Vidarbha, Vidarbhā: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Vidarbha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Vidarbh.
In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryVidarbha (विदर्भ).—An ancient province of old India. Rukmiṇī, the wife of Lord Kṛṣṇa, was the daughter of the King of this province.

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Vidarbha (विदर्भ).—A brother of Bharata. It is stated in Bhāgavata, Skandha 5, that Kuśāvarta, Ilāvarta, Brahmāvarta, Āryāvarta, Bhadraketu, Sena, Indraspṛk, Vidarbha, and so on were brothers of Bharata the son of Ṛṣabha. Nimi was his son.
2) Vidarbha (विदर्भ).—See under Jyāmagha.
3) Vidarbha (विदर्भ).—An ancient country in India. The information about this Purāṇically famous country obtained from Mahābhārata, is given below:
(i) Once Sahadeva, during his regional conquest, captured Bhojakaṭa, a part of Vidarbha and expelled the king Bhīṣmaka from the country. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 31, Stanza 11).
(ii) By the blessing of hermit Damanaka, three sons, Dama, Dānta and Damana and a daughter, Damayantī, were born to Bhīṣmaka the king of Vidarbha. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 58, Stanza 5).
(iii) Having heard about the Svayaṃvara (Bride selecting a suitable husband from the candidates present) of the princess Damayantī of Vidarbha, the gods Indra, Agni, Varuṇa and Yama came to Vidarbha; (See under Damayantī).
iv) Damayantī is called Vaidarbhī because she was born in Vidarbha. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 55, Stanza 12)
v) Rukmiṇī, the wife of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, was the daughter of a king of Vidarbha. Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa carried Rukmiṇī away by force. (Mahābhārata Udyoga Parva, Chapter 158, Stanza 13)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Vidarbha (विदर्भ).——(c)—a kingdom to which the Yadus migrated.1 Its capital Kuṇḍina, visited by Kṛṣṇa.2 Its king went to Syamantapañcaka for the solar eclipse.3
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IV. 28. 28; X. 2. 3; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 49. 1.
- 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 53. 6-7; Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 26. 1
- 3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 82. 13.
1b) A son of Ṛṣabha.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 4. 10.
1c) (Vaiśa) son of Jyāmagha and Śaibyā: married the young Bhoja girl (Snuṣā, Vāyu-purāṇa) got in war and already appointed as his wife before his birth by his parents. Father of three sons of whom Romapāda (Lomapāda, Matsya-purāṇa) was the most famous; the others were Krathu and Kauśika. all of them warriors.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 23. 39; 24. 1; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 70. 36-8. Matsya-purāṇa 44. 36; Vāyu-purāṇa 95. 35; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 12. 35-38.
1d) An ally of Kārtavīrya, killed by Paraśurāma.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 39. 2.
1e) The wife of, taken away by Satyavrata.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 88. 78, 155.
1f) The people of Vidarbha: these took part in the festivities connected with the marriage of Rukmiṇī and Kṛṣṇa.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 54. 58; 84. 55.
Vidarbha (विदर्भ) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.47.13, VI.10.42, VI.47.13) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Vidarbha) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical studyVidarbha (विदर्भ) refers to one of the sons of Kroṣṭā and grandson of Yadu, according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, [...] Nahuṣa married Virajā (the daughter of Pitṛ) and was blessed with five sons of whom Yayāti was the most famous. Yayāti had two wives—Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā. Devayānī gave birth to Yadu and Turvasu. [...] The Son of Yadu was Kroṣṭā in whose race the most glorious kings were born. The text only names them as [viz., Vidarbha].

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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Shodhganga: The Kavyamimamsa of RajasekharaVidarbha (विदर्भ) is the name a locality mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—It is the country which is comprised in the whole of Berar, Khandeśa and portion of the Nizam‟s territory and central provinces in ancient times.

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraVidarbha (विदर्भ) refers to a country belonging to “Āgneyī (south-eastern division)” classified under the constellations of Āśleṣā, Maghā and Pūrvaphālguni, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Āśleṣā, Maghā and Pūrvaphālguni represent the south-eastern division consisting of [i.e., Vidarbha] [...]”.

