Prashna, Praśna: 18 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Jyotisha
2. Shaivism
3. Purana
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Prashna means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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 Praśna can be transliterated into English as Prasna or Prashna, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Prasn.

In Hinduism

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Praśna (प्रश्न) refers to “questions”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 1), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “[...] In my work on Astronomy, I have treated of the rising and setting of the planets as well as their retrograde and reretrograde motions and the like. In my work on Horoscopy, I have fully treated of nativity, of yātrā and of marriage. In the present treatise, I have rejected questions [i.e., praśna] and re-questions, historical narrations, unimportant planetary phenomena and all that is useless; and my purpose is to speak clearly only of the vital truths of the several subjects treated of”.

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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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Praśna (प्रश्न) refers to a “question”, according to the Guhyasūtra chapter 9.—Accordingly, “[The Goddess spoke]:—From the mātṛkā supernatural power and liberation can come about, O Lord. Tell me [how to attain] supernatural power and liberation through the mātṛkā. Why did you teach the mantras that arise from it? Tell me [the answer to] this excellent question (praśna-vara). … fruit to me. [...]”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Praśna (प्रश्न) refers to a “question”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 21.15-19]—“Ah! The question (praśna) [you have] asked me is not answered elsewhere, [although] I declare it in all teachings. The foolish, [those] always concealed with illusion, do not know. It is not worship [if] you speak the mantra [devoid of] the three kinds of tattvas. Meanwhile, let it be. A world lacking the tattvas does not accomplish [anything]. [...]”.

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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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Praśna (प्रश्न) refers to “enquiries” (regarding one’s health and welfare), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.4 (“The Tripuras are initiated).—Accordingly, after Viṣṇu’s spoke to Nārada: “On hearing his words, Nārada, the excellent sage went there quickly where the ascetic expert in magic was stationed. Nārada, an expert in magic, at the bidding of the lord, an expert in the art of illusion, entered the three cities along with the deceptive sage, and got himself initiated. Then Nārada approached the lord of the three cities. After the preliminary enquiries about his health and welfare (kṣema-praśna-ādika) he spoke to the king. [...]”.

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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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Praśna (प्रश्न) refers to “objections”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 40).—Accordingly, “[Question].—The ten powers are knowledges and the four fearlessnesses (vaiśāradya) are also knowledges. What are the similarities and the differences? [Answer].—When the qualities of the Buddha are explained at length, this is bala; when they explained in brief, this is vaiśāradya. [...] Possessing wisdom personally is bala; there being no one who can destroy you is vaiśāradya. The vigor of wisdom is bala; being able to respond to objections (praśna) is vaiśāradya. Accumulating the wisdoms is bala; using them outwardly is vaiśāradya. [...]”.

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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)

Source: academia.edu: The Original Paṇhavāyaraṇa/Praśnavyākaraṇa Discovered

Praśna (प्रश्न) (Sanskrit; in Prakrit: Paṇha) refers “praśnavidyās” (methods of explaining queries), according to the Paṇhavāgaraṇa (Sanskrit: Praśnavyākaraṇa): the tenth Anga of the Jain canon which deals with the prophetic explanation of queries regarding divination.—Abhayadeva, in the beginning of his commentary on the current version of the Praśnavyākaraṇa, analyses the title of the text this way: Praśna in the title stands for praśnavidyās, or methods of explaining queries, involving mediums like one’s thumb and so on, for divination purpose.

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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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

praśna (प्रश्न).—m (S) A question, interrogation, inquiry. 2 An appearance or occurrence considered as the forerunner of good or evil; an omen, a prognostic, a presage. 3 The point or matter upon which an astrologer &c. is consulted and required to foreshow futurity. 4 The oracle or response delivered. Ex. jōśācā praśna utaralā. praśna pāhaṇēṃ To consider or try (by the rules of astrology &c.) a matter submitted. praśna sāṅgaṇēṃ To resolve (by astrology, geomancy &c.) a point proposed: also to tell (a riddle, enigma &c.)

context information

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

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Prasna (प्रस्न).—A vessel for bathing.

Derivable forms: prasnaḥ (प्रस्नः).

--- OR ---

Prasna (प्रस्न).—[pracch-bhāve naṅ]

1) A question, query; an inquiry, interrogation (avijñātapravacanaṃ praśna ityabhidhīyate); अनामयप्रश्न- पूर्वकम् (anāmayapraśna- pūrvakam) Ś.5 'with an inquiry about (your) well-being or health.'

2) A judicial inquiry or investigation.

3) A point at issue, a subject of controversy, controverted or disputed point; इति प्रश्न उपस्थितः (iti praśna upasthitaḥ).

