In Hinduism

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Trighaṇṭa (त्रिघण्ट) is the name of a city on a peak of the Himālayas mentioned in the story of Aśokadatta and Vijayadatta, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 25. Accordingly, “... there is, good sir, a city named Trighaṇṭa on a peak of the Himālayas. In it there lived a heroic prince of the Rākṣasas named Lambajihva. I am his wife, Vidyucchikhā by name, and I can change my form at will”.

The story of Trighaṇṭa and Aśokadatta was narrated to Śaktideva by Viṣṇudatta in order to demonstrate that “divine persons become incarnate for some reason, and are born in this world of men, and possessing their native virtue and courage, attain successes which it is hard to win”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Trighaṇṭa, 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.

context information

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’.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Full-text: Lambajihva, Vidyucchikha.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Trighanta, Trighaṇṭa; (plurals include: Trighantas, Trighaṇṭas). 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 XXV < [Book V - Caturdārikā]

show preview