# वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/vaishampayana

वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) is a Sanskrit word meaning an ancient sage, of an author, of a son of Shukanasa who was transformed into a parrot, name of a law-book author, a sage and teacher of the Yajur Veda, the name of a sage. Its 13 recorded definitions are grouped into 5 contexts, among them The Sage: Veda Teacher & Mahābhārata Narrator, Specific Puranic Accounts of Sage Vaiśampāyana, Character in Kādambarī (Parrot).

- **SLP1:** `vESampAyana`  **IAST:** vaiśampāyana  **Devanagari:** वैशम्पायन
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaisampayana
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/vaishampayana/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** वैशंपायन (vaiśaṃpāyana)

## Meanings by context

### The Sage: Veda Teacher & Mahābhārata Narrator (8 definitions)
- an ancient sage  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 1026,1] वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) m. ( patr. fr. विशम् - प (viśam-pa) ) N. of an ancient sage (teacher of the Taittirīya-saṃhitā [ q.v. ]; in epic poetry a pupil of Vyāsa and also the narrator of the Mahā-bhārata to Janam-ejaya), GṛS.; TĀr. &c. ( cf. Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 371 n. 1 ) [ ID=207753 ]
- A sage who was the original teacher of the Yajur Veda and narrator of the Mahabharata.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) [Printed book page 812 ] वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) m. ( - नः (-naḥ) ) A sage, the original teacher of the Yajur Veda, and narrator of the Mahābhārata to JANAMEJAYA. [ ID=36958 ]
- A sage and teacher of the Yajur Veda.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) [Printed book page 730-b ] वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) ( नः ) ((naḥ)) 1. m. A sage, teacher of the Yajur Veda. [ ID=36584 ]
- A sage who was the original teacher of the Yajur-Veda and narrator of the Mahabharata.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) [Printed book page 693-a ] वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) m. ( - नः (-naḥ) ) A sage, the original teacher of the Yajur-Veda, and narrator of the Mahābhārata to JANAMBJAYA. [ ID=38700 ]
- The name of a sage.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) [Printed book page 0909-b ] वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) vaiśampāyana, m. The name of a Muni or sage, MBh. 1, 97; 107. [ ID=14120 ]
- 1. Name of a celebrated sage and teacher of the Black Yajurveda who narrated the Mahabharata. 2. Name of a law-book author.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) [Printed book page 0970-c ] वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) vaiśampāyana, as, m., N. of a celebrated sage (the original teacher of the Taittirīya- saṃhitā or collection of hymns of the Black Yajur- veda, see taittirīya-saṃhitā; he was also the nar- rator of the Mahā-bhārata to Janam-ejaya); N. of the author of a law-book. [ ID=45152 ]
- A sage and disciple of Vyasa who recited the Mahabharata at the snake sacrifice of Janamejaya.  