Vatsanabha, Vatsa-nabha, Vatsanābha: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Vatsanabha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology. 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ) is a common name for a variety of species of the genus Aconitum viz., Aconitum ferox Wall., Aconitum napellus Linn., and Aconitum chasmanthum Holmes ex. Stapf.—The roots of all the three plants are extremely poisonous but useful in the treatment of various diseases such as fever, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, hypertension, and acts as “rasāyana” (immunomodulators) after their detoxification (śodhana). Most of the alkaloids present in the root of Aconitum species at higher doses are reported to have cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects. Severe Aconite poisoning results mainly due to the accidental ingestion of wild plant or excess consumption of herbal decoction made from the Aconite roots.
Vatsanābha purification process (śodhana) includes svedana (boiling) in dola-yantra using Godugdha for 3 h daily for three continuous days, followed by washing with water thrice and drying under sun light. After Śodhana process, the total alkaloid content decreases, but the contents of less toxic substances such as aconine, hypoaconine, and benzylhypoaconine increase possibly due to conversion of the toxic aconitine into aconine or hydrolysis of the alkaloids to their respective amino alcohols after Śodhana process. [...] It has been reported that Gomūtra (“cow’s urine”) converts Aconite to a compound with cardiac stimulant property, whereas, raw Aconite showed cardiac depressant properties. Śodhana by both Gomūtra and Godugdha (“cow’s milk”) makes Aconite devoid of cardiac and neuro–muscular toxic effects without affecting its antipyretic activity.
(cf. Āyurvedaprakāśa, Yogaratnākara, Rasataraṅgiṇī, Rasaratnasamuccaya and Bhaiṣajyaratnāvalī)
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Aconitum napellus Linn.” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes.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 vatsanābha] 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).
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ) (Aconitum ferox) has been categorized under the sthāvara-viṣa (vegetable poisons) group of drugs. Though Vatsanābha is considered as one of the deadly poision, it has been extensively used in ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. All most all classical texts of Ayurveda i.e. Saṃhitā, Nighaṇṭu, Cikitsāgrantha and Rasagrantha provide information about various aspects of Vatsanābha.
Vatsanabha known paryāya (synonyms): Vatsanābha, Amṛta, Pradipana, Vara, Garala, Śambha, Gara, Halāhala, Brahmaputra, Sādhusudhe, Darada, Kṣveda, Raudra, Kālkūṭa (Kālakūṭa?), Śṛṅgika.
Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ) or Nāga refers to Aconitum ferox, and is the name of a medicinal plant dealt with in the 17th-century Vaidyavallabha written by Hastiruci.—The Vaidyavallabha is a work which deals with the treatment and useful for all 8 branches of Ayurveda. The text Vaidyavallabha has been designed based on the need of the period of the author, availability of drugs (viz., Vatsanābha) during that time, disease manifesting in that era, socio-economical-cultural-familial-spiritual-aspects of that period Vaidyavallabha.
Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ):—A Poisonous Root Aconitum ferox having an appearance similar to that of the navel of a calf.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ).—A hermit. Dharma, once took the form of a she-buffalo and saved Vatsanābha from heavy rain. After this he thought that he was an ungrateful man and so he decided to forsake his body. But Dharma dissuaded him from this attempt. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Dākṣiṇātya Pāṭha, Chapter 12).
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Vatsanabha in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf ex Holmes from the Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) family. For the possible medicinal usage of vatsanabha, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
1) Vatsanabha in India is the name of a plant defined with Aconitum balfourii in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Caltha codua Buch.-Ham. (among others).
2) Vatsanabha is also identified with Aconitum chasmanthum It has the synonym Aconitum angusticassidatum Steinb. (etc.).
3) Vatsanabha is also identified with Aconitum deinorrhizum.
4) Vatsanabha is also identified with Aconitum falconeri.
5) Vatsanabha is also identified with Aconitum ferox It has the synonym Aconitum ferox Wall..
6) Vatsanabha is also identified with Aconitum napellus It has the synonym Aconitum napellus Pall. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1987)
· Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden. Calcutta. (1905)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Journal of Cytology and Genetics (1984)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Cell and Chromosome Research (1989)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Vatsanabha, for example extract dosage, chemical composition, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, health benefits, side effects, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ).—
1) Name of a tree.
