṇuha married Kṛtvī, the daughter of hermit Śukra. Brahmadatta was born to Aṇuha by Kṛtvī. (See full article at Story of Brahmadatta from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त).—Another King who ruled over Kāṃpilya. This King was the son of the hermit Cūli and his wife Somadā, a Gandharva woman whose mother was Ūrmilā. When he was ruling Kāṃpilya, Kuśanābha was the King of Kānyakubja. One hundred beautiful daughters were born to the King Kuśanābha. One day while they were playing in the jungle Vāyubhagavān (wind-god) saw them and grew lustful. But they did not yield to his request. So he got angry and cursed them and they became hump-backed. The King was very sorry. He presented his hundred hunch-backed daughters to King Brahmadatta, who, by his divine power straightened their backs. When they regained their former form they became the wives of Brahmadatta. This story occurs in Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, Sargas 32 & 33.

3) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त).—Mention is made in Mahābhārata, Bhaviṣya Parva, Chapter 104, about another Brahmadatta. He was the King of Sālva. Though he had two wives he had no children. Finally by the grace of Śiva two children were born to them. They were called Haṃsa and Ḍibhaka. (For further information see Ḍibhaka).

4) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त).—A king who ruled over the country of Kāśi. One night he saw two swans flying in the air. They were of golden colour. There were a number of swans around them. They seemed like two lightnings in the midst of white clouds. Brahmadatta wished to see them again. His desire increased to such an extent that he had desire for nothing else. He consulted his ministers and made a lake. Every creature which seemed beautiful to him was brought to that place.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त).—The son of Nīpa and Kṛtvī daughter of Śuka; a Yogi; wife Go and son Viṣvaksena;1 king of Sālva (s.v.);2 killed by Kṛṣṇa.3

  • 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 21. 25; Matsya-purāṇa 15. 10.
  • 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 52. 11[8].
  • 3) Ib. X. 52 [56(v)8].

1b) The son of Aṇuha and Kīrtimatī.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 8. 94; 10. 82; 74. 268; Matsya-purāṇa 49. 57; Vāyu-purāṇa 70. 86; 73. 31; 99. 180; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 19. 45-6.

1c) The son of Vibhrāja, the Pāñcāla king; in previous birth Pitṛvarti (s.v.), a son of Kauśika; his queen Sannati, daughter of Devala, being in one of her previous births the cow of Garga, was killed by Kauśika's sons during a famine; was anointed the Pāñcāla king, and his two brothers in his previous birth, became his ministers; both king and queen once visited the pleasure garden and were taken by surprise at the sight of the love quarrels between two ants who were husband and wife; the wife accused the husband of taking pieces of modaka (sweetmeat) to a neighbouring lady-love, an ant; the husband confessed that it was offered so thinking that she was herself, his own wife and that he would behave more carefully in future; B. understood this as he could follow the language of all insects by divine grace; when Sannati thought that the king laughed at her and took it seriously, he took a vow for seven days and at the sight of Sudaridra, the Brahmana, remembered his past and became a Siddha himself having anointed his son Viśvakṣena on the throne.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 20. 23-38; 21. 16, 24-35.

1d) A royal line of 100 warriors cf. Jātakas: vāyu p. 376 (Car. Lec. 1918. p. 56).*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 273. 72; Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 454.
Purana book cover
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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.

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Kavya (poetry)

[«previous next»] — Brahmadatta in Kavya glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

1) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त) is the name of a King of Benares, whose story is told in the tale called ‘King Brahmadatta’, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 3. Accordingly, in chapter 19, Yaugandharāyaṇa instructs king Udayana to conquer king Brahmadatta first. Accordingly, “... this King of Benares named Brahmadatta is always your enemy, therefore conquer him first; when he is conquered, conquer the eastern quarter and gradually all the quarters”.

2) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त) is the name of a merchant’s son who befriended king Gūḍhasena’s son according to the “story of the prince and the merchant's son who saved his Life”., as mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 28. Accordingly, “as he [king Gūḍhasena’s son] was roaming about in a garden, he saw the son of a merchant, named Brahmadatta, who resembled himself in wealth and beauty. And the moment he saw him he selected him for his special friend, and those two, the prince and the merchant’s son, immediately became like one another in all things”.

The story of Brahmadatta and Gūḍhasena was narrated to Kaliṅgasenā by Somaprabhā in order to demonstrate that “the children of kings break loose from restraint and, slaying their guides, disregard benefits, like infuriated elephants”.

3) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त) is one of three Brāhman brothers mentioned in a story according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 33. Accordingly, “... in this land there were three Brāhman brothers, Brahmadatta, Somadatta and Viśvadatta, of holy deeds. Of these two, the eldest, possessed wives, but the youngest was unmarried; he remained as their servant without being-angry”

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

Kavya book cover
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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’.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Brahmadatta in Hinduism glossary
Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Brahmadatta (ब्रह्‍मदत्‍त): King of Benares

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Brahmadatta in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

1) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त) is the name of a king of olden times subdued by the Buddha mentioned in order to demonstrate the fearlessness of the Buddha according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XL.1.4. Accordingly, “a hundred thousand Che-tseu (Śākya) who all were great kings in Jambudvīpa, king Fan-mo-to (Brahmadatta), etc., all became his disciples”.

Note: Brahmadatta is the dynastic name of the kings of Benares: many jātakas in which they make an appearance concern early times. At the time of the Buddha, Kāśī (Benares) was incorporated into the kingdom of Kosala, and Prasenajit reigned over both countries.

2) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त) is the name of the king of Vārāṇasī according to the Nigrodhamiga-jātaka mentioned in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXVII).—Accordingly, “it is told that, in the kingdom of Po lo nai (Vārāṇasī), the king Fan mo ta (Brahmadatta), while hunting in the jungle (araṇya), saw two herds of deer (mṛgayūtha): each herd had its leader; the one had five hundred deer and his body was the color of the seven jewels (saptaratna): this was the Bodhisattva Śākyamuni; the other leader was Devadatta. The Bodhisattva, king of the deer, on seeing king Brahmadatta killing his herd, felt great compassion (mahākaruṇa-citta) and went to Brahmadatta. The king’s people drew their bows and let fly a rain of arrows. But Brahmadatta, seeing this deer approaching him, commanded his retinue to put away their bows and arrows so he could learn the motive for the deer’s coming”.

Mahayana book cover
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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.

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General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Brahmadatta in Buddhism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Buddhism

Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त) refers to one of the descendants of king Ajita: an ancient king from the Solar dynasty (sūryavaṃśa) and a descendant of Mahāsaṃmata, according to the Mahābuddhavaṃsa or Maha Buddhavamsa (the great chronicle of Buddhas) Anudīpanī chapter 1, compiled by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw. Ajita’s son founded Kambala. He and his descendants in that city were eighty-four thousand. The last of these eighty-four thousand kings was named Brahmadatta. His son founded Hatthipura and reigned. He and his descendants in that city were thirty-six. The last of these thirty-six kings was named Kambalavaṃsa.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Brahmadatta in Jainism glossary
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

1) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त), the son of Culanī and Brahma, is one of the Cakrins (Cakravartins), according to chapter 1.6 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly: “[...] In Bharata there will be twenty-three other Arhats and eleven other Cakrins. [...] The Cakrins will belong to the gotra of Kaśyapa, gold-color, and eight of them will go to mokṣa. [...] In Kāmpīlya, Brahmadatta will be the son of Culanī and Brahma, living for seven hundred years, seven bows tall. He will live in the interval between Śrī Neminātha and Śrī Pārśvanātha and, engaged in evil meditation, will go to the seventh hell”.

2) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त) is the name of an ancient king from Rājagṛha, according to chapter 6.7 [śrī-munisuvratanātha-caritra].—Accordingly:—“In the afternoon of the twelfth day of the bright half of Phālguna, (the moon being) in Śravaṇa, the Lord adopted mendicancy with a thousand kings, observing a two-day fast. On the next day the Blessed Munisuvrata broke his fast with rice-pudding in King Brahmadatta’s house in Rājagṛha”.

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I

Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त) or Brahmadattakathā refers to one of the 157 stories embedded in the Kathāmahodadhi by Somacandra (narrating stories from Jain literature, based on the Karpūraprakara), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—The Kathāmahodadhi represents a repository of 157 stories [e.g., Brahmadatta-kathā] written in prose Sanskrit, although each of them is preceded by a verse. Together, they stage a large number of Jain characters (including early teachers). [...]

