Sambhavana, Sambhāvana, Sambhāvanā, Saṃbhāvana, Saṃbhāvanā: 17 definitions

Introduction:

Sambhavana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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

Kavyashastra (science of poetry)

Source: Shodhganga: The Kavyavilasa of Ciranjiva Bhattacarya (kavyashastra)

1) Saṃbhāvanā (संभावना) is explaned as utkaṭaikakoṭika sandeha. Doubt (sandeha) has two alternatives (koṭi). When two alternatives are equally powerful it is called sandeha. For example ayaṃ sthānurvā puruṣo vā bhavet. Of the two alternatives when one is more powerful than the other, that is when the mind leans more to accept one alternative, it is a case of saṃbhāvanā.

This type of saṃbhāvanā is present in the figure utprekṣā. Infact the mind leans more to the upamāna than to the upameya. This saṃbhāvanā is expressed by words like nūnam, prāyaḥ, dhruvam, manye, śaṅke, jāne, pratimaḥ, and bahudhā idaṃ bhaviṣyati etc.

2) Sambhāvana (सम्भावन) refers to one of the 93 alaṃkāras (“figures of speech”) mentioned by Cirañjīva Bhaṭṭācārya (fl. 17th century) in his Kāvyavilāsa and is listed as one of the 89 arthālaṃkāras (figure of speech determined by the sense, as opposed to sound).—The figure sambhāvana has not been admitted by ancient Ālaṃkārikas like Daṇḍin, Vāmana etc. and also by moderners like Mammaṭa and Viśvanātha etc. This has been first introduced by Jayadeva in his Candrāloka.

Cirañjīva has perhaps followed Jayadeva to define sambhāvana. He says—“sambhāvanaṃ yadītthaṃ syādityūhe sati jāyate”.—This is a slight modification of the previous definition. According to Cirañjīva, the figure sambhāvana takes place when any possibility is expressed by terms like—if it would have been such, this would have taken place.

Example of the sambhāvana-alaṃkāra:—

arddhāṅgīkṛtapūrvakīrtivanitādīvyatsitāṃsuprabhaṃ kailāsīkṛtadikkarīndraśirasi nyastasvapādāmbujam |
viśvavyāpyavināśi śaṅkarapadaṃ yāyāttvadīyaṃ yaśo na syāccedyaśavantasiṃhanṛpate! tvaddānapānīyajam ||

“Oh! king Yaśavanta! If there would be no fame arising out of your munificience, it would have gone to the immortal and world pervading lotus feet of Śaṅkara who has made the lady in the form of previous merits shining like the white rayed moon, the part of body and who has kept his foot upon the quarter elephant’s head turned into Kailāsa”.

Notes: In this verse it has been said that if there would have been no fame arising out of your munificence, then it would have gone to the resort of Śaṅkara. Here the possibility has been expressed by the words—na syāceed and yāyāt. So it is an example of the figure sambhāvana.

Source: Shodhganga: Bhismacaritam a critical study

Sambhāvanā (सम्भावना) refers to one of the various Alaṅkāras (‘figures of speech’) classified as Artha (‘sense’), as employed in the Bhīṣmacarita (Bhishma Charitra) which is a mahākāvya (‘epic poem’) written by Hari Narayan Dikshit.—The poet has made the use of this ‘sambhāvanā-alaṅkāra in the poem. For instance, in verse IV.17 of the Bhīṣmacarita, Sage Devala shows to King Śāntanu the possibility of Sage Paraśurāma’s training in the science of archery to Devavrata Bhīṣma. And further says that if he with his grace teaches all the specialities of this art of archery to Devavrata, then he will indeed become the best archer by being a great danger for his enemies. The other examples are VIII.34 and IX.35.

Kavyashastra book cover
context information

Kavyashastra (काव्यशास्त्र, kāvyaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian tradition of poetry (kavya). Canonical literature (shastra) of the includes encyclopedic manuals dealing with prosody, rhetoric and various other guidelines serving to teach the poet how to compose literature.