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) [Printed book page 699-2 ] Vaiśampāyana, a ṛṣi, disciple of Vyāsa; recited the Mhbhr. at the snake sacrifice of Janamejaya: I, 11, 20, 97, 107 ( mānuṣe loke V°a uktavān ), 866 ( °viprāgryaiḥ ), 2227 (Vyāsa directed V. to tell the Mhbhr.), (2231) ( V. gave a resume of the Mhbhr.), (2294) ( V. described the Mhbhr.), (2334) ( V. began the recitation of the Mhbhr.), (2350) (only C.), (2407), 2419 (disciple of Vyāsa), (2458), (2501), (2509), (2517), (2565), (2639), (2728), (2801), (2816), (2845), (2895), (2904), (2971), (2975), (2987), (2988), (3110), (3126), (3181), (3185), (3204), (†3233), (†3236), (†3244), (†3248), (3256), (3276), (3279), (3290), (3300), (3304), (3318), (3332), (3344), (3349), (3352), (3356), (3358), (3359), (3386), (3394), (3397), (3420), (3424), (3431), (3437), (3439), (3446), (3460), (3466), (3481), (3495), (3500), (3517), (3531), (3535), (3543), (3551), (†3569), (†3589), (3679), (†3683), (†3690), (3694), (3759), (3843), (3848/49, addition in B.), (3865), (3880), (3887), (3896), (3923), (3964), (3968), (4006), (4022), (4036), (4049), (4057), (4061), (4064), (4067), (4081), (4086, only B.), (4146), (4157), (4225), (4241), (4244), (4267), (4274), (4306), (4322), (4335), (4337), (4371), (4382), (4395), (4412), (4425), (4469), (4483), (4489), (4501), (4528), (4541), (4562), (4591), (4592), (4613), (4628), (4640), (4647), (4665), (4680), (4716), (4746), (4758), (4759), (4791), (4836), (4844), (4866), (4896), (4897), (4901), (4930), (4936), (4964), (4977), (5034), (5051), (5072), (5094), (5102), (5134), (5145), (5162), (5164), (5167), (5169), (5208), (5211), (5217), (5238), (5256), (5260), (5266), (5280), (5289), (5312), (5347), (5351), (5364), (5379), (5395), (5399), (5412), (5415), (5419), (5444), (5454), (5474), (5501), (5511), (5517), (5543), (5546), (5634), (5635), (5642), (5653), (5673), (5696), (5706), (5734), (5767), (5768), (5798), (5819), (5323), (5835), (5841), (5856), (5882), (5927), (5962), (5973), (5983), (5999), (6007), (6019), (6030), (6045), (6060), Page700-a+ 63 (6062), (6081/82, only B.), (6084), (6094), (6100), (6104), (6119), (6180), (6181), (6199), (6241), (6270), (6295), (6317), (6327), (6410), (6419), (6421), (6437), (6460), (6466), (6518), (6634), (6915), (6925), (6945), (6956), (†7005), (7034), (7061), (7085), (7106), (†7121), (†7131), (†7136), (7141), (†7147), (7156), (†7174), (†7205), (7218), (7230), (7238), (7250), (7252), (7272), (†7313), (†7333), (7347), (7359), (7366), (7390), (7437), (7524), (7550), (7554), (7570), (7600), (7739), (7743), (7753), (7775), (7776), (7808), (7812), (7839), (7846), (7867), (7881), (7885), (7906), (7931), (7963), (8050), (8066), (8083), (8097), (8157), (8174), (8207), (8211), (8227), (8233), (8285), (8329), (8334), (8345), (8361), (8364), (8375), (8401), (8409), (8423), (8429), (8445), (8460), (8464), (8469); II, (1), (13), (21), (52), (54) (only C.), (58), (96), (135), (248), (†261), (264), (268), (273), (512), (514), (544), (665), (759), (775), (788), (809), (884), (890), (925), (983), (987), (995), (1010), (1038), (1059), (1075), (1105), (1130), (1154), (1183), (1204), (1226), (1230), (1246), (1260), (1286), (1307), (1332), (1369), (1401), (1409), (1418), (1432), (1482), (1523), (1551), (1561), (1575), (1628), (1637), (1646), (1662), (1725), (1766), (1772), (1789), (†1981), (1987), (†1992), (†2008), (2030), (2051), (2059), (2062), (2066), (2070), (2074), (2078), (2082), (2085), (2090), (2093), (2094), (2145), (2147), (2149), (2151), (2154), (2156), (2162), (2166), (2169), (2171), (2180), (†2198), (†2200), (2206), (2210), (2215), (†2231), (†2238), (†2249), (2261), (2291), (2303), (2338), (2343), (†2361), (†2367), (2378), (†2385), (2387), (†2401), (2419), (2450), (2476), (2479), (2491), (†2495), (2507), (2514), (†2532), (†2536), (2550), (2559), (2563), (2583), (2584), (2613), (2620), (2651), (2655, only C.), (2672); III, (9), (19), (39), (47), (60), (131), (134), (144), (162), (200), (204), (211), (†219), (†239), (240), (†249), (262), (279), (286), (287), (300), (352), (363), (373), (382), (409), (460, only