Kapatabhikshu, Kapaṭabhikṣu: 1 definition
Introduction:
Kapatabhikshu 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.
The Sanskrit term Kapaṭabhikṣu can be transliterated into English as Kapatabhiksu or Kapatabhikshu, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaKapaṭabhikṣu (कपटभिक्षु).—A false sage. To illustrate the fact that if a man fails in his deceit he will be subjected to ridicule, a story of a false sage occurs in Kathāsaritsāgara. Since this Character has earned a place in the Indian literature his story is given below:
There was once a city called Mākandī on the banks of the river Gaṅgā. In that city lived a sage who observed silence as a Vrata. One day when he went begging he saw a beautiful girl in a Vaiśya’s house and the false ascetic was attracted by her. Breaking his silence he said "What a pity!" and left the place. The Vaiśya was worried why the sage said so and approached him and asked why he broke his silence to say so. The sage said: "Your daughter is ill-omened. If you give her in marriage all of you remaining will perish. So pack her in a box and with a torch burning on the top of it set it afloat on the river." The Vaiśya did so.
The sage coming to his Āśrama called his disciples to his side and said "To-night a box with a torch burning on the top of it will come floating on the river. You must take it and bring it to me without opening it."
The disciples went to the river and seeing the box coming floating caught it and took it to their preceptor. But from a point high up in the river a prince had seen the box coming floating and had opened it. He had then released the girl from the box and had floated the box again filling it with a black monkey. When the disciples got the box to the guru he said "Take it upstairs and keep it there. There is a Pūjā to be conducted with the recital of sacred verses. It should not be seen by others. You can all go to sleep."
The false sage went up eager to enjoy the girl in the box and opened the box with pleasant thoughts. But to his utter horror there jumped from the box a ferocious black monkey who mauled him terribly. The Kapaṭabhikṣu was fooled. (Taraṅga 1. Lāvāṇakalambaka, Kathāsaritsāgara).
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text: Makandi.
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