Kirtisena, Kīrtisena, Kīrtisenā: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Kirtisena 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
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara1) Kīrtisena (कीर्तिसेन) is the name of a prince who belonged to the Brāhman race, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara chapter 6. Kīrtisena was the son of the brother of Vāsuki, King of the Nāgas. He entered into the gāndharva marriage with Śrutārthā by making her pregnant upon seeing her bathe.
2) Kīrtisena (कीर्तिसेन) is the daughter of Dhanapālita: a rich merchant from Pāṭaliputra, according to the “story of Kīrtisenā and her cruel mother-in-law”, as mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 29. Accordingly, “... and there was born to him [Dhanaplāita] a daughter, named Kīrtisenā, who was incomparably beautiful, and dearer to him than life. And he took his daughter to Magadha and married her to a rich merchant named Devasena”.
The story of Kīrtisenā and Dhanapālita was narrated to Kaliṅgasenā by Somaprabhā in order to demonstrate that “chaste women, enduring the dispensation of hostile fate, but preserving in misfortune the treasure of their virtue, and protected by the great power of their goodness, procure good fortune for their husbands and themselves”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Kīrtisena and Kīrtisenā, 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’.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Kīrtisena (कीर्तिसेन).—Son of the brother of the Nāga chief Vāsuki. He made a love-marriage with Śrutārthā daughter of a brahmin, and a child was born to them. (Kathāsaritsāgara, Kathāpīṭhakalambaka).
2) Kīrtisenā (कीर्तिसेना).—A heroine who has firmly established her reputation in Sanskrit literature. An exceptionally good woman, Kīrtisenā was the daughter of a merchant called Dhanapāla in Pāṭalīputra, and was married by another merchant called Devasena. Once Devasena left the country for purposes of trade, and during his absence from home the mother-in-law of Kīrtisenā shut her up in a dark room. But, with the help of an iron rod, which fortunately came to her hands she made a hole in the room at night, and through it escaped from captivity. Hungry and thirsty, Kīrtisenā travelled a long distance in the forest, and at night climbed a tree and rested thereon. Presently a Rākṣasa woman with her children came to the foot of the tree.
2) During this period the King of Vasudattapura was suffering from pain in the head because a bug entered his ear and multiplied there in numbers. All the physicians gave up the case as incurable. But, the Rākṣasī at the foot of the tree advised the following cure for the King’s illness to her children:—"Anoint the King’s head with ghee and make him lie in the sun at noon. After that insert a small tube into his ear, and keep the other end of the tube in a pot full of water. Then the bugs will come out from the ear into the water, and the King will be cured of his illness.
2) Kīrtisenā, who heard this medical advice from her seat on top of the tree disguised herself as a physician, went to the palace and cured the King of his troubles. In her disguise, she continued to live in the palace as a friend of the King. Shortly, her husband Devasena, came there and they were happily reunited. The King gave them costly presents. (Kathāsaritsāgara, Madanamañjukālambaka, Taraṅga 3).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryKīrtisena (कीर्तिसेन):—[=kīrti-sena] [from kīrti > kīrt] m. Name of a nephew of the serpent-king Vāsuki, [Kathāsaritsāgara vi, 13.]
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Sena, Kirti, Cena.
Full-text: Devasena, Samudrasena, Valabhi, Vasuki, Vasudatta.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Kirtisena, Kīrtisena, Kīrtisenā, Kirti-sena, Kīrti-sena; (plurals include: Kirtisenas, Kīrtisenas, Kīrtisenās, senas). 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)
Chapter XXIX < [Book VI - Madanamañcukā]
Notes on the story of Kīrtisenā < [Notes]
Chapter VI < [Book I - Kathāpīṭha]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Tibetan tales (derived from Indian sources) (by W. R. S. Ralston)