Nakula, Nakulā, Nākula: 33 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Kannada
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Introduction:

Nakula means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)

One of the Hands of Famous Emperors.—Nakula: the Kaṭaka hand.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—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), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

Nakula (नकुल):—One of the sons of Pāṇḍu, begotten by the two Aśvinī-kumāra brothers (Nāsatya and Dasra) through the womb his second wife Mādrī. He had a son by his wife Draupadī named Śatānīka. He had another son named Naramitra by his wife Kareṇumatī. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.22.27-28, 9.22.32)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Nakula (नकुल).—Birth. The fourth of the Pāṇḍavas. Mādrī, the second of the two wives of Pāṇḍu meditated on the twin gods Aśvinīdevas, and recited one of the Mantras given to Kuntī by the hermit Durvāsas and the two sons Nakula and Sahadeva were born to her from those gods. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 67, Stanza 111 that Nakula and Sahadeva were immensely handsome. (See full article at Story of Nakula from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Nākula (नाकुल).—An ancient country in India. (Mahābhārata Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 50, Stanza 53).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Nakula (नकुल).—Born to Mādrī (Mādravatī) through the favour of the Aśvins: father of Śatānīka and Niramitra, the latter by Kareṇumatī;¹ felt joy at Kṛṣṇa's visit to Indraprastha; was sent to the northern countries, for gathering provisions for Yudhiṣṭhira's Rājasūya;² approved of Draupadī's desire to release Aśvathāma;³ consoled by Kṛṣṇa while in forest;⁴ heard from Bhiṣma the secret of the cycle of births and deaths.⁵

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 22. 28-9, 32; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 135; Matsya-purāṇa 46. 10; 50. 50; Vāyu-purāṇa 96. 154; 99. 245; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 14. 38; 20. 40.
2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 71. 27; 72. 13; 75. 4.
3) Ib. I. 7. 50; 10. 9.
4) Ib. X. 58. 4; 64. 9.
5) Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 7. 8-13.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Nakula (नकुल) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.61.85) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Nakula) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Nākula is also mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.46.51) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Nakula (नकुल) is the son of sage Vasiṣṭha, according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, [...] From the sage Vasiṣṭha, Nakula was born. From Nakula was born the celebrated king Śataratha. Ilavila was born of Śataratha.

context information

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.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

Nakula (नकुल) refers to the “mongoose”, whose meat (māṃsa) is classified as “terrestrial” (bhūcara) according to the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—The text [māṃsa-prakaraṇa] says the three fold division of meat [such as terrestrial (bhūcara)...]. Here different types of meat and their properties are discussed in detail. The terrestrial animals are [viz., nakula (mongoose)].

Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa

Nakula (नकुल) refers to a “mongoose”, according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Gulikā refers to “herbal pills” and represents one of the modes of treatment for the venom (viṣa) of snakes (i.e., viṣacikitsā). Pills are also prepared from a combination of mud, asafoetida, garlic, pepper and coriander seeds. The bile of peacock, goat, mongoose (nakula), cat, and boars [pittāni meṣanakulaviḍālaśikhipotriṇām] mixed with honey administered in the form of pills also are formidable antidotes

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Nakula (नकुल) is a Sanskrit word referring to the animal “Bengal mongoose”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. The animal Nakula is part of the sub-group named Bhūmiśaya, refering to animals “who sleep in burrows in earth”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Nakula (नकुल):—It is a wild animal, which is included in animate group of poison, i. e. mangoose.

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Prācyā: Animals and animal products as reflected in Smṛti texts

Nakula (नकुल) refers to the animal “Ichneumon” or “Mongoose” (Herpestes auropunctatus or Herpestes edwarsii).—The Smṛtis mention several domestic as well as wild animals that are enumerated in context of specifying expiation for killing them, the flesh being used as a dietary article to give satisfaction to the Manes (Pitṛs) in Śrāddha rites, the law of transmigration due to various sins committed as well as in the context of specifying gifts to be given on various occasions. These animals [viz., Nakula] are chiefly mentioned in the Manusmṛti, Parāśarasmṛti [Chap.6], Gautamasmṛti [17.2 and 15.1], Śātātapasmṛti [II.45-54], Uśānasmṛti [IX.7-9; IX.12-13], Yājñavalkyasmṛti [I.170-171; I.175; I.258- 260], Viṣṇusmṛti [51.3;51.6;51.26;51.33;80.3-14], Uttarāṅgirasasmṛti [X.15-17], Prajāpatismṛti [Śrāddhatyājyavastuvarṇanam. 138-143], 9 Kāśyapasmṛti [Section on Prāyaścittavarṇanam], Vṛddha Hārītasmṛti [6.253-255] and Kātyāyanasmṛti [27.11].

