Vishasana, Viśasana: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Vishasana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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 Viśasana can be transliterated into English as Visasana or Vishasana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Śrīmad Devī BhāgavatamViśasana (विशसन) refers to one of the thirty hells (naraka) mentioned in the Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa 8.21 (on the narrative of hells). The hells are destinations where dead beings brought by messengers of Yama (the God of the Pitṛs), and get punished by him according to their karmas and faults.
The Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa or Śrīmad-devī-bhāgavatam (mentioning Viśasana), is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, a type of Sanskrit literature containing cultural information on ancient India, religious/spiritual prescriptions and a range of topics concerning the various arts and sciences. The whole text is composed of 18,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 6th century.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of SriharsaViśasana (विशसन) refers to “killing”, and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 19.12.—Cf. Vaiśasa (“slaughter”, verse 9.78).
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)Viśasana (विशसन) refers to “that which is deadly (for beings)”, according to Bāṇa’s Kādambarī (p. 225-226).—Accordingly, while describing the shire of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, “[Then follows the image of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, which matches the conception of Kālarātri in the passage from the Mahābhārata:] Her feet were never bereft of cloths [dyed with] red lac thrown upon the mound of her seat [on the altar] as if they were the lives of all creatures arrived there for shelter; she resembled an inhabitant of the Underworld because of the intense darkness obstructed [only] by the flashes from axes, spears, etc., weapons deadly for beings (jīva-viśasana), that seemed to hold nets of hair stuck from decapitations because of the reflections of black yak-tail whisks cast [upon their surfaces]; [...]”.
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 dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryViśasana (विशसन).—1 Killing, slaughter, immolation; तस्यास्त्वं दुहितुस्तथा विशसनं किं दारुणेऽमृष्यथाः (tasyāstvaṃ duhitustathā viśasanaṃ kiṃ dāruṇe'mṛṣyathāḥ) Uttararāmacarita 4.5; N.19.12.
2) Ruin.
3) Battle; शोणितोदां रथावर्तां कृत्वा विशसने नदीम् (śoṇitodāṃ rathāvartāṃ kṛtvā viśasane nadīm) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 7.16.43.
4) Cutting, dissecting.
-naḥ 1 A sabre, crooked sword.
2) A sword in general.
Derivable forms: viśasanam (विशसनम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryViśasana (विशसन).—n.
(-naṃ) 1. Killing, slaying, slaughter, Dissecting, cutting. m.
(-naḥ) A sabre, a crooked sword. E. vi before śas to hurt, aff. lyuṭ .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryViśasana (विशसन).—[vi-śas + ana], I. n. 1. Dissecting. 2. Killing, ruin, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 96, 5. Ii. m. A crooked sword.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryViśasana (विशसन).—[feminine] ī killing, murderous; [masculine] sword; [neuter] killing (an animal), cutting up, slaughter, fight.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Viśasana (विशसन):—[=vi-śasana] [from vi-śas] mf(ī)n. causing death, deadly, [Mahābhārata; Mṛcchakaṭikā]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a sabre, crooked sword, [Mahābhārata] (also [figuratively] ‘punishment’)
3) [v.s. ...] m. n. a [particular] hell, [Purāṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] n. cutting up, dissecting, [Mahābhārata; Suśruta]
5) [v.s. ...] slaughter, havoc, fight, battle, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]
6) [v.s. ...] cruel treatment, [Uttararāma-carita]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryViśasana (विशसन):—[vi-śasana] (naṃ) 1. n. Cutting, slaughter; a hell. m. A sabre.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Viśāsana (विशासन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Visāsaṇa.
[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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryVisāsaṇa (विसासण) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Viśāsana.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusViśasana (ವಿಶಸನ):—
1) [noun] = ವಿಶರ [vishara].
2) [noun] open armed conflict between countries or between factions within the same country; a war.
3) [noun] a hand-weapon usu. consisting of a long, straight or slightly curved blade; a sword.
--- OR ---
Visasana (ವಿಸಸನ):—
1) [noun] the act or an instance of killing.
2) [noun] complete destruction; ruin.
3) [noun] an open fight between armies of rival nations or groups; a war.
4) [noun] a cutting off or separating.
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: Vishasanaramga.
Ends with: Bahishtadvishasana, Jivavishasana, Madhumuranarakavishasana.
Full-text: Vicacanam, Vaishasa, Bahishtadvishasana, Naraka, Shash.
Relevant text
Search found 12 books and stories containing Vishasana, Viśasana, Visasana, Vi-shasana, Vi-śasana, Vi-sasana, Visāsaṇa, Viśāsana, Vissana; (plurals include: Vishasanas, Viśasanas, Visasanas, shasanas, śasanas, sasanas, Visāsaṇas, Viśāsanas, Vissanas). 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)
Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis) (by S. Anusha)
Khaḍga (Sword) < [Chapter 3]
The Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter LVII - Cosmogeny of Hell and the nether regions < [Agastya Samhita]
Some Geography < [Second Section]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
The Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)