Karna, Karṇā, Karṇa, Kārṇa: 45 definitions
Introduction:
Karna means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, biology, Tamil. 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
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Karṇā (कर्णा, “long-eared”):—Name of one of the sixty-four mātṛs to be worshipped during Āvaraṇapūjā (“Worship of the Circuit of Goddesses”, or “Durgā’s Retinue”), according to the Durgāpūjātattva. They should be worshipped with either the five upācāras or perfume and flowers.
Her mantra is as follows:
ॐ कर्णायै नमः
oṃ karṇāyai namaḥ.
Karṇa (कर्ण) refers to the “ear”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “[...] What is located in the sequence of the sacred seats is in the midst of Dakṣa and the rest (in the heart) above the navel. One should know (this), the Śāmbhava state, by means of the teaching from the teacher's mouth. One should worship (the sacred seats in the order listed above) in the same way, in the ear [i.e., karṇa], mouth, nose, and above the eyebrows (respectively)”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Karṇa (कर्ण).—The eldest son of Kuntī before her marriage to Pāṇḍu. She had received a mantra from Durvāsā Muni that she could call any deva and conceive children. In her innocence she called Sūrya, the sun-god and conceived Karṇa. She was forced to abandon the child out of fear of her relatives. Karṇa was then raised by Adhiratha and Rādhā. He fought against the Pāṇḍavas and was killed by Arjuna in the battle of Kurukṣetra.
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’).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1) Karṇa (कर्ण).—The eldest son of Kuntī. Though he was the brother of the Pāṇḍavas he joined sides with the Kauravas and became the King of Aṅga. So the name of Karṇa comes in the genealogy of the Aṅga royal family. Genealogy. Descending in order from Viṣṇu:—Brahmā-Atri-Candra-Budha-Purūravas-Āyus-Nahuṣa-Yayāti-Turvasu-Vahni-Bharga-Bhānu-Tribhānu-Karandhama-Marutta-(Marutta had no son and he adopted Duṣyanta)-Duṣyanta-Varūtha-Gāṇḍīra-Gāndhāra-Kola-Druhyu-Babhrusetu-Purovasu-Gharma-Ghṛta-Viduṣa-Pracetas-Sabhānara-Kālanara-Sṛñjaya-Purañjaya-Janamejaya-Mahāsāla-Mahāmanas-Uśīnara-Titikṣu-Ruṣadratha-Paila-Sutapas-Bali-Aṅga-(The Aṅga dynasty begins)-Dadhivāhana-Dravīratha-Dharmaratha-Citraratha-Satyaratha-Lomapāda-Caturaṅga-Pṛthulākṣa-Campa-Haryaṅga-Bhadraratha-Bṛhatkarmā-Bṛhadbhānu-Bṛhadātmā-Jayadratha-Bṛhadratha-Viśvajit-Karṇa. (See full article at Story of Karṇa from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
2) Karṇa (कर्ण).—A son of Dhrtarāṣṭra. Bhīmasena killed this Karṇa. (Chapter 67, Bhīṣma Parva).
3) Karṇa (कर्ण).—Younger brother of Ghaṇṭa. See under Ghaṇṭākarṇa.
1a) Karṇa (कर्ण).—See jīva.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 3. 79 & 83.
1b) Born of Kuntī as a virgin and abandoned by her; brought up by Adhiratha; became a king and father of Vṛṣasena.1 Pāṇḍavas defeated his army. Arjuna was saved from Karṇa's arrows by Kṛṣṇa. Joined Duryodhana in insulting Vidura, and was his evil adviser.2 Resented Sāmba's action in carrying away Lakṣmaṇā but vanquished by Sāmba. In charge of gifts in Yudhiṣtira's rājasūya. Joined Duryodhana's army and succeeded Droṇa as commander for two days, but was killed by Arjuna.3 Failed to hit the mark in the svayaṃvara of Lakṣmaṇā.4 Identified with Cakravarman, the son of Bala.5 Was called son of Sūta as he was brought up by Adhiratha the Sūta.6
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 23. 13-14; X. 49. 2; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 14. 36; 18. 28-9; V. 35. 5 and 7; 38. 16.
- 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 15. 15-16; III. 1. 14; 3. 13.
- 3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 68. 5 and 9; 75. 5; 78 [95 (v) 16] & [37].
