Prayasa, Prayāsa, Prayasha: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Prayasa means something in 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationPrayāsa (प्रयास) refers to “endeavour”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.19 (“Kāma’s destruction by Śiva”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Naradā: “[...] O great sage, when his endeavour [i.e., sva-prayāsa] became futile, Kāma who was frightened much remembered Indra and all other gods. O great sage, remembered by Kāma, Indra and other gods came there, bowed to and eulogised Śiva. When the gods eulogised thus, a great flame of fire sprang up from the third eye of the infuriated Śiva. [...]”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchPrayāsa (प्रयास) refers to “exertion”, according to the Haṭhapradīpikā of Svātmārāma: an influential 15th-century Sanskrit manual on Hatha-Yoga dealing with techniques to channel one’s vital energy.—Accordingly, “I think those who only perform Haṭhayoga without knowing Rājayoga are deprived of the fruits of their exertion (prayāsa-phala)”.
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).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsPrayāsa (प्रयास) refers to “trouble”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Here in the cycle of rebirth consisting of endless misfortune, sentient beings roam about repeatedly, struck down by spear, axe, vice, fire, corrosive liquid or razor in hell, consumed by the multitude of flames from the fire of violent actions in the plant and animal world , and subject to unequalled trouble (atula-prayāsa-vaśaga) in the human condition [or] full of desire among the gods. [Thus ends the reflection on] the cycle of rebirth.”.
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 Dictionaryprayāsa (प्रयास).—m (S) Labor, exertion, pains, efforts.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishprayāsa (प्रयास).—m Labour, exertion, pains, efforts.
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 dictionaryPrayāsa (प्रयास).—
1) Effort, exertion, endeavour; जहार सीतां पक्षीन्द्रप्रयासक्षणविघ्नितः (jahāra sītāṃ pakṣīndraprayāsakṣaṇavighnitaḥ) R.12.53;14.41.
2) Labour, difficulty.
Derivable forms: prayāsaḥ (प्रयासः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrayāsa (प्रयास).—m.
(-saḥ) 1. Trouble, labour, fatigue. 2. Desire for or pursuit of any object. E. pra before, yas to make exertion, aff. ghañ .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrayāsa (प्रयास).—i. e. pra-yas + a, m. 1. Labour, fatigue, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 34, 11. 2. Effort, [Pañcatantra] 82, 9.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrayāsa (प्रयास).—[masculine] sita [neuter] effort, exertion.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Prayāsa (प्रयास):—[=pra-yāsa] [from pra-yas] a m. exertion, effort, pains, trouble ([in the beginning of a compound], with [locative case] or [genitive case], -arthāya or -nimittena), [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Kāvya literature] etc. (cf. a-prayāsena)
2) [v.s. ...] high degree, [Jātakamālā]
3) [=pra-yāsa] b See under pra-√yas.
4) Prāyāsa (प्रायास):—[=prā-yāsa] [from prā] m. = pra-y, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrayāsa (प्रयास):—[pra-yāsa] (saḥ) 1. m. Pursuit; fatigue.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Prayāsa (प्रयास) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Payāsa.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Prayāsa (प्रयास) [Also spelled prayas]:—(nm) an effort, endeavour, attempt.
2) Prāyaśa (प्रायश):—(ind) most often, mostly; generally, usually.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPrayāsa (ಪ್ರಯಾಸ):—
1) [noun] physical or mental exertion; work; toil; labour.
2) [noun] difficulty; trouble; an uncomfortable or unfortunate circumstance.
3) [noun] activity that includes training, observation of practice, and personal participation.
4) [noun] ಪ್ರಯಾಸ ಪಡು [prayasa padu] prayāsa paḍu to make great efforts or attempts; strive; to labour; to struggle; 2. to undergo strenuous experience or period.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryPrayāsa (प्रयास):—n. 1. effort; attempt; endeavor; 2. labor; industry;
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: Prayasabhaj, Prayasadeva, Prayasaphala, Prayasashila, Prayashah, Prayashas.
Ends with: Aprayasa, Atulaprayasa, Ayasaprayasa, Dushprayasa, Kuprayasa, Mahaprayasa, Samprayasa, Samuhika-prayasa, Samyukta-prayasa, Saprayasa, Svaprayasa, Viprayasa.
Full-text (+5): Prayashas, Prayasabhaj, Prayena, Payasa, Prayas, Pirayacatakshinai, Aprayasa, Samprayasa, Pirayacam, Samyukta-prayasa, Payaso, Aprayasena, Samuhik-prayaas, Abhiradh, Samuhika-prayasa, Sanyukt-prayaas, Pirayacai, Svarasika, Vivasvat, Alpashas.
Relevant text
Search found 12 books and stories containing Prayasa, Prayāsa, Pra-yasa, Pra-yāsa, Prāyāsa, Prā-yāsa, Prayasha, Prāyaśa; (plurals include: Prayasas, Prayāsas, yasas, yāsas, Prāyāsas, Prayashas, Prāyaśas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 17 < [Chapter 2 - Dvitīya-yāma-sādhana (Prātaḥ-kālīya-bhajana)]
Text 15 < [Chapter 1 - Prathama-yāma-sādhana (Niśānta-bhajana–śraddhā)]
Srila Gurudeva (The Supreme Treasure) (by Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja)
The Glory of Bhakti < [Chapter 2.11 - Why He Came? The Contribution of Śrīla Gurudeva]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 10.224 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Text 7.38 < [Chapter 7 - Literary Faults]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 2.10.312 < [Chapter 10 - Conclusion of the Lord’s Mahā-prakāśa Pastimes]
Verse 1.2.12 < [Chapter 2 - The Lord’s Appearance]
Verse 2.1.406 < [Chapter 1 - The Beginning of the Lord’s Manifestation and His Instructions on Kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana]
Shrimad Bhagavad-gita (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 10.32 < [Chapter 10 - Vibhūti-yoga (appreciating the opulences of the Supreme Lord)]
Verse 18.55 < [Chapter 18 - Mokṣa-yoga (the Yoga of Liberation)]