# हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/harishchandra हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) is a Sanskrit word meaning having golden splendor, the name of various authors, name of a place, name of a Linga, having a golden-coloured splendour, the name of several kings. Its 13 recorded definitions are grouped into 6 contexts, among them The Legendary King Hariścandra (Solar Dynasty), Adjective: Golden/Yellow Splendour, Geographical Place Name. - **Etymology:** E. हरि VIṢṆU, and चन्द्र the moon — E. hari VIṢṆU, and candra the moon - **SLP1:** `hariScandra` **IAST:** hariścandra **Devanagari:** हरिश्चन्द्र - **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harishchandra - **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/harishchandra/declensions.md ## Meanings by context ### The Legendary King Hariścandra (Solar Dynasty) (6 definitions) - Name of the twenty-eighth king of the solar dynasty in the Treta age *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > हरि (hari) — श्चन्द्र (—ścandra) m. N. of the 28th king of the solar dynasty in the Tretā age (he was son of Tri-śaṅku, and was celebrated for his piety; accord. to the Mārkaṇḍeya-Purāṇa he gave up his country, his wife and his son, and finally himself, to satisfy the demands of Viśvāmitra; after enduring incredible sufferings, he won the pity of the gods and was raised with his subjects to heaven : accord. to Mahābhārata (Title) ii, 489 &c., his performance of the Rāja-sūya sacrifice was the cause of his elevation, and in the Aitareya-Brāhmaṇa quite another legend is told about him, see under शुनःशेप (śunaḥśepa), p. 1082, col. 3 : in later legends Hari-ścandra is represented as insidiously induced by Nārada to relate his actions with unbecoming pride, whereupon he was degraded from Svarga, one stage at each sentence, till stopping in time and doing homage to the gods he was fixed with his capital in mid-air; his aerial city is popularly believed to be still visible in the skies at particular times; cf. सौभ (saubha) ), Brāhmaṇa (Literary category); Maitrī-upaniṣad (Title); Mahābhārata (Title) &c. [ ID=261235.1 ] - A king of the solar dynasty celebrated for his piety and liberality *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > हरि (hari) श्चन्द्र (candra) (hariścandra) [Printed book page 970 ] हरि (hari) श्चन्द्र (candra) (hariścandra) m. ( - न्द्रः (-ndraḥ) ) A sovereign, the twenty-eighth of the solar dynasty in the second age, celebrated for his piety and liberality, and who on those accounts was elevated, together with his subjects, to heaven: having been insidiously induced by NĀRADA, to relate his actions with unbecoming pride, he descended from Svarga, a stage at each sentence, till stopping in time, and doing homage to the gods, he was fixed with his capital in mid-air. E. हरि (hari) VIṢṆU, and चन्द्र (candra) the moon. [ ID=44021 ] - A liberal sovereign of the solar dynasty, who is supposed with his city to be fixed in mid-air. *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) [Printed book page 895-a ] हरि - श्चन्द्र (hari-ścandra) ( न्द्रः ) ((ndraḥ)) 1. m. A liberal sovereign, the 28th of the solar dynasty in the 2d age, who is supposed with his city to be fixed in mid air. [ ID=43842 ] - A celebrated pious and liberal king of the solar dynasty. *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > हरि (hari) श्चन्द्र (candra) (hariścandra) [Printed book page 829-a ] हरि (hari) श्चन्द्र (candra) (hariścandra) m. ( - न्द्रः (-ndraḥ) ) A sovereign, the twenty-eighth of the solar dynasty in the second age, celebrated for his piety and liberality, and who on those accounts was elevated, together with his subjects, to heaven: having been insidiously induced by NĀRADA, to relate his actions with unbecoming pride, he descended from Swarga, a stage at each sentence, till stopping in time, and doing homage to the gods, he was fixed with his capital in mid-air. E. हरि (hari) VISHṆU, चन्द्र (candra) the moon. [ ID=46655 ] - an ancient king *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata* > हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) [Printed book page 319-1 ] Hariścandra, an ancient king. § 266 (Śakrasabhāv.): II, 7, 294 ( rājarṣiḥ, in the palace of Indra).—§ 271 b (Lokapā- lasabhākhyānap.): H. is the only king who lives in the palace of Indra, and the reason is that H. had formerly brought the whole earth with its seven islands under his sway, and had performed the rājasūya sacrifice, to which all the kings of the earth brought wealth at his command, and having concluded the rājasūya, he was installed in the sovereignty of the earth ( sāmrājyena ). All princes who perform a rājasūya or are slain in battle without turning their backs, or yield up their lives after severe ascetic penances, attain to the region of Indra; II, 12, 484 ( rājarṣiḥ ), 488, 496, 497.—§ 271 (do.): II, 12, 502, 504 (Pāṇḍu wished to obtain the same regions as H., therefore Yudhiṣṭhira must perform the rājasūya ).—§ 272 (Rājasūyārambhap.): II, 13, 516 ( rājarṣiṃ ).