- 4) Ib. X. 83. 23.
- 5) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 6. 32.
- 6) Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 118.
1c) A son of Āṇḍira.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 48. 5.
1d) Born in after-birth as Cakravarma, the son of Bali.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 68. 32; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 6. 33.
1e) The son of Aṅga.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 48. 102-4; Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 112.
Karṇa (कर्ण) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.108.3) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Karṇa) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Karṇa (कर्ण) refers to one of the sections found in “three-storied temples”, as discussed in chapter 6 of the Viṣṇutilakasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 3500 Sanskrit verses covering the typically “agamic” subjects which are being narrated by Brahmā to a number of sages.—Description of the chapter [mandira-nirmāṇa]: In undertaking to construct a temple, the first thing to do is to select a properly qualified Ācārya-director (3-10). [...] There are various typologies of temples, according to materials used, according to numbers of storeys, etc. (176-205). In a three-storey temple, some or all of these sections will be found [e.g., karṇa] [...] (188-1912). The details of building are to be drawn from the Śilpaśāstras. [...]
Karṇa (कर्ण).—A type of aṅgavibhakti (‘indendations’ in a wall line);—Karṇa is another important aṅgavibhakti of the temple plan. Karṇas are always found at the comers of the structure. Karṇas are always square projections. Similarly pratikarṇas are also found as an aṅgavibhakti of the temple plan. Pratikarṇas are square projections made in the interspaces of the wall between the karṇa and the bhadra.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Kavya (poetry)
Karṇa (कर्ण) is the name of an important person (viz., an Ācārya or Kavi) mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—One of the kings of the southern geographical part of India. In the fifteen chapter of Kāvyamīmāṃsā, Rājaśekhara refer his name in a stanza.
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’.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Karṇa (कर्ण).—1. Hypotenuse, lateral side. 2. Distance of planet from Earth. Note: Karṇa is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.
Karṇa (कर्ण) refers to the “hypotenuse”, according to verse 20 of the Lagnaprakaraṇa (lit. “treatise for the computation of the ascendant), an astronomical work in eight chapters dealing with the determination of the ascendant (udayalagna or orient ecliptic point).—Accordingly, “The quotient of either the Rsine [of the Sun’s longitude] multiplied by [the Rsine of] the last (maximum) declination, or [the Rsine of] the declination corresponding to the desired longitude multiplied by the radius, divided by the Rcosine of the latitude, is the Rsine of the Sun’s amplitude. That [Rsine of the Sun’s amplitude] is the hypotenuse (karṇa). [The Rsine of] the declination is the upright here, and indeed the earth-sine is the lateral”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Karṇa (कर्ण) refers to the “ears” (of elephants), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 2, “on favorable marks”]: “3. (Good is) an elephant whose feet are distinguished by nails numbering twenty, the elevation of whose temporal bosses is great, whose two ears (karṇa) are red and their edges not frayed [acchidrāñcalaraktakarṇayugalaḥ], whose girth is very smooth, whose tusks are honey colored and the right one higher, whose belly is well filled out, whose tail and trunk are regularly stout, straight, long, and handsome, who is swarthy like betel nuts”.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
1) Karṇa (कर्ण):—Ear. One of the five sense organs. Hearing apparatus.
2) [karṇaḥ] Ear. The organ of hearing
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Karṇa (कर्ण) refers to the “ears”, according to the Halāyudhastotra verse 34-35.—Accordingly, “The visitation of the wives of the distinguished sages in the Pine Park, the oblation with seed in Fire, the twilight dance: Your behaviour is not reprehensible. O Three-eyed one! The doctrines of the world do not touch those who have left worldly life, having passed far beyond the path of those whose minds are afflicted by false knowledge. The gods all wear gold and jewels as an ornament on their body. You do not even wear gold the size of a berry on your ear (karṇa) or on your hand. The one whose natural beauty, surpassing the path [of the world], flashes on his own body, has no regard for the extraneous ornaments of ordinary men”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Karṇa (कर्ण) represents the number 2 (two) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 2—karṇa] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.