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.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Nakula (नकुल) refers to:—The son of Mādri and Paṇḍu, and the fourth of the five Pāṇḍava brothers. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

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’).

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

Nakula was the fourth Pandava, the sons of Pandu. His mother was Madri and his fathers were the Ashwini twins. His twin brother was Sahadeva.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Nakula (नकुल): Fourth brother of the Pandavas.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Nakula: Second of the five sons of King Pandu, the others being Ajjuna, Bhimasena, Yudhitthila and Sahadeva. All of them became husbands of Kanha (q.v.). J. v. 424, 426.

2. Nakula: A Damila chief, ally of Kulasekhara. Cv. lxxvi. 139.3. Nakula: One of the chief lay supporters of Atthadassi Buddha. Bu. xv. 21.4. Nakula: Son of Nakulapita and Nakulamata. There is nothing further recorded of him. SA. ii. 181.Nakula Jataka (No. 165)

The Bodhisatta was once an ascetic in the Himalayas. Near his walk lived a mongoose and a snake who were always quarrelling. He preached to them the virtues of amity and dispelled their suspicions of each other.

The story was related to two of Pasenadis officers, who were always quarrelling. For details see the Uraga Jataka (No. 154). The two noblemen are identified with the two animals. J. ii. 52 ff.

3. Nakula Sutta: Records the incident of the grievous illness of Nakulapita, when his wife admonished him to be calm and collected, saying there was no reason to be fretful. A. iii. 295.2. Nakula Sutta

Nakulamata visits the Buddha at Bhesakalavana. The Buddha tells her of eight qualities which will secure for a woman birth among the Manapakayika devas. A. iv. 268 f.; 265 f.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍala

Nakula (नकुल) is the name of a Vīra (hero) who, together with the Ḍākinī named Nakulī forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Medinīcakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the medinīcakra refers to one of the three divisions of the dharma-puṭa (‘dharma layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs and Vīras [viz., Nakula] are yellow in color; the shapes of their faces are in accordance with their names; they have four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Nakula (नकुल) refers to “mongooses” (causing crop destruction), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [As the Bhagavān teaches an offering manual]: “[...] All crops, all flowers and fruits will be well protected. [...] All pests will be destroyed. Snakes, mice, mongooses (nakula), porcupines, goats, frogs, stinging insects, mosquitos, locusts and so on, flocks of birds will perish. All worms will be destroyed. Furthermore, flying insects and so on do not occur. They are never able to destroy. [...]”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

nakula : (m.) a mongoose.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Nakula, (Ved. nakula, cp. nakra crocodile) a mungoose, Viverra Ichneumon A. V, 289 sq.; J. II, 53; VI, 538; Miln. 118, 394. (Page 344)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

nakula (नकुल).—m S The Bengal mungoose, Viverra Ichneumon.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

nakula (नकुल).—m The Bengal mungoose, Viverra Ichneumon.

context information

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 dictionary

Nakula (नकुल).—1 The mungoose, an ichneumon; यदयं नकुलद्वेषी सकुलद्वेषी पुनः पिशुनः (yadayaṃ nakuladveṣī sakuladveṣī punaḥ piśunaḥ) Vās.

2) Name of the fourth Pāṇḍava prince; the twin-brother of Sahadeva and a son of Mādrī. अहं तस्य अतिशयितदिव्यरूपिणो नकुलस्य दर्शनेनोत्सुका जाता (ahaṃ tasya atiśayitadivyarūpiṇo nakulasya darśanenotsukā jātā) Ve.2 (where nakula has really sense 1, but is taken in sense 2 by Duryodhana).

3) A son.

4) An epithet of Śiva.

5) Born of a base family; नकुलः पाण्डुतनये सर्पभुक् कुलहीनयोः (nakulaḥ pāṇḍutanaye sarpabhuk kulahīnayoḥ) Nm.

6) Name of a physician (author of a work on horses).

-lī 1 A female mungoose.

2) Saffron.

Derivable forms: nakulaḥ (नकुलः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Nakula (नकुल).—(1) (m.; compare next; = AMg. ṇaula), a kind of musical instrument: Lalitavistara 163.6; 206.14; 212.4; Mahāvastu ii.159.4; iii.407.19; all prose; Tibetan transliterates; (2) name of a gandharva: Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 162.4.

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

Nakula (नकुल).—mfn.

(-laḥ-lā-laṃ) Disgraced, rejected from a family or race. m.

(-laḥ) 1. The Bengal mungoose, (Viverra ichneumon) 2. A proper name, Nakula, the fourth of the five Pandu princes. 3. A son. 4. A name of Siva. f. (-lī) 1. Silk cotton tree, 2. Indian spikenard. 3. A sort of perfume: see śaṅkṣinī. Saffron. 4. The letter ha as used in the Tantras. E. na not, kula race or heap, fem. affix ṅīṣ.