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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: archive.org: Indian Historical Quarterly Vol. 7Vidarbha (विदर्भ) is the name of a country classified as Hādi (a type of Tantrik division), according to the 13th century Sammoha-tantra (fol. 7).—There are ample evidences to prove that the zone of heterodox Tantras went far beyond the natural limits of India. [...] The zones in the Sammoha-tantra [viz., Vidarbha] are here fixed according to two different Tantrik modes, known as Kādi and Hādi.
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismVidarbha : Birar, and probably including with it the adjoining district of Beder, which name is apparently a corruption of Vidarbha. The capital was Kundinapura, the modern "Kundapur", about forty miles east of Amravati.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraVidarbha (विदर्भ) is the name of an ancient kingdom, according to chapter 4.2 [vāsupūjya-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly, as Vasupūjya and Jayā spoke to Vāsupūjya:—“All the existing kings, among men and the Vidyādharas, who are of good family, capable, heroic, wealthy, famous, possessing the fourfold army, known for guarding their subjects, free from blemish, faithful to engagements, always devoted to dharma, in Madhyadeśa, Vatsadeśa, [...] and other countries which are the ornaments of the eastern quarter; [... in the Vidarbhas, ...] these now, son, beg us constantly through messengers, who are sent bearing valuable gifts, to give their daughters to you. [...]”.