Ganita (गणित) or Ganitashastra refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Karṇa (कर्ण) or “ear” refers to one of the various body parts whose Measurements should follow the principles of ancient Indian Painting (citra), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, a specific measurement of every limb of a man as well as of a woman is elaborately and systematically discussed. In this book, the writer has presented the measurement of almost all the body parts that should be maintained in a picture. For example, Karṇa (“ear”) should be 4 X 2 aṅgulas.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Karṇa (कर्ण) refers to the “ear”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] [Now], I shall define the nature of that highest, mind-free absorption which arises for those devoted to constant practice. [...] By means of an absorption for a period of four Palas, [this following] experience may occur: suddenly, an agreeable or disagreeable sound enters the ear (karṇa). [...]”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Karṇa (कर्ण) refers to the “ears” (of the Hawk), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, [while discussing the yellow-eyed division of hawks]: “Vāsā becomes admired, if its voice is pleasing. The Vājā is good, if it is silent. Kuhī is good, if its throat and the ‘ends of its ears’ (karṇa-anta) are silvery”.
This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Karṇa (कर्ण): A matchless warrior, son of the Sun god and Kunti. Disciple of Parasurama. Also son of Radha, his foster-mother, and was known as Radheya.
Karna is one of the most tragic characters in the Mahabharata. He was born to Kunti through Surya, who was drawn to Kunti by the power of a Mantra (incantation) taught to her by the sage Durvasa. As Kunti was unmarried at that time, she abandoned her beautiful child, who was born with divine armor and earrings in the river.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Karṇa (कर्ण) is the name of a painter (citrakāra) according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIX).—“Thus in the city of Fou kai lo (Puṣkarāvatī) of the Ta Yue tche, there was a painter (citrakāra) named Ts’ien na (read Kie na = Karṇa) who went to the kingdom of To tch’a che lo (Takṣaśilā) of the eastern region (pūrvadeśa). Having painted there abroad for thirty years, he received thirty ounces of gold. Returning with it to his own native land, Puṣkarāvatī, he heard the drum being beaten to announce a great gathering (mahāpariṣad)”.
Note: The story of Karṇa takes place at a time when the Kuṣāṇa already reigned in Gandhāra but did not yet extend their sovereignty over Takṣaśilā. Thus we are in the reign of the Kuṣāṇa monarch Kujula Kadphises.
Karṇa (कर्ण) (in Chinese: Kie-na) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Puṣya or Puṣyanakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Puṣya] with a group of kingdoms [e.g., Karṇa] for the sake of protection and prosperity.
Karṇa (कर्ण) refers to the “nose”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] At that time, sixty koṭis of Bodhisattvas, having stood up from the congregation, joined their palms, paid homage to the Lord, and then uttered these verses in one voice: ‘[...] (227) Just as a mirror would never bring pleasure to those who had their noses and ears sliced off (saṃchinna-karṇa-nāsa), so, having heard the true accusation, they will reject the true dharma. (228) There will be monks who receive the true dharma and behave accordingly, but no one will listen to their dharmas. [...]’”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Karṇa (कर्ण) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Karṇa] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.
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.
India history and geography
Karna (“ear”) is one of the exogamous septs (divisions) among the Malas (considered the Pariahs of the Telugu country) of the Sarindla section. The Mala people are almost equally inferior in position to the Madigas and have, in their various sub-divisions, many exogamous septs (e.g., Karna).
Karṇa.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘two’. Note: karṇa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
Karṇa (कर्ण) refers to one of the kings of the Caulukya (Cālukka) dynasty of Gujarat, as is mentioned in the Vividhatīrthakalpa by Jinaprabhasūri (13th century A.D.): an ancient text devoted to various Jaina holy places (tīrthas).—List of the eleven Caulukya kings of which Aṇahilapura was the capital: Mūlarāja, Cāmuṇḍarāja, Vallabharāja, Durlabha, Bhīmadeva, Karṇa, Jayasiṃha, Kumārapāla, Ajayapāla, Bālamūlarāja, Bhīmadeva.
Karna refers to one of the twelve Kāyastha groups from Māthurā, according to the “Samoṣaṇa Kāitha Māthura-rāsa” (dealing with caste history), and 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.—In between the work deals with the legendary origin of the Kāyasthas as sons of Citragupta, himself born from Brahmā’s body. The Māthura Kāyasthas are one of the twelve Kāyastha groups. (In modern terms, e.g., Karna, [...]).