4) A problem for solution or calculation; अहं ते प्रश्नं दास्यामि (ahaṃ te praśnaṃ dāsyāmi) Mk.

5) Inquiry into the future.

6) A short section of a work.

7) Basket-work.

8) A task or lesson (in Vedic recitation).

Derivable forms: praśnaḥ (प्रश्नः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Praśna (प्रश्न).—m.

(-śnaḥ) 1. A question, a demand, an inquiry, an interrogation. 2. Judicial inquiry. 3. The subject of a controversy, a controverted point. 4. Inquiry into the future. 5. Problem for calculation. 6. Section of a book. f. (-śnī) An aquatic plant, (Pistiastratiotes.) “pānā” iti bhāṣā . E. pracch to ask, aff. naṅ.

--- OR ---

Prasna (प्रस्न).—m.

(-snaḥ) A vessel for bathing.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Praśna (प्रश्न).—i. e. prach + na, m. A question, [Pañcatantra] 149, 4.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Praśna (प्रश्न).—1. [masculine] question, demand, inquiry, controversy; task, lesson.

--- OR ---

Praśna (प्रश्न).—2. [masculine] basket-work, a plaited basket.

--- OR ---

Prasnā (प्रस्ना).—go into the water; [Causative] bathe in ([accusative]).

Prasnā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pra and snā (स्ना).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Praśna (प्रश्न):—1. praśna m. basket-work, a plaited basket, [Kauśika-sūtra] ([Scholiast or Commentator] ‘a turban’).

2) 2. praśna m. (√prach) a question, demand, interrogation, query, inquiry after ([compound]; cf. kuśala-p), [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc. etc.

3) judicial inquiry or examination (cf. sākṣi-p)

4) astrological inquiry into the future (cf. divya-, deva-, daiva-p)

5) a subject of inquiry, point at issue, controversy, problem, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc. etc. (praśnam pra-√brū, ‘to decide a controverted point’; nam √i, with [accusative] or nam ā √gam, with [locative case] of [person], ‘to lay a question before any one for decision’; praśnas tava pitari, ‘the point at issue is before thy father’)

6) a task or lesson (in Vedic recitation), [Ṛgveda-prātiśākhya]

7) a short section or paragraph (in books), [Colebrooke etc.]

8) Prasnā (प्रस्ना):—[=pra-√snā] [Parasmaipada] -snāti, to enter the water (with or without an [accusative]), [Ṛg-veda; Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā; Brāhmaṇa] :

—[Causal] -snapayati, to bathe (intrans.) in ([accusative]), [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda]

9) Prasna (प्रस्न):—[=pra-sna] [from pra-snā] m. a bath, vessel for bathing, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Praśna (प्रश्न):—[pra-śna] (śnaḥ) 1. m. A question, inquiry. f. (śnī) Pistia stratiotes.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Praśna (प्रश्न) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Paṇha, Pasiṇa, Pucchaṇa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Prashna in German

context information

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

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Praśna (प्रश्न) [Also spelled prasn]:—(nm) a question, query; interrogation; interpellation; problem; ~[kartā] a questioner, an interrogator; interpellant; -[patra] a question-paper; ~[mālā] questionnaire; interrogatives; ~[vācaka] interrogative; •[cinha] mark of interrogation; ~[vācaka sarvanāma] interrogative pronoun; —[uṭhānā/ khaḍā karanā] to raise/pose a question; —[gehūṃ uttara jau] the answer to be beside the question; [praśnoṃ kī jhaḍī lagānā] to fire a volley of questions.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Praśna (ಪ್ರಶ್ನ):—[noun] = ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ [prashne].

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Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 99 books and stories containing Prashna, Pra-shna, Pra-sna, Pra-snā, Pra-śna, Praśna, Prasna, Prasnā; (plurals include: Prashnas, shnas, snas, snās, śnas, Praśnas, Prasnas, Prasnās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 2 - Introduction to the Dharmasūtra Literature < [Chapter 5 - The Dharmaśāstra Literature]

Part 3 - Content analysis of Dharmasūtras < [Chapter 5 - The Dharmaśāstra Literature]

Part 5 - How to appease an Atithi? < [Chapter 9 - Atithi-saparyā in Dharmaśāstra Literature]

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Question-Answer Method of Teaching < [Chapter 6 - Methods of Teaching and the Teacher–Student relationship]

Education in the Brahmanic Period < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

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Verse 6.9 < [Prashna VI - The Purusha of sixteen Kalas (parts)]

Verse 3.12 < [Prashna III - The origin and nature of Prana]

Verse 2.13 < [Prashna II - Discussion of Devas]

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Introduction