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.
India history and geography
Source: Wisdom Library: India HistoryVidarbha (विदर्भ) is the name of a country included within Dakṣiṇapatha which was situated ahead of Māhiṣmatī according to Rājaśekhara (fl. 10th century) in his Kāvyamīmāṃsā (chapter 17). Dakṣiṇāpatha is a place-name ending is patha mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryVidarbhā (विदर्भा).—(m. pl.) [vigatāḥ darbhāḥ kuśā yataḥ Tv.]
1) Name of a district, the modern Berar; अस्ति विदर्भो नाम जनपदः (asti vidarbho nāma janapadaḥ) Dk.; अस्ति विदर्भेषु पद्मपुरं नाम नगरम् (asti vidarbheṣu padmapuraṃ nāma nagaram) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 1; R.5.4,6; N.1.5.
2) The natives of Vidarbha.
-rbhaḥ 1 A king of the Vidarbhas.
2) Any dry or desert soil.
Derivable forms: vidarbhāḥ (विदर्भाः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryVidarbha (विदर्भ).—mf.
(-rbhaḥ-rbhā) A district and city to the south-west of Bengal, the modern Bada-Nagpur or Berar proper. m.
(-rbhaḥ) Any dry or desert soil. E. vi privative, and darbha the sacred grass; not growing in that country in consequence of the curse of a saint, whose son had died of a wound from a blade of the grass.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryVidarbha (विदर्भ).—[vi-darbha], m. 1. The name of a country, [Nala] 1, 5 (pl.); ib. 32 (sing.). 2. The king of that country, [Nala] 1, 32. 3. Any dry or desert soil.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryVidarbha (विदर्भ).—[masculine] [plural] [Name] of a people, sgl. the country or a king of the V.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vidarbha (विदर्भ):—[=vi-darbha] [from vi] a See sub voce
2) [=vi-darbha] b m. ‘destitute of Darbha grass’, Name of a country south of the Vindhya hills (now called Berar; it was the country of Damayantī, wife of Nala; the soil was probably grassless and arid, but the absence of Darbha is said to be due to the fact that the son of a saint died of the prick of a sharp blade of that grass), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] a king of Vidarbha, [Mahābhārata; Naiṣadha-carita]
4) [v.s. ...] a [particular] disease of the gums (= vaidarbha), [Śārṅgadhara-saṃhitā]
5) [v.s. ...] Name of a man, [Harivaṃśa]
6) [v.s. ...] of a son of Jyā-magha, [ib.]
7) [v.s. ...] of a son of Ṛṣabha, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
8) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] the inhabitants of V° and also the country itself
9) [v.s. ...] m. the interior of anything, [Haravijaya]
10) Vidarbhā (विदर्भा):—[=vi-darbhā] [from vi-darbha] f. Name of the capital city of V° (= Kuṇḍina), [Mahābhārata]
11) [v.s. ...] of a river, [Harivaṃśa]
12) [v.s. ...] of a daughter of Ugra and wife of Manu Cākṣuṣa, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryVidarbha (विदर्भ):—[vi-darbha] (rbhaḥ-rbhā) 1. m. f. A district and city to the south-west of Bengal. m. Any desert soil.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Vidarbha (विदर्भ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Vicchoma, Vidabbha.
[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 dictionaryVidarbha (विदर्भ) [Also spelled vidarbh]:—(nm) ancient name for modern Berar (now revived).
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusVidarbha (ವಿದರ್ಭ):—
1) [noun] name of a country corresponding to the region of Birār, in the present Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in Central India.
2) [noun] a man belonging to this country.
3) [noun] (rhet.) a literary style that is pleasant to read (without having long, difficult compound words, cotinuous sentences, etc.).
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)
Starts with: Vidarbhabhimukha, Vidarbhabhu, Vidarbhadhipa, Vidarbhadhiparajadhani, Vidarbhadhipati, Vidarbhagrathita, Vidarbhaja, Vidarbhana, Vidarbhanagari, Vidarbhapati, Vidarbharaj, Vidarbharaja, Vidarbharajadhani, Vidarbharajan, Vidarbharajaputri, Vidarbharajatanaya, Vidarbhasubhru, Vidarbhatanaya, Vidarbhayati.
Full-text (+195): Vidarbhaja, Vaidarbha, Vidarbhatanaya, Kundina, Vidarbhanagari, Vidarbhapati, Dashividarbha, Vidarbharaja, Dadhividarbha, Kratha, Vidarbharajatanaya, Jyamagha, Vidarbhasubhru, Vidarbhabhu, Kundinapura, Vidarbharaj, Lopamudra, Vidarbharajaputri, Vidarbharajadhani, Krathakaishika.
Relevant text
Search found 95 books and stories containing Vidarbha, Vi-darbha, Vi-darbhā, Vidarbhā; (plurals include: Vidarbhas, darbhas, darbhās, Vidarbhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara (Study) (by Debabrata Barai)
Part 8.5 - Region of Dakṣiṇāpatha (southern part) < [Chapter 5 - Analyasis and Interpretations of the Kāvyamīmāṃsā]
Part 3.10 - Pada-vṛtti and their types < [Chapter 5 - Analyasis and Interpretations of the Kāvyamīmāṃsā]
Appendix 2 - Identification of Geographical names mentioned in the Kāvyamīmāṃsā
Gautami Mahatmya (by G. P. Bhatt)
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section LIII < [Nalopakhyana Parva]
Section LIV < [Nalopakhyana Parva]
Section LXXII < [Nalopakhyana Parva]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 15: Story of Harimitra < [Chapter III - Vasudeva’s Marriage with Kanakavatī and her Former Incarnations]
Part 16: Resumption of Nala story < [Chapter III - Vasudeva’s Marriage with Kanakavatī and her Former Incarnations]
Part 4: Conquest of Prabhāsatīrtha by Sagara < [Chapter IV - Conquest of Bharatavarṣa by Sagara]
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 53 - Viśveśvara (viśva-īśvara-liṅga) < [Section 2 - Caturaśīti-liṅga-māhātmya]
Chapter 33 - Dvārakā as an abode to all regions and places of pilgrimage < [Section 4 - Dvārakā-māhātmya]
Chapter 6 - The Importance of Pradoṣa < [Section 3 - Brāhmottara-khaṇḍa]
Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 53 - Rukmiṇī’s Marriage: Rukmiṇī carried away by Kṛṣṇa < [Book 10 - Tenth Skandha]
Chapter 52 - Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma escape to Dvārakā < [Book 10 - Tenth Skandha]
Chapter 24 - The History of the Race of Yadu < [Book 9 - Ninth Skandha]