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Biology (plants and animals)
Karna in India is the name of a plant defined with Citrus aurantium in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Citrus aurantium var. amara L. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Annales du muséum national d’histoire naturelle (1813)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique (1843)
· J. SouthW. Agric. Univ. (1994)
· Phytomorphology (1998)
· Caryologia (1985)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Karna, for example diet and recipes, health benefits, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, side effects, extract dosage, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
karṇa (कर्ण).—m (S) An ear. 2 The sense of hearing. 3 The name of the half-brother to the pāṇḍava princes, famed for munificence. Hence used appellatively of a liberal man: also karṇāvatāra or karṇācā avatāra in this sense, or, ironically, of a niggard. 4 The hypotenuse of a triangle, or diagonal of a quadrangular figure. 5 Rudder or helm. karṇa (or kāna) ōḍhaṇēṃ or ōḍhaviṇēṃ To stretch out the attentive ear. Ex. jō māyāniyantā || tō vaśiṣṭhāpuḍhēṃ vōḍhavī karṇa ||. karṇē spṛṣṭē kaṭiṃ cālayati Used of one who answers wildly from the question; i.e. a dolt or booby.
karṇa (कर्ण).—m An ear. The hypotenuse of a triangle or diagonal of a quadrangu- lar figure. Radius vector. Helm. A half-brother of the Pâṇḍavas, well- known for his generosity-hence, karṇācā avatāra means (ironically) karṇa incarnate.
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Karṇa (कर्ण).—a. Ved.
1) Having long ears.
2) Furnished with chaff (as grain).
-rṇaḥ 1 The ear; अहो खलभुजङ्गस्य विपरीतवधक्रमः । कर्णे लगति चान्यस्य प्राणैरन्यो वियुज्यते (aho khalabhujaṅgasya viparītavadhakramaḥ | karṇe lagati cānyasya prāṇairanyo viyujyate) || Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1. 35, 34 also;
-karṇe dā to listen; [karṇamāgam] to come to the ear, become known; तद्गुणैः कर्णमागत्य (tadguṇaiḥ karṇamāgatya) R.1.9; [karṇe kṛ] to put round the ear; Ch. P.1; कर्णे कथयति (karṇe kathayati) whispers in the ear; cf. षट्कर्ण, चतुष्कर्ण (ṣaṭkarṇa, catuṣkarṇa) &c. also.
2) The handle or ear of a vessel; उभा कर्णा हिरण्यया (ubhā karṇā hiraṇyayā) Ṛgveda 8.72.12.
3) The helm or rudder of a ship; सेना भ्रमति संख्येषु हत- कर्णेव नौर्जले (senā bhramati saṃkhyeṣu hata- karṇeva naurjale) Rām.6.48.26.
4) The hypotenuse of a triangle.
5) The diameter of a circle; Sūrya.
6) An intermediate region or quarter (upadigbhāga); Mahābhārata (Bombay) 6. 6.1.
7) (In prosody) A spondee.
8) Name of a tree (Mar. bāhavā, ruimāṃdāra) Rām.5.56.34.
2) Name of a celebrated warrior on the side of the Kauravas mentioned in the Mahābhārata. भवान् भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च (bhavān bhīṣmaśca karṇaśca) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 1.8;11.34. [He was the son of Kuntī begotten on her by the god Sun while she was yet a virgin residing at her father's house (see Kuntī). When the child was born, Kuntī, afraid of the censure of her relatives and also of public scandal, threw the boy into the river where he was found by Adhiratha, charioteer of Dhṛtrāṣṭra, and given over to his wife Rādhā, who brought him up like her own child; whence Karṇa is often called Sūtaputra, Rādheya &c. Karṇa, when grown up, was made king of Aṇga by Duryodhana, and became by virtue of his many generous acts a type of charity. On one occasion Indra (whose care it was to favour his son Arjuna) disguised himself as a Brāhmaṇa and cajoled him out of his divine armour and ear-rings, and gave him in return a charmed javelin. With a desire to make himself proficient in the science of war, he, calling himself a Brāhmaṇa went to Parasurāma and learnt that art from him. But his secret did not long remain concealed. On one occasion when Parasurāma had fallen asleep with his head resting on Karṇa's lap, a worm (supposed by some to be the form assumed by Indra himself to defeat Karṇa's object) began to eat into his lap and made a deep rent in it; but as Karṇa showed not the least sign of pain, his real character was discovered by his preceptor who cursed him that the art he had learnt would avail him not in times of need. On another occasion he was curse by a Brāhmaṇa (whose cow he had unwittingly slain in chase) that the earth would eat up the wheel of his chariot in the hour of trial. Even with such disadvantages as these, he acquitted himself most valiantly in the great war between the Paṇḍavas and Kauravas, while acting as generalissimo of the Kaurava forces after Bhīṣma and Droṇa had fallen. He maintained the field against the Paṇḍavas for three days, but on the last day he was slain by Arjuna while the wheel of his chariot had sunk down into the earth. Karṇa was the most intimate friend of Duryodhana, and with Śakuni joined him in all the various schemes and plots that were devised from time to time for the destruction of the Paṇḍavas.]
