Dhanvadurga, Dhanus-durga, Dhanvan-durga: 8 definitions

Introduction:

Dhanvadurga 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.

In Hinduism

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstra

Dhanvadurga (धन्वदुर्ग) refers to type of “fort”, characterised as being surrounded by desert. It is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti.

Source: Google Books: Manusmṛti with the Manubhāṣya

Dhanvadurga (धन्वदुर्ग) is ‘the fortification in the midst of a desert’, called ‘durga’, because of its inaccessibility due to absence of water and other difficulties.

Vīramitrodaya (Lakṣana, p. 239) suggests another explanation of the name—‘dhanvā’ is the name of a tract of land devoid of shelter and water; and a fort that is surrounded by such a tract of land is ‘dhanvadurga’; the meaning being that the king should make his fort, and then render its vicinity waterless and shelterless.

It notes a third explanation of the name:—‘Dhanvan,’ ‘bow,’ indicates the ‘dhanvin’, ‘archer’; hence ‘dhanvadurga’ would mean a ‘line of defence consisting of of men armed with bows and arrows This, it says, is not right; as it involves the necessity of having recourse to metaphorical explanation; and also because we have never heard of such a ‘fort’; again because such a ‘line of defence’ could be very easily broken through; and lastly because this would be the same as the ‘nṛdurga’ coming later.

(See the Manubhāṣya verse 7.70)

Dharmashastra book cover
context information

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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Dhanvadurga in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Dhanvadurga (धन्वदुर्ग).—a fort inaccessible on account of a surrounding desert; cf. Manusmṛti 7.7.

Derivable forms: dhanvadurgam (धन्वदुर्गम्).

Dhanvadurga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms dhanvan and durga (दुर्ग).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dhanvadurga (धन्वदुर्ग).—n.

(-rgaṃ) A desert. E. dhanva the same, and durga strong-hold.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dhanvadurga (धन्वदुर्ग).—[neuter] a fortress protected by a desert.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dhanvadurga (धन्वदुर्ग):—[=dhanva-durga] [from dhanva > dhanv] mfn. See dhanur-d.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dhanvadurga (धन्वदुर्ग):—[dhanva-durga] (rgaṃ) 1. n. A desert.

[Sanskrit to German]

Dhanvadurga in German

context information

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.

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