Vritha, Vṛthā: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Vritha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, 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.
The Sanskrit term Vṛthā can be transliterated into English as Vrtha or Vritha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstraVṛthā (वृथा) is a Sanskrit technical term, used in jurisdiction, referring to “false” (contrary to truth). The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (See the Manubhāṣya 8.111)
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationVṛthā (वृथा) refers to “(doing something) in vain”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.19 (“Kāma’s destruction by Śiva”).—Accordingly, as the Gods consoled Rati: “Take some ashes and preserve them. With effort check your fear. The lord will resuscitate your lover. You will regain your lover again. There is none who gives us happiness or misery. All enjoy and experience the fruit of what they do. In vain [i.e., vṛthā] do you curse the gods”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsVṛthā (वृथा) refers to “idly” (i.e., ‘with no ritual purpose’), according to the 13th-century Matsyendrasaṃhitā: a Kubjikā-Tripurā oriented Tantric Yoga text of the Ṣaḍanvayaśāmbhava tradition from South India.—Accordingly, “[...] He should treat [all phenomena] as one, not as separate. He should not drink [alcohol] or eat meat idly (vṛthā) [with no ritual purpose]. He should not drink wine without first purifying it [with mantras], and he should consume meat after he has purified it with that [wine]. He should not answer the call of nature, should not sip water, etc., while reciting mantras or in an assembly. If he does so out of folly, the curse of the Yoginīs will fall on him. [...]”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchVṛthā (वृथा) refers to “vain” (i.e., “without practice it is all in vain”), according to the Dattātreyayogaśāstra (roughly contemporary with the Amanaska’s second chapter).—Accordingly, while discussing the merits of Yogic practice: “Without practice, [the Yogin] becomes worldly. Therefore, having remembered the teachings of his guru, he should practise [yoga] day and night. Thus, [only] through the constant practice of Yoga, does the [second] stage [of Yoga called] Ghaṭa arise. Without the practice of yoga, [it is all] in vain (vṛthā). [Yoga] is not perfected through social gatherings. Therefore, [the Yogin] should practise only yoga with every effort.”.
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).
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramVṛthā (वृथा) refers to “useless”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, [while describing the visualized form of Navātman Bhairava]: “[...] He who practices the Navātmānanda Bhairava, in this way quickly attains success. O fair lady, it is the means to attain all the things (one) desires. He who has Navātman in (his) heart holds success in (his) hand. O fair lady, the Krama of one who does not deposit the Vaḍava Fire of Navātman is empty; (his) effort, O goddess, is useless (vṛthā). He is not liberated (and is like) those who are sunk in sinful action. O mistress of the God of the gods, he sinks into the ocean of transmigration which is hard to cross. [...]”.
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.
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)Vṛthā (वृथा) or Vṛthāṭana refers to “strolling” (i.e., wandering about with any specific purpose), and represents one of the eighteen Addictions or Vices (vyasana) which are to be practised within proper bounds for the delight of the enjoyments of the world, according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “[...] It has been said that there are eighteen addictions. These are the outcome of the desire for earthly enjovments. [...] Roaming in cities and gardens without any definite object is called strolling (vṛthā-aṭana). It is praiseworthy as it mitigates ennui. [...]”.
This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsVṛthā (वृथा) refers to “vain” (i.e., ‘having made an effort in vain’), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “O fool, sentient beings, having begun from the womb, are continually led by [their own] action to Yama’s abode by means of uninterrupted journeys. If there is a powerful [man], seen or heard about, who opposes the command of Yama, having honoured him you must possess health. [As there is] no such individual, why [make] the effort [for health] in vain (vṛthā)?”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryvṛthā (वृथा).—ad (S) Fruitlessly, to no purpose, abortively, vainly.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishvṛthā (वृथा).—ad Fruitlessly, vainly.
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryVṛthā (वृथा).—ind. [vṛ-thāl kicca]
1) To no purpose, in vain, uselessly, unprofitably; often with the force of an adjective; व्यर्थं यत्र कपीन्द्रसख्यमपि मे वीर्यं हरीणां वृथा (vyarthaṃ yatra kapīndrasakhyamapi me vīryaṃ harīṇāṃ vṛthā) Uttararāmacarita 3. 45; दिवं यदि प्रार्थयसे वृथा श्रमः (divaṃ yadi prārthayase vṛthā śramaḥ) Kumārasambhava 5.45.
2) Unnecessarily.
3) Foolishly, idly, wantonly.