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Kārṇa (कार्ण).—a. Relating to an ear.
-rṇam 1 The wax of the ear.
2) An ear-ring.
-rṇaḥ Name of Vṛṣaketu.
Karṇa (कर्ण).—m.
(-rṇaḥ) 1. The ear. 2. Karna a prince, sovereign of Angadesha, and elder brother, by the mother’s side, to the Pandu princes, being the son of Surya by Kunti, before the marriage with Pandu. 3. The helm or rudder of a vessel. 4. (In prosody,) A spondee, a foot of two long syllables. 5. (In geometry,) The hypothenuse of a triangle, or the diagonal of a tetragon. 6. A plant, (Cassia fistula.) 7. A kind of swallow wort, (Colotropis gigantea.) E. karṇa to hear, ghañ affix; or kṛ to do, &c. na Unadi aff.
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Kārṇa (कार्ण).—mfn.
(-rṇaḥ-rṇī-rṇaṃ) Relating to the ear, auricular, &c. n.
(-rṇaṃ) An ear-ring. E. karṇa, and aṇ aff.
Karṇa (कर्ण).—m. 1. The ear, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 125; with dā, To listen, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] 8, 21. 2. A rudder, [Rāmāyaṇa] 6, 23, 30. 3. A proper name, Mahābhārata 1, 2427.
Karṇa (कर्ण).—1. [masculine] (adj. —° [feminine] ā & ī) ear (lit. & [figuratively]), rudder; [Name] of a hero etc.
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Karṇa (कर्ण).—2. karṇa [adjective] having (long) ears.
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Karṇa (कर्ण).—[adjective] having (long) ears.
Karṇa (कर्ण) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—father of Paraśurāma (Mahārudrapaddhati 1459).
1) Karṇa (कर्ण):—m. (√kṛt, [Nirukta, by Yāska]; √1. kṝ, [Uṇādi-sūtra iii, 10]), the ear, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Suśruta] (api karṇe, behind the ear or back, from behind, [Ṛg-veda] cf. apikarṇa; karṇe, [in [dramatic language]] into the ear, in a low voice, aside, [Mṛcchakaṭikā; Mālavikāgnimitra]; karṇaṃ √dā, to give ear to, listen to, [Śakuntalā; Mṛcchakaṭikā]; karṇam ā-√gam, to come to one’s ear, become known to, [Raghuvaṃśa i, 9])
2) the handle or ear of a vessel, [Ṛg-veda viii, 72, 12; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa ix; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra] etc.
3) the helm or rudder of a ship, [Rāmāyaṇa]
4) (in [geometry]) the hypothenuse of a triangle or the diagonal of a tetragon, [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi] etc.
5) the diameter of a circle, [Sūryasiddhānta]
6) (in prosody) a spondee
7) Cassia Fistula, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) Calotropis Gigantea, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) Name of a king of Aṅga (and elder brother by the mother’s side of the Pāṇḍu princes, being the son of the god Sūrya by Pṛthā or Kuntī, before her marriage with Pāṇḍu; afraid of the censure of her relatives, Kuntī deserted the child and exposed it in the river, where it was found by a charioteer named Adhi-ratha and nurtured by his wife Rādhā ; hence Karṇa is sometimes called Sūta-putra or Sūta-ja, sometimes Rādheya, though named by his foster-parents Vasu-ṣeṇa), [Mahābhārata; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] etc.