--- OR ---

Nākula (नाकुल).—mfn.

(-laḥ-lī-laṃ) Relating or belonging to an ichneumon. f. (-lī) 1. A plant; the ichneumon plant, a vegetable supposed to furnish the mungoose with an antidote, when bitten in a conflict with a snake, (Serpent ophioxylon) 2. The root of the Simul tree, (kukkuṭokanda) A sort of pepper, (Piper chavya) E. nakula the ichneumon, affixes aṇ and ṅīṣ . cavike, (cai) rāmnāyāṃ, yavatiktāyāṃ, śvetakaṇṭakāryāṃ ca .

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

Nakula (नकुल).—m. 1. The Bengal mungoose, Viverra ichneumon, Mahābhārata 12, 444. 2. f. lī, Its female, 16, 41. 3. The name of the fourth of the five Pāṇḍu princes, 1, 2445.

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Nākula (नाकुल).—i. e. nakula + a, I. adj. Ichneumon-like, [Suśruta] 2, 305, 21. Ii. m. pl. The name of a people, Mahābhārata 6, 2084. Iii. f. lī, The ichneumon plant, [Suśruta] 2, 297, 5.

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

Nakula (नकुल).—[masculine] the ichneumon ([feminine] ī); [Epithet] of Śiva, [Name] of a Pāṇḍava etc.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Nakula (नकुल) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—[+ nakula] Vaidyakasarvasva. Mentioned in Brahmavaivartapurāṇa Oxf. 22^b.

2) Nakula (नकुल):—Aśvacikitsā. Quoted Śp. p. 43

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

1) Nakula (नकुल):—mfn. (in spite of [Pāṇini 6-3, 75] [probably] not [from] na + kula) of a [particular] colour (perhaps that of the ichneumon), [Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Ṛgveda-prātiśākhya]

2) m. the Bengal mungoose or Viverra Ichneumon (enemy of mice and of serpents from whose venom it protects itself by a [medicine] plant; cf. nākulī), [Atharva-veda; Mahābhārata] etc.

3) a son, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) a [particular] musical instrument, [Lalita-vistara]

5) Name of Śiva, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) of a son of the Aśvins and Mādrī (twin-brother of Saha-deva and fourth of the Pāṇḍu princes), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Purāṇa]

7) m. of a Vedic poet with the [patronymic] Vāma-deva (vya) or Vaiśvāmitra (lasya vāmadevasya preṅkha m. Name of a Sāman), [Ārṣeya-brāhmaṇa]

8) m. of a physician (author of a [work] on horses), [Catalogue(s)]

9) Nakulā (नकुला):—[from nakula] f. Name of Śiva’s wife, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

10) Nakula (नकुल):—n. a myst. Name of the sound h, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) Nākula (नाकुल):—mf(ī)n. ([from] nak) ichneumon-like [gana] śarkarādi

12) m. [patronymic] [from] Nakula, [Ṛgveda-prātiśākhya] (cf. [Pāṇini 4-1, 114 [Scholiast or Commentator]])

13) m. [plural] Name of a people, [Mahābhārata]

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

1) Nakula (नकुल):—(laḥ) 1. m. The Bengal mungoose, ichneumon; a Pāndu prince; a son; Shiva. f. Silk-cotton tree; spikenard; saffron. a. Disgraced by a family.

2) Nākula (नाकुल):—[(laḥ-lī-laṃ) a.] Of the ichneumon. f. The ichneumon plant; a sort of pepper.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Nakula (नकुल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇaula.

[Sanskrit to German]

Nakula 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Nakula (ನಕುಲ):—

1) [noun] the civet-like, carnivore Viverra ichneumon of Viverridae family, noted for its ability to kill poisonous snakes; a mongoose.

2) [noun] the fourth of the five Pāṇḍavas.

3) [noun] a particular kind of vīṇe, a stringed musical instrument.

--- OR ---

Nakula (ನಕುಲ):—[noun] a species of fish.

--- OR ---

Nakuḷa (ನಕುಳ):—[noun] = ನಕುಲ [nakula]1.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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Search found 63 books and stories containing Nakula, Nakulā, Nākula, Nakuḷa; (plurals include: Nakulas, Nakulās, Nākulas, Nakuḷas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 1.16 < [Chapter 1 - Sainya-Darśana (Observing the Armies)]

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Verse 1.5.29 < [Chapter 5 - The Lord’s Appearance]

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Verse 1.5.38 < [Chapter 5 - Priya (the beloved devotees)]

Verse 1.5.71 < [Chapter 5 - Priya (the beloved devotees)]

Verse 2.1.26 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]

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