Vidushaka, Vidūṣaka: 9 definitions
Introduction
Vidushaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Vidūṣaka can be transliterated into English as Vidusaka or Vidushaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraVidūṣaka (विदूषक) refers to a “jester”, whose mask should be represented as having either a shaven head (śiromuṇḍa) or a head with the kākapada (crow’s feet), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. Providing masks is a component of nepathya (costumes and make-up) and is to be done in accordance with the science of āhāryābhinaya (extraneous representation).
According to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 35, “the jester (vidūṣaka) should be dwarfish, should possess big teeth, and be hunch-backed, double-tongued bald-headed and tawny-eyed”. Also, “one who looks to people’s pleasure, can imitate manners of all people, resorts to various means and mixes with women, is ready-witted in disclosures made through pleasantry, or in covert pleasure and is clever, and can give censure through his words, is to be known as a jester (vidūṣaka)”
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraVidūṣaka (विदूषक) is the name of a Brāhman who helped the king Ādityasena when he was in need of shelter, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 18. Their story was told by Udayana (king of Vatsa) in order to demonstratrate to his ministers that a brave man by himself without any support obtains prosperity.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Vidūṣaka, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of SriharsaVidūṣaka (विदूषक) refers to a “critic” or an “opponent”, and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 10.57.
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’.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryVidūṣaka (विदूषक).—a. (-kī f.)
1) Defiling, polluting, contaminating, corrupting.
2) Detracting, abusing.
3) Witty, humorous, jocular.
-kaḥ 1 A jester, buffon.
2) Particularly, the humorous companion and confidential friend of the hero in a play, who excites mirth by his quaint dress, speeches, gestures, appearances &c., and by allowing himself to be made the butt fo ridicule by almost every body; the S. D. thus defines him :-- कुसुमवसन्ताद्यभिधः कर्मवपुर्वेशभाषाद्यैः । हास्यकरः कलहरतिर्विदूषकः स्यात् स्वकर्मज्ञः (kusumavasantādyabhidhaḥ karmavapurveśabhāṣādyaiḥ | hāsyakaraḥ kalaharatirvidūṣakaḥ syāt svakarmajñaḥ) || 79; cf. also शृङ्गारस्य सहाया विटचेटविदूषकाद्याः स्युः । भक्ता नर्मसु निपुणाः कुपितवधूमानभञ्जनाः शुद्धाः (śṛṅgārasya sahāyā viṭaceṭavidūṣakādyāḥ syuḥ | bhaktā narmasu nipuṇāḥ kupitavadhūmānabhañjanāḥ śuddhāḥ) || ibid.
3) A libertine, lecher.
4) A critic; an opponent; प्राशंसि संसद्गुरुणापि चार्वी चार्वाकता सर्वविदूषकेण (prāśaṃsi saṃsadguruṇāpi cārvī cārvākatā sarvavidūṣakeṇa) N.1.57.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryViduṣaka (विदुषक).—(viduṣa-ka), adj., = vidu, for Sanskrit vidus (changed to a-stem, § 16.50, plus -ka), wise, skilled (in…, end of cpd.): sarvasattvasaṃgrahaṇa-°kāś ca Mv i.134.11 (prose; said of Bodhisattvas).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryVidūṣaka (विदूषक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-ṣikā-kaṃ) 1. Facetious, witty, a wag, a jester. 2. Censorious, detracting, a detractor or abuser of other people. m.
(-kaḥ) 1. An actor, especially an interlocutor with the audience between the acts or scenes, a jester, a buffoon. 2. (In dramatic language,) The humble and jocose companion of the principal character. 3. A catamite. f. (-kī) Corrupting, contaminating. E. vi before, dūṣ to be or make bad, aff. kvun .
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Ends with: Avidushaka, Nitavidushaka.
Full-text (+8): Vidushanaka, Cakradhara, Vidusha, Vasantika, Prahasin, Kelikila, Atmadhina, Bhavati, Trigata, Kamakeli, Kakapada, Madhavya, Omkara, Dushyanta, Atihasa, Atihasya, Maitreya, Duhkhalabdhika, Adityasena, Bhadra.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Vidushaka, Vidūṣaka, Vidusaka, Viduṣaka, Vi-dushaka, Vi-dūṣaka, Vi-dusaka; (plurals include: Vidushakas, Vidūṣakas, Vidusakas, Viduṣakas, dushakas, dūṣakas, dusakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter XVIII < [Book III - Lāvānaka]
Foreword to volume 2 < [Forewords]
Vetāla 7: The King who married his Dependent to a Nereid < [Appendix 6.1 - The Twenty-five Tales of a Vetāla]
The Natyashastra (by Bharata-muni)