2) a kind of very strong poison.
Derivable forms: vatsanābhaḥ (वत्सनाभः).
Vatsanābha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms vatsa and nābha (नाभ).
Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ).—m.
(-bhaḥ) An active poison; also called Mitha Zeher, the root of the Aconite ferox brought from Nepal. E. vatsa a calf, and nabh to injure, aṇ aff.; the root is sometimes compared to the nipple of a cow, whence perhaps this etymology.
1) Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ):—[=vatsa-nābha] [from vatsa] m. a [particular] tree, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa] (also bhaka)
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a mythical being, [Harivaṃśa] ([varia lectio] rajata-n)
3) [v.s. ...] mn. (also bhaka) a [particular] strong poison prepared from the root of a kind of aconite (said to resemble the nipple of a cow; it is also called Mīthā zahṛ), [Suśruta; Bhāvaprakāśa]
4) [v.s. ...] n. a cavity of a [particular] shape in the frame of a bedstead, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ):—[vatsa-nābha] (bhaḥ) 1. m. An active poison.
Vatsanābha (वत्सनाभ):—
1) m. ein best. Baum [Mahābhārata 13, 635.] [Harivaṃśa 12677] (vasanābha die neuere Ausg.). —
2) m. ein best. vegetablisches Gift [Amarakoṣa 1, 2, 1, 11.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1196.] [Halāyudha 3, 25.] n. zu den kandaviṣāṇi gezahlt [Suśruta 2, 252, 6.] catvāri vatsanābhāni [9.] grīvāstambho vatsanābhe pītaviṇmūtranetratā [253, 1.] beim Gottesurtheil angewandt nach [Kātyāyana] und [PITĀMAHA] ; s. [morgenländischen Gesellschaft 9, 674.] —
3) n. Bez. eines Loches von bestimmter Form im Holze einer Bettstelle [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 79, 32. 34. 36.] —
4) m. Nomen proprium s. u. rajatanābha .
Vatsanābha (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 婆蹉那婆 [pó cuō nà pó]: “kind of poison”.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Vatsanābha (ವತ್ಸನಾಭ):—[noun] = ವತ್ಸನಾಭಿ - [vatsanabhi -] 3.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Vatsa, Abbhum.
Full-text (+78): Po cuo na po, Sthavaradi, Stokaka, Mahaushadha, Visha, Varcanapi, Paccainavi, Vacanapi, Napam, Jvara, Sarvaroga, Krimi, Ajirna, Kakaca, Unmada, Udararoga, Kapharoga, Agnimandya, Gulma, Amavata.
Relevant text
Search found 27 books and stories containing Vatsanabha, Vatsa-nabha, Vatsa-nābha, Vatsanābha; (plurals include: Vatsanabhas, nabhas, nābhas, Vatsanābhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Sushruta Samhita, Volume 5: Kalpasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
Śodhana: Ayurvedic detoxification of toxic medicinal plants. < [Volume 34 (issue 4), Apr-Jun 2015]
Role of Media in Purifying Poisonous Herbal Drugs < [Volume 30 (issue 2), Oct-Dec 2010]
On the technique of sodhana < [Volume 16 (issue 1), Jul-Sep 1996]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
An in vivo study to evaluate the antipyretic activity of Suryaprabha Gulika... < [Vol. 7 No. 1 (2022)]
Conceptual review on Shila Sindura < [Vol. 9 No. 11 (2024)]
Exploring Physico-Chemical profile in Vatsanabha Root processed through Aja... < [Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025)]
Manasollasa (study of Arts and Sciences) (by Mahadev Narayanrao Joshi)
2. Concept of Dharma and Danda < [Chapter 3 - Social and Political conditions reflected in Somesvara’s Manasollasa]
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 25 - The Glory of Śaṅkhatīrtha: Vatsanābha Freed from the Sin of Ingratitude < [Section 1 - Setu-māhātmya]
Chapter 44 - Description of the Divyas (Ordeals) < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Vatsanabh (aconite)-a review < [2022: Volume 11, May issue 5]
Anti toxic effect of tankana against vatsanabha-drug review < [2023: Volume 12, August special issue 14]
A pharmaceutical study of bhasmeshwara rasa < [2024: Volume 13, January special issue 2]