Karataka, Karaṭaka: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Karataka 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)
Karaṭaka (करटक).—A brother of Balāhaka, and a commander of Bhaṇḍa; rode on Vetāla.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 24. 10 and 55.
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)
Karaṭaka (करटक) is the name of a jackal (jambuka) and minister of the lion king named Piṅgalaka, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 59. Accordingly, “... there lived in a neighbouring wood a lion named Piṅgalaka, who had subdued the forest by his might; and that king of beasts had two jackals for ministers: the name of the one was Damanaka, and the name of the other was Karaṭaka”.
The story of Karaṭaka was narrated by Gomukha to Naravāhanadatta in order to demonstrate that “a man who conquers wrath will not be subject to grief; and a man who displays prudence is never harmed. Even in the case of animals prudence produces success, not valour”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Karaṭaka, 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 (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’.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Karaṭaka (करटक).—
1) a crow; Mṛcchakaṭika 7.
2) Name of कर्णीरथ (karṇīratha) the propounder of the science and art of theft.
3) Name of a jackal in H. and Pt.
Derivable forms: karaṭakaḥ (करटकः).
Karaṭaka (करटक).—m.
(-kaḥ) A crow. E. kan added to the preceding.
Karaṭaka (करटक).—[karaṭa + ka], m. 1. A crow, [Mṛcchakaṭikā, (ed. Stenzler.)] 104, 13 ([Prakrit]). 2. A proper name, [Pañcatantra] 9, 19.
Karaṭaka (करटक).—[masculine] a kind of musical instrument*; [Name] of a jackal.
1) Karaṭaka (करटक):—[from karaṭa] m. a crow, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a jackal, [Pañcatantra; Hitopadeśa etc.]
Karaṭaka (करटक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. A crow.
Karaṭaka (करटक):—(von karaṭa) m.
1) Krähe [Śabdaratnāvalī im Śabdakalpadruma] [Mṛcchakaṭikā 104, 18] (im Prākrit) —
2) Nomen proprium eines Schakals [Pañcatantra 9, 19.] = كليله wie damanaka = دمنه
--- OR ---
Karaṭaka (करटक):—
2) [Kathāsaritsāgara 60, 19.]
Karaṭaka (करटक):—m. —
1) *Krähe. —
2) Nomen proprium eines Schakals.
--- OR ---
Kāraṭaka (कारटक):—n. eine Art Śrāddha [Galano's Wörterbuch]
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Karaṭaka (ಕರಟಕ):—
1) [noun] = ಕರಟ [karata]2 - 1 & 2.
2) [noun] a man who makes a malicious, false, and injurious statement about another with an intention to tarnishing the latter’s opportunity, credit, position, etc.
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)
Starts with (+0): Karatakam, Karatakampam, Karatakan, Karatakapashanam.
Full-text (+0): Karatakam, Karatakapashanam, Karatakan, Karavatam, Sucimukha, Dushtabuddhi, Dharmabuddhi, Damanaka, Pingalaka.
Relevant text
Search found 14 books and stories containing Karataka, Karaṭaka, Kāraṭaka; (plurals include: Karatakas, Karaṭakas, Kāraṭakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 369 < [Tamil-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Page 337 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Page 491 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 3]
Panchatantra: A reflex of Arthashastra (by M. N. Indrani)
Summary of Chapter 1—Mitrabheda (Seperation of Friends) < [Chapter 3 - Contents of the Panchatantra]
The concept of Mitra (Friend) < [Chapter 4 - Arthashastra and Panchatantra—a comparison]
The concept of Raja (King) < [Chapter 4 - Arthashastra and Panchatantra—a comparison]
Hitopadesha (English translation) (by Sir Edwin Arnold)
Chapter 3 - The Story of the Washerman's Jackass < [Book Two - The Parting of Friends]
Chapter 4 - The Story of the Cat Who Served the Lion < [Book Two - The Parting of Friends]
Chapter 1 - The Story of the Lion, the Jackals, and the Bull < [Book Two - The Parting of Friends]
Glimpses of History of Sanskrit Literature (by Satya Vrat Shastri)
Chapter 18.1 - Popular Tales and Fables in Sanskrit literature < [Section 4 - Classical Sanskrit literature]