—§ 296 (Dyūtap): II, 53, 1931 ( rājasūyam avāpyaivaṃ H°a iva prabhuḥ ).—§ 626 (Rājadh.): XII, 20, †614 ( °aḥ pārthivendraḥ śrutas te yajñair iṣṭvā puṇyabhāg vītaśokaḥ|ṛddḥyā Śakraṃ yojayan mānuṣaḥ san ).—§ 721 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 3 α, 187 (read with B. H°akratau, and cf. Śunaḥśepha).—§ 746 (do.): XIII, 65 γ, 3290 (a sentence of his is quoted).—§ 761 (do.): XIII, 115 γ, 5663 (among the kings who abstained from meat during the month of Kārttika), 5664 ( carati vai divi satyena candravat ).— § 775 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 166 η, 7678 (enumeration).— § 795 (Svargārohaṇap.): XVIII, 3, 106 ( °samāḥ, sc. lokāḥ, won by Yudhiṣṭhira). [ ID=4395 ] - A legendary king, son of Trishanku and Satyvrata, who promised his son Rohita to god Varuna in sacrifice, suffered from dropsy, and eventually attained permanent fame after performing the Rajasuya sacrifice. *The Purana Index* > हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) [Printed book page 3-753 ] Hariścandra — son of Triśanku and Satyaratā. Concern- ing him there was a battle between Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra in the disguise of birds for many years. Issueless, and advised by Nārada, he prayed to Varuṇa for a son, promising to offer him in sacrifice to the deity. The son was Rohita. Varuṇa reminded him often about the promised sacrifice, and the king evaded saying that he was not yet fit for it. Knowing this Rohita left for forests and the king had a disease maho- dara: when the boy returned to relieve his father, Indra pre- vented him from going home. Six years passed and Rohita purchased Sunaśśepa, the second son of Ajiganta and returned home. Hariścandra proceeded to offer Sunaśśepa in sacrifice and was relieved of his disease. Sunaśśepa was sold as a sacrificial animal to Rohita. 1 Attained permanent fame; 2 a samrāṭ by performing Rājasūya 3 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. IX. 7. 7-27; 16. 31; M. 12. 38; Vā. 88. 117-9; Vi. IV. 3. 25.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. X. 72. 21.] [ Footnote: 3) Br. III. 63. 115; 66. 66; Vā. 91. 94.] [ ID=17243 ] ### Adjective: Golden/Yellow Splendour (3 definitions) - having golden splendor *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > (H3) [Printed book page 1290,3] हरि (hari) — श्चन्द्र (candra) (—ścandra) ( हरि (hari)- (hari-) ), mfn. (see चन्द्र (candra) ) having golden splendour, Ṛg-veda (Title) [ ID=261235 ] - Having a yellow or golden lustre, or a proper name of a king of the race of Ikshvaku. *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) [Printed book page 375-3 ] हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) hári-ścandra, a. having a yellow or golden lustre ( Soma, RV.¹ ); m. N. of a king of the race of Ikṣvāku; in E. a son of Trisaṅku, who having been elevated with his subjects to heaven and expelled thence owing to his pride, remained suspended in mid-air with his city (Saubha): ( hári ) -śmaśāru, a. having a tawny beard ( RV.¹ ); -śmaśru, a. id. ( E. ); -siṃha, m. N. of a king; -soma, m. N.; -svāmin, m. N.; -haḍaukasa, m. N.; -haya, a. having tawny steeds, ep. of Indra; -hara, m. sg. Viṣṇu and Śiva in person; du. or °—, Viṣṇu and Śiva; N. of a various men; -kathā, f. discourse about viṣṇu and Śiva; -heti, f. Indraʼs weapon, rainbow; Viṣṇʼs weapon, discus: -mat, a. adorned with a rainbow, -hūti, m. (called after the discus or cakra), the, Cakravāka or ruddy goose ( Anas casarca ). [ ID=20425 ] - 1. Having a golden-coloured splendour. 2. The name of several kings. *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) [Printed book page 658 ] हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) a. having a golden-coloured splendour; m. N. of sev. kings. [ ID=39388 ] ### Geographical Place Name (1 definition) - name of a place *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > हरि (hari) — श्चन्द्र (—ścandra) m. n. (?) N. of a place, Catalogue(s) [Cologne Addition] (Title) [ ID=261235.25 ] ### Other Individuals Named Hariścandra (e.g., Authors, Poets) (1 definition) - the name of various authors *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > N. of various authors &c., Inscriptions [Cologne Addition] (Title); Catalogue(s) [Cologne Addition] (Title) [ ID=261235.2 ] ### Other Kings or Generic King Reference (1 definition) - The name of a king *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary* > हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) [Printed book page 1107-a ] हरिश्चन्द्र (hariścandra) hari-ścand + ra (see cand ), m. The name of a king. [ ID=17008 ] ### Sacred Liṅga Name (1 definition) - name of a Linga *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)* > हरि (hari) — श्चन्द्र (—ścandra) n. N. of a Liṅga, Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary, 1st edition with marginal notes (Title) [ ID=261235.3 ] ## Sources Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne. The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546