4) Wrongly; improperly. (At the beginning of comp. vṛthā may be translated by 'vain, useless, improper, false, idle' &c.).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryVṛthā (वृथा).—Ind. 1. Uselessly, fruitlessly. 2. Wrongly, incorrectly. 3. In vain, (in composition with nouns.) 4. Compounded with articles of food, it implies they are hot. E. vṛ to choose, &c., aff. thāk .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryVṛthā (वृथा).—i. e. vara + thā, adv. 1. Without pain (to one’s own pleasure),
— Cf. etc.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryVṛthā (वृथा).—[adverb] at will, at pleasure; freely, gaily, at random; in vain, for nothing, falsely, wrongly (often °—).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vṛthā (वृथा):—[from vṛ] a ind. ([probably] connected with √2. vṛ) at will, at pleasure, at random, easily, lightly, wantonly, frivolously, [Ṛg-veda; Brāhmaṇa; Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa; Manu-smṛti; Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] in vain, vainly, uselessly, fruitlessly, idly, [Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa] etc. etc. (with √kṛ, ‘to make useless’, disappoint, frustrate; with √bhū, ‘to be useless’, be disappointed or frustrated)
3) [v.s. ...] wrongly, falsely, incorrectly, unduly, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature etc.]
4) b etc. See p. 1007, col. 3.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryVṛthā (वृथा):—adv. Useless, wrong.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Vṛthā (वृथा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Vidhā, Vihā.
[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 dictionaryVṛthā (वृथा) [Also spelled vratha]:—(a) useless, fruitless; ineffective; (adv) in vain, vainly, to no effect; ~[tva] uselessness, futility, fruitlessness; ~[mati] foolish, blockheaded; ~[vṛddha] aged without experience, grown old but not wise; —[karanā] to render fruitless/ineffective; to cause to be in vain; to nullify, to stultify.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusVṛthā (ವೃಥಾ):—
1) [adverb] uselessly; futilely.
2) [adverb] wrongly; unlawfully; unjustly; unfairly.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryVṛthā (वृथा):—adv. 1. to no purpose; in vain; uselessly; 2. unnecessarily; 3. idly; wantonly; 4. wrongly; improperly;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+26): Vrithabhimana, Vrithabhimani, Vrithabhiyoga, Vrithabhoga, Vrithacara, Vrithacheda, Vrithadana, Vrithaghata, Vrithagni, Vrithajanman, Vrithajata, Vrithak, Vrithakara, Vrithakarman, Vrithakatha, Vrithakrisarasamyava, Vrithakrita, Vrithakulasamacara, Vrithalambha, Vrithalapa.
Ends with: Avritha.
Full-text (+158): Vyatha, Avyatha, Ativyatha, Vrithatya, Vrithakatha, Gatavyatha, Nirvyatha, Jatharavyatha, Vyatharahita, Ahitavyatha, Vyathakara, Vrithadana, Vrithapashughna, Guruvyatha, Vaha, Savyatha, Vratha, Vrithashrama, Vrithamati, Avyathin.
Relevant text
Search found 42 books and stories containing Vritha, Vṛthā, Vrtha, Vyatha, Vyathā; (plurals include: Vrithas, Vṛthās, Vrthas, Vyathas, Vyathās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.15.10 < [Chapter 15 - Seeing Sri Radha]
Verse 4.5.13 < [Chapter 5 - The Story of the Ayodhyā Women]
Verse 5.21.12 < [Chapter 21 - The Story of Śrī Nārada]
A Note on the article on the Siva-purana < [Purana, Volume 7, Part 1 (1965)]
Wise Sayings from the Puranas < [Purana, Volume 7, Part 1 (1965)]
Amplification of the Vedas by the Dharmasastra, Itihasa and Puranas < [Purana, Volume 4, Part 1 (1962)]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 7.17 < [Chapter 7 - Literary Faults]
Text 7.65 < [Chapter 7 - Literary Faults]
Text 7.19 < [Chapter 7 - Literary Faults]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.10.164 < [Chapter 10 - The Glories of Śrī Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi]
Verse 3.2.23 < [Chapter 2 - Description of the Lord’s Travel Through Bhuvaneśvara and Other Placesto Jagannātha Purī]
Verse 1.7.193 < [Chapter 7 - Śrī Viśvarūpa Takes Sannyāsa]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 8.111 < [Section XVIII - Oaths and Ordeals]
Verse 5.7 < [Section II - Objectionable Food]
Verse 4.213 < [Section XIV - Other Duties]