Nagabala, Naga-bala, Nāgabala, Nāgabalā: 13 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Nagabala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India. 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
Rasashastra (chemistry and alchemy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstraNāgabalā (नागबला):—One of the sixty-seven Mahauṣadhi, as per Rasaśāstra texts (rasa literature). These drugs are useful for processing mercury (rasa), such as the alchemical processes known as sūta-bandhana and māraṇa.

Rasashastra (रसशास्त्र, rasaśāstra) is an important branch of Ayurveda, specialising in chemical interactions with herbs, metals and minerals. Some texts combine yogic and tantric practices with various alchemical operations. The ultimate goal of Rasashastra is not only to preserve and prolong life, but also to bestow wealth upon humankind.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu1) Nāgabalā (नागबला) is the Sanskrit name for a medicinal plant identified with Grewia tenax Forsk. (“white Crossberry”) from the Malvaceae or mallows family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.96-97 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. Nāgabalā is known in the Hindi language as Gaṅgeran; and in the Gujurati language as Gaṅgeṭī.
Nāgabalā is mentioned as having fourteen synonyms: Mahāsamaṅgā, Odanikā, Balāhvayā, Vṛkṣāruhā, Vṛddhibalā, Akṣataṇḍulā, Bhujaṅgajihvā, Śītapākinī, Śītā, Balā, Śītavarā, Balottarā, Khirīhiṭṭī, Balyā and Lalajihvā.
Properties and characteristics: “Nāgabalā has sweet taste, but its effect is sour. It controls all three three doṣas. The physicians are advised to use it wisely. They can cure fever and burning syndrome by its use”.
2) Nāgabalā (नागबला) is also mentioned as a synonym for Bhadrodanī, an unidentified medicinal plant, according to verse 4.103-105. Note: Narhari’s Bhadrodanī may be Rājabalā of Dh. [Dhanvantari?]. Together with the names Nāgabalā and Bhadrodanī, there are a total of sixteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgrahaNāgabalā (नागबला) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Sida cordata (Burm.f.) Borssum” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning nāgabalā] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).

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.
India history and geography
Source: Shodhganga: Cultural history as g leaned from kathasaritsagaraNagabala is the name of a herb (oshadhi) mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva (10th century A.D). Nagabala refers to a “healing herb”, collected from the jungle.
Somadeva mentions many rich forests, gardens, various trees, creepers medicinal and flowering plants (e.g., Nagabala) and fruit-bearing trees in the Kathasaritsagara. Gardens of herbs were specially maintained in big cities. Somadeva’s writing more or less reflects the life of the people of Northern India during the 11th century. His Kathasaritsagara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Nagabala, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravahanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyadharas (celestial beings).

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarynāgabala : (adj.) having the strength of an elephant. || nāgabalā (f.), a kind of creeping plant.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryNāgabala refers to: the strength of an elephant J. I, 265; II, 158;
Note: nāgabala is a Pali compound consisting of the words nāga and bala.

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNāgabala (नागबल).—an epithet of Bhīma.
Derivable forms: nāgabalaḥ (नागबलः).
Nāgabala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nāga and bala (बल).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryNāgabala (नागबल).—(1) nt., a high number: °laṃ Lalitavistara 148.2 and (cited from Lalitavistara) Mahāvyutpatti 7963; (2) m., name of a former Buddha: Mahāvastu iii.239.7.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNāgabala (नागबल).—m.
(-laḥ) A name of Bhima. f.
(-lā) A creeping plant, (Hedysarum lagopodioides.) E. nāga an elephant, and bala strong. (gorakṣa cākuliyā .)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNāgabala (नागबल).—1. m. a name of Bhīmasena. 2. f. lā, a shrub, Uraria lagopodioides.
Nāgabala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nāga and bala (बल).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nāgabala (नागबल):—[=nāga-bala] [from nāga] m. ‘having the strength of an e°’, Name of Bhīma, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) Nāgabalā (नागबला):—[=nāga-balā] [from nāga-bala > nāga] f. Uraria Lagopodioides, [Suśruta]
3) [v.s. ...] Sida Spinosa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) Nāgabala (नागबल):—[=nāga-bala] [from nāga] n. a [particular] high number, [Lalita-vistara]
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)
Starts with: Nagabalanarayanabala.
Full-text (+12): Gangeruki, Catusphala, Gangerika, Gangeri, Kharagandhanibha, Titilambha, Kharavallika, Akshatandula, Odanika, Balahvaya, Vriddhibala, Khirihitti, Nagaphala, Shridhara, Shitapakini, Mahasamanga, Balottara, Lalajihva, Bhujangajihva, Pancabala.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Nagabala, Naga-bala, Nāga-bala, Nāga-balā, Nāgabala, Nāgabalā; (plurals include: Nagabalas, balas, balās, Nāgabalas, Nāgabalās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Treatment for fever (143): Maharaja rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]
Treatment for fever (142): Laksmi-vilasa rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]
Part 16 - Treatment for diarrhea (7): Naga-sundara rasa < [Chapter III - Jvaratisara fever with diarrhoea]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 2 - The five incomprehensible things (acintya-dharma) < [Chapter XLI - The Eighteen Special Attributes of the Buddha]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 1: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 4 - Mercurial operations (2): Boiling of Mercury (svedana) < [Chapter IV-V - Mercurial operations]
Part 18 - Mercurial operations (16): Incineration of mercury (bhasmikarana) < [Chapter IV-V - Mercurial operations]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter XXXIII < [Book VI - Madanamañcukā]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 2: Minerals (uparasa) (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 3 - Incineration of haritala < [Chapter XII - Uparasa (13): Haritala (orpiment)]
Part 4 - Process for creation of Dhanya-abhra (paddy mica) < [Chapter I - Uparasa (1): Abhra or Abhraka (mica)]