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Yoga (school of philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Sambhavana in Yoga glossary
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Sambhāvana (सम्भावन) refers to the “possibility (of liberation)”, according to the 17th century Yogacintāmaṇi by Śivānanda: a large compilation of roughly 3423 verses dealing with the various methods of (Haṭha) Yoga and Aṣṭāṅgayoga.—Accordingly, “Only this Yoga called seedless Samādhi is a means to the goal of the supreme self and without this [Samādhi], there is not even the possibility of liberation (mokṣa-sambhāvana). In regard to this, [the following] statements of the Vedas, Dharmaśāstras, Epics, Purāṇas and so on are the authority”.

Yoga book cover
context information

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).

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Sambhavana in Pali glossary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

sambhavana : (nt.) coming into existence. || sambhāvanā (f.), honour; reverence; esteem.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Sambhavana, (nt.) (fr. sambhavati) coming into existence Nett 28. (Page 694)

— or —

Sambhāvana, (nt.) (fr. sambhāveti) supposition, assumption, the meaning of the particle sace Vin. I, 37219; cp. J. II, 29; DhA. II, 77. (Page 694)

— or —

Sambhāvanā, (f.) (fr. sambhāveti) honour, reverence, intention, confidence Mhvs 29, 55; DhsA. 163 (=okappanā); Sdhp. 224. (Page 694)

Pali book cover
context information

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.

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Marathi-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Sambhavana in Marathi glossary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

sambhāvanā (संभावना).—f (S) Suitableness or reasonableness of being; possibility, probability, likelihood. 2 Connection and congruity as apprehended or apparent; apprehension or view of as possible, probable, or real. 3 Conjecturing or estimating; weighing the appearances of in order to determine upon. 4 A supposition or hypothesis. 5 Assuming the appearance of; making as if. 6 Respectful reception or treatment (as of a guest or visitor): and by meton. the honors shown, the presents given &c. 7 Consistency, conformity, suitableness, agreeableness, appropriateness. 8 In grammar. The sense of the potential mood (mayness or canness).

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

sambhāvanā (संभावना).—f Probability, possibility, likeli- hood. Conjecturing. A hypothesis. Respectful reception or treatment (as of a guest &c.); also the honours shown.

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Sambhavana in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Saṃbhāvana (संभावन) or Saṃbhāvanā (संभावना).—1 Considering, reflecting; सामन्तसंभावनयैव धीरः कैलासनाथं तरसा जिगीषुः (sāmantasaṃbhāvanayaiva dhīraḥ kailāsanāthaṃ tarasā jigīṣuḥ) R.5.28.

2) Fancying, supposition; संभावनमथोत्प्रेक्षा प्रकृतस्य समेन यत् (saṃbhāvanamathotprekṣā prakṛtasya samena yat) K. P.1; सुखसंभावनं कृत्वा धारयित्वा सुखं स्वयम् (sukhasaṃbhāvanaṃ kṛtvā dhārayitvā sukhaṃ svayam) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.153;92; भ्रमादुपेतान् वहदम्बुवाहान् संभावनां वा सफलीचकार (bhramādupetān vahadambuvāhān saṃbhāvanāṃ vā saphalīcakāra) Bu. Ch.1.3.

3) An idea, fancy, thought.

4) Respect, honour, esteem, regard; संभावनागुणमवेहि तमीश्वराणाम् (saṃbhāvanāguṇamavehi tamīśvarāṇām) Ś.7.4.

5) Possibility.

6) Fitness, adequancy; संभावनां भूतिमिवोद्धरिष्यन् (saṃbhāvanāṃ bhūtimivoddhariṣyan) Kirātārjunīya 3.39.

7) Competency, ability.

8) Doubt.

9) Affection, love.