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Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Brahmadatta in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त).—(= Pali id. in meaning 1), (1) name of various kings of Benarés city and the land of Kāśī, Kāśi (compare Mahāvastu i.271.19 et alibi, nagare Vārāṇasī Kāśijanapade); in many Pali Jātakas formulaic at the beginning of the story, and playing no part in the story itself; Malalasekara (Dictionary of Pali Proper Names) suggests that this was the ‘dynastic name’ of kings of Benares; somewhat similarly Mahāvastu ii.77.5; Divyāvadāna 73.25; 98.13; 121.7; 538.14 ff.; 540.1; but elsewhere plays a more real rôle in various stories, Mahāvastu i.271.19 ff. (in Tri- śakunīya Jātaka); 359.20 (in Nyagrodhamṛga Jātaka (Pali); un- named in the Pali version); iii.125.10 (in āka Jātaka (Pali) = Pali Supatta Jātaka (Pali), where the king has the same name); iii.183.19 ff. (in Upāli-Gaṅgapāla-Jātaka (Pali); in the Pali version named Udaya, but addressed as Brahmadatta Jātaka (Pali) iii.452. 16, 25); Divyāvadāna 131.15; 132.6; 134.16 f.; 510.19 ff.; Jātakamālā 128.25 ff. (called Bahuputtaka in corresp. Pali story); Avadāna-śataka i.120.3; 134.11; 174.14, etc.; Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya ii.182.7, 10 (in story of Dīrghila; as in Pali); (2) name of two kings of Kāmpilla or Kamp°: Mahāvastu iii.156.13 ff. (in Padmāvatī Parikalpa); 361.16 ff. (father of Śarabhaṅga); (3) name of two former Buddhas: Mahāvastu iii.239.4 f.; Śikṣāsamuccaya 169.10; (4) name of a king, previous incarnation of Śākyamuni, perhaps one of those mentioned under 1: Lalitavistara 170.16; (5) name of some evil person who mistreated a former incarnation of Śākyamuni: Lalitavistara 316.1; (6) name of an unidentified king (perhaps belongs to 1): Mahāvyutpatti 3645; (7) name of a bhikṣu under Siṃhadhvaja Buddha: Samādhirājasūtra p.52 1.20; he later became Dīpaṃkara id.1.29.

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Brahmadattā (ब्रह्मदत्ता).—name of a girl attendant on Subhadrā (1): Gaṇḍavyūha 52.2.

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

Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त).—m.

(-ttaḥ) One of the sovereigns of the race of Ikshwaku enumerated by the Jains. E. brahma by or to Brahma, datta given.

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

Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त).—[adjective] given by Brahman; a man’s name.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—father of Kṛṣṇadatta (Caraṇavyūhabhāṣya). Oudh. Iii, 8.

2) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त):—Karaṇaprakāśa jy. See Brahmadeva.

3) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त):—Vedāntadīpikā. K. 130.

4) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त):—
—[commentary] on Śāṅkhāyanaśrautasūtra. Quoted by Nārāyaṇa W. p. 28, by Raghunandana in Śuddhitattva.

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

1) Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त):—[=brahma-datta] [from brahma > brahman] mfn. given by Brahmă, [Taittirīya-āraṇyaka]

2) [v.s. ...] g° by Brahmā, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]

3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of various men (cf. naḍādi)

4) [v.s. ...] of a man with the [patronymic] Caikitāneya, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]

5) [v.s. ...] of a king ([plural] his descendants), [Mahābhārata]

6) [v.s. ...] of a prince of the Pañcālas in Kāmpilya, [ib.; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

7) [v.s. ...] of a king of the Sālvas, [Harivaṃśa]

8) [v.s. ...] of a prince in Vārāṇasī, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

9) [v.s. ...] of a prince in Śrāvastī, [Buddhist literature]

10) [v.s. ...] (cf. [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 420, 1]) of a prince in Campā, [ib.]

11) [v.s. ...] of a prince in Kusuma-pura, [ib.]

12) [v.s. ...] of the 12th Cakra-vartin in Bhārata, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

13) [v.s. ...] of a Brāhman, [Harivaṃśa; Pañcatantra]

14) [v.s. ...] of a merchant, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

15) [v.s. ...] of the father of Kṛṣṇa-datta, [Catalogue(s)]

16) [v.s. ...] of sub voce authors, [ib.]

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

Brahmadatta (ब्रह्मदत्त):—[brahma-datta] (ttaḥ) 1. m. A king of Ikshwāku’s race according to the Jainas.

[Sanskrit to German]

Brahmadatta in German

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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.

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