10) Name of several other men
11) (mfn. karṇa), eared, furnished with ears or long ears, [Atharva-veda v, 13, 9; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Taittirīya-saṃhitā]
12) furnished with chaff (as grain), [Taittirīya-saṃhitā i, 8, 9, 3.]
13) ([according to] to some also, karṇa, ‘cropped or defective on the ears’) in [compound]
14) Kārṇa (कार्ण):—mfn. ([from] karṇa), relating to the ear, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
15) a [patronymic] [from] karṇa [gana] śivādi
16) n. ear-wax, [Horace H. Wilson]
17) an ear-ring, [Horace H. Wilson]
1) Karṇa (कर्ण):—(t ka) karṇayati 10. a. To pierce, to bore. With upa or samā to listen.
2) (rṇaḥ) 1. m. The ear; the prince Karna; a helm; a spondee; hypothenuse; swallow wort.
3) Kārṇa (कार्ण):—[(rṇaḥ-rṇī-rṇaṃ) a.] Of the ear, auricular. n. Ear-ring.
Karṇa (कर्ण):—
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Karṇa (कर्ण):—
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Kārṇa (कार्ण):—(von karṇa)
1) adj. im Ohr befindlich: malam [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 632.] —
2) kārṇa patron. von karṇa gaṇa śivādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 112.] —
3) n. Ohrenschmalz [WILSON.]
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Karṇa (कर्ण):—1.
1) karṇagṛhya [Kāṭhaka-Recension 23, 10.] —
3) paśavo vā etasyāḥ karṇaḥ [Kāṭhaka-Recension 21, 9]; vgl. paśavo vai karṇakāḥ [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 9, 2, 3, 40.] Füge Oehr, Oese hinzu; auch am Joch Comm. zu [Taittirīyasaṃhitā 1, 427, 5.] —
4) akarṇā naurivāmbhasi [Rāmāyaṇa Gorresio 2, 82, 6.] —
5) es ist wohl suvarṇālu gemeint. —
7) [Sūryasiddhānta 2, 41. 51.] [GOLĀDHY. 5, 16. 36.] [Scholiast] zu [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 8, 5, 11.] —
8) Nomen proprium eines Fürsten, Sohnes des Rāmacandra und Vaters des Ratnasena, Inschr. im Journ. of the Am. Or. [S. 7, 5, Śloka 8.] Vaters des Viśokadeva [Oxforder Handschriften 280,b,1.]
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Karṇa (कर्ण):—1.
1) [Sp. 122, Z. 5] lies karṇamārgam . —
7) Durchmesser [Sūryasiddhānta 1, 59. 12, 84.] ardha Halbmesser [2, 61. 13, 5.] karṇārdha dass. [3, 41.]
Karṇa (कर्ण):—1. m. (adj. Comp. f. ā und ī) —
1) Ohr karṇe is’s Ohr (als scenische Bemerkung). karṇeṃ dā das Ohr hinhalten , hinhorchen. karṇam āgam zu Ohren kommen. Statt api karṇe ist apikarṇe zu vermuthen. —
2) Handhabe oder eine andere Hervorragung auf beiden Seiten eines Gefässes u.s.w. , Oehr , Oese. —
3) Steuerruder. —
4) Hypotenuse , Diagonale eines Tetragons [Hemādri’s Caturvargacintāmaṇi 1,130,23.131,8.] —
5) Durchmesser. —
6) Spondeus. —
7) *Cassia fistula und *Calotropis gigantea. —
8) Nomen proprium verschiedener Männer , insbes. eines Sohnes der Kuntī und des Sonnengottes.
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Karṇa (कर्ण):—2. und karṇa ([Ṛgveda (roth). ]) Adj. auritus , geöhrt (eig. und übertr.) , langohrig.
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Kārṇa (कार्ण):——
1) Adj. im Ohr befindlich. —
2) *m. Patron. von karṇa. —
3) *n. Ohrenschmalz.
Karṇa (कर्ण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Kaṇṇa.
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.
Hindi dictionary
1) Karna in Hindi refers in English to:—(v) to do; to perform; to complete; to act; to execute; to commit; to hire; to have as man or wife; to run or set up (as [dukana]—); to practise (as [vakalata]—); to solve (as [savala]—); to cohabit; [karai koi bharai koi] to bark up a wrong tree..—karna (करना) is alternatively transliterated as Karanā.