1) Celebrity,

11) Obtaining, getting; क्षीरसंभावनार्थाय कृत्तिकाः समयोजयन् (kṣīrasaṃbhāvanārthāya kṛttikāḥ samayojayan) Rām.1.37.23.

Derivable forms: saṃbhāvanam (संभावनम्).

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

Sambhāvana (सम्भावन).—nf.

(-naṃ-nā) 1. Considering, reflecting. 2. Fame, celebrity. 3. Fitness, suitableness. 4. Adequacy, competency, ability. 5. Possibility. 6. Worship, honour. 7. (In grammar,) The sense of the potential mood. 8. (In rhetoric,) The use of the verb in the imperative or potential mood. 9. (In Logic,) Doubt. 10. Thought. 11. Love. E. sam before bhū to be, causal form, aff. lyuṭ .

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

Saṃbhāvana (संभावन).—i. e. sam-bhū, [Causal.], + ana, n., and f. , 1. Adequacy, ability. 2. Fitness. 3. Possibility. 4. Doubt. 5. Considering, [Raghuvaṃśa, (ed. Stenzler.)] 5, 28 (f.); reflecting. 6. Review, [Pañcatantra] 218, 6 (f.). 7. Thought, [Mālavikāgnimitra, (ed. Tullberg.)] 38, 15 ([Prakrit]). 8. Worship, [Pañcatantra] 264, 4; honour, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 328. 9. Love, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] [distich] 163 (f.).

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

Saṃbhavana (संभवन).—[neuter] becoming, existing.

--- OR ---

Saṃbhāvanā (संभावना).—[feminine] (na [neuter]) collecting, procuring; meeting with ([genetive]); honour, reverence, consideration, high opinion on ([locative]); conjecture, supposition.

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

1) Sambhāvana (सम्भावन):—[=sam-bhāvana] a etc. See p.1179.

2) Sambhavana (सम्भवन):—[=sam-bhavana] [from sam-bhava > sam-bhū] n. containing, [Pāṇini 1-4, 23], [vArttika] 9.

3) Sambhāvana (सम्भावन):—[=sam-bhāvana] [from sam-bhū] b mfn. ([from] [Causal]) having a high opinion of ([compound]), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

4) Sambhāvanā (सम्भावना):—[=sam-bhāvanā] [from sam-bhāvana > sam-bhū] f. (rarely n.) bringing together, assembling, [Pañcatantra]

5) [v.s. ...] bringing near, procuring, [Rāmāyaṇa]

6) [v.s. ...] coming together, meeting with ([genitive case]), [Ratnāvalī]

7) [v.s. ...] worship, honour, respect, esteem, regard for, high opinion of ([locative case]; ātmani, ‘of one’s self’), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

8) [v.s. ...] imagination, supposition, assumption (also as a [rhetoric] figure, described by some as the use of the verb in the Imperative or Potential mood; [accusative] with √bhaj, ‘to be supposed’; nojjhita mfn. ‘rejected as an assumption’, ‘doubted’), [Pāṇini; Kāvya literature; Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha; Kāvyaprakāśa; Vāsavadattā [Scholiast or Commentator]]

9) [v.s. ...] fitness, adequacy, [Kirātārjunīya]

10) [v.s. ...] competency, ability, [Horace H. Wilson]

11) [v.s. ...] fame, celebrity, [ib.]

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

Sambhāvana (सम्भावन):—[sa-mbhāvana] (nā-naṃ) 1. f. n. Fame; fitness; adequacy; honour; possibility; doubt; potential mood.

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

Saṃbhāvanā (संभावना) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Saṃbhāvaṇā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Sambhavana 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.

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Hindi dictionary

[«previous next»] — Sambhavana in Hindi glossary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Saṃbhāvanā (संभावना):—(nf) possibility, probability, likelihood.

context information

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Prakrit-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Sambhavana in Prakrit glossary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Saṃbhāvaṇā (संभावणा) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Saṃbhāvanā.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

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