2) Karṇa (कर्ण) [Also spelled karn]:—(nm) an ear; helm; rudder (of a boat); hypotenuse; ~[kaṭu] discordant, disagreeable, harsh (sound); ~[gocara] audible; ~[dhāra] helmsman, one who steers (a boat); ~[pālī] the lobe of the ear; ~[mūla] the root of the ear; a disease resulting in swelling at the root of the ear, parotitis; ~[śūla] ear-ache; ~[srāva] running of the ear, discharge of ichorous matter from the ear.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Karṇa (ಕರ್ಣ):—[noun] a paste applied to the central part of the skin or parchment of percussion instruments like Mridanga, tabala.
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Karṇa (ಕರ್ಣ):—
1) [noun] the organ of hearing and balance in humans and vertebrates, esp. the external part of this; the ear.
2) [noun] a broad, flat, movable piece of wood or metal hinged vertically at the stern of a boat or ship, used for steering; the helm or rudder of a ship.
3) [noun] (fig.) a very generous man.
4) [noun] a line extending between the vertices of any two non-adjacent angles in a polygonal figure; a line opposite to any angle in a triangle.
5) [noun] a symbol for the number two,2.
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Karna (ಕರ್ನ):—
1) [noun] '[rightly ಕರ್ಣ [karna] ] the organ of hearing and balance in humans and vertebrates, esp. the external part of this; the ear.'2) [noun] corresponding organ in other animals.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
Karṇā (கர்ணா) noun < Urdu karnā. A kind of musical instrument; ஒருவகை வாத்தியம். கர்ணா வொடு சிறந்தகொம்புகள் . . . முழங்கிவர [oruvagai vathiyam. karna vodu siranthagombugal . . . muzhangivara] (இராமநாடகம் யுத்த. [iramanadagam yutha.] 87).
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
Nepali dictionary
Karṇa (कर्ण):—n. 1. the ear; 2. oar; handle;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+23): Karnabhanga, Karnabharana, Karnabhusha, Karnabhushana, Karnabija, Karnacamara, Karnacchidra, Karnachidra, Karnachidraka, Karnaculai, Karnaculika, Karnadarin, Karnadarpana, Karnadeva, Karnadhara, Karnadharaka, Karnadharini, Karnadhvanana, Karnadundubhi, Karnaga.
Full-text (+1158): Gokarna, Kumbhakarna, Ashvakarna, Shankukarna, Karnadhara, Akarna, Ghantakarna, Karnapura, Hastikarna, Karnashula, Gajakarna, Lambakarna, Karnamoti, Aviddhakarna, Vikarna, Karnata, Shatkarna, Karnashrava, Ajakarna, Karnavedha.
Relevant text
Search found 219 books and stories containing Karna, Karṇā, Karṇa, Kārṇa, Karnaa; (plurals include: Karnas, Karṇās, Karṇas, Kārṇas, Karnaas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhagavad-gita (with Vaishnava commentaries) (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 11.34 < [Chapter 11 - Viśvarūpa-darśana-yoga (beholding the Lord’s Universal Form)]
Verses 1.8-9 < [Chapter 1 - Sainya-Darśana (Observing the Armies)]
Verses 11.26-27 < [Chapter 11 - Viśvarūpa-darśana-yoga (beholding the Lord’s Universal Form)]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.2.20 < [Chapter 2 - The Killing of Keśī]
Verse 5.7.39 < [Chapter 7 - The Killing of Kuvalayāpīḍa]
Verse 3.8.6 < [Chapter 8 - The Opulences of Śrī Girirāja]
Vastu-shastra (Introduction to Indian architecture) (by D. N. Shukla)
Chapter 9 - Prāsāda Jagatīs < [Volume 5 - Temple Architecture]
Chapter 2c - Accessory Structures: Gaja-śālā (stables for elephants) < [Volume 4 - Palace Architecture]
(iv) The Six Canons of Hindu Architecture (Āyādi-ṣaḍvarga) < [Chapter 6 - Fundamental Canons of Hindu Architecture]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Chapter 357 - Adding primary affixes known as uṇādi
Chapter 312 - The occasions for the use of the Tvaritā-mantra and the benefits
Bhasa (critical and historical study) (by A. D. Pusalker)
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