B.), (461), (468), (503), (507), (588), (596), (892), (†903), (919), (931), (†945), (†963), (964), (984), (989), (1264), (1354), (1411), (1431), (1448), (1456), (1471), (1492), (1524), (1550), (1551), (1622), (1634), (1654), (1664), (1690), (1697), (1714), (1732), (1756), (1788), (1800), (1817), (1852) (1864), (1867), (1879), (1912), (1915), (1958), (1967), (2014), (2048), (2065), (3082), (3093), (4021), (8274), (8276), (8297), (8407), (8449), (8455), (8458), (8510), (8540), (8652), (8830), (9968), (10095), (10107), (†10124), (10125), (10211), (†10214), (10306), (10469), (10530), (†10838), (10860), (10863), (10962), (10963), (10986), (10993), (11000), (11010), (11016), (11069), (11167), (11181), (11183), (11224), (11266), (11274), (11281), (11318), (11329), (11337), (11351), (11379), (11395), (11430), (11442), (11451), (11524), (11625), (11628), (11667), (11739), (12751), (11785), (11829), (11841), (†11883), (†11903), (11917), (11935), (12290), (12291), (12314), (†12317), (†12332), (†12339), (12366), (12396), (12403), (12450), (12533), (12539), (12557), (12597), (12603), (12609), (12652), (12746), (12805), (13007), (13009), (13127), (13139), (††13143), (††13212), (††13248), (††13261), (††13301), (††13331), (13349), (13392), (13469), (13481) or (13482), (13488), (13628), (14100), (14629), (14649), (14708), (14722), (†14742), (14772), (14795), (14796), (14820), (14841), (14849), (14880), (14913), (14954), (14957), (14979), (15010), (15021), (15033), (15041), (15052), (15091), (15123), (15124), (15133), (15141), (15181), (15210), (15237), (15273), Page700-b+ 63 (15276), (15298), (15325), (15354), (15370), (15491), (15496), (15508), (15519), (15521), (15537), (15556), (15565), (15571), (†15602), (15611), (15617), (15636), (†15639), (†15661), (15666), (†15667), (†15690), (†15695), (†15715), (15716), (15754), (15759), (15777), (15855), (15860), (16615), (16917), (16922), (16994), (17000), (17047), (17065), (17070), (†17090), (17098), (17103), (17120), (17123), (17126), (17153), (17178), (17184), (17190), (17197), (17212), (†17219), (17222), (17246), (17288), (17323), (17419), (17432), (17434), (17444), (17448), (17456); IV, (3), (88), (136), (141), (149), (158), (169), (178), (†214), (†230), (†231), (†243), (244), (279), (280), (†295), (†296), (†308), (†312), (†323), (326), (373), (416), (431), (433), (437), (449), (†458), (485), (487), (490), (497), (503), (510), (636), (639), (690), (699), (711), (734), (746), (793), (807), (809), (826), (829), (839), (845), (855), (861), (883), (902), (912), (947), (971), (990), (997), (1000), (1036), (1067), (1083), (1088), (1129), (1136), (1149), (1170), (1180), (1184), (†1195), (1201), (1218), (1227), (1230), (1246), (1258), (1260), (1270), (1277), (1285), (1302), (1303), (1317), (1390), (1398), (1418), (1436), (1456), (1471), (1599), (1626), (1630), (1640, only C.), (1647), (†1660), (1696), (1759), (1779), (1781), (1823), (1833), (1901), (1939), (1950), (1966), (1984), (1998), (2021), (2035), (2062), (†2086), (†2105), (†2128), (2136), (2141), (†2147), (2152), (†2157), (2160), (†2169), (†2175), (2177), (2182), (†2188), (2190), (2198), (2208), (2220), (2225), (2229), (2255), (2260), (2267), (2299), (2306), (2310), (†2317), (2347); V, (†1), (†40), (100), (127), (129), (150), (162), (171), (172), (190), (210), (565), (569), (570), (603), (624), (641), (685), (939), (†945), (971), (977), (1572), (†1577), (1791), (1917), (1926), (1951), (1976), (1980), (2323), (2359), (2382), (†2411), (†2424), (2498), (2513), (2520), (2582), (2660), (2740), (2763), (2869), (2871), (2903), (2925), (2993), (2996), (3022), (3084), (3093), (3101), (3128), (3183), (3220), (3235), (3236), (3252), (3278), (3329), (3330), (3384), (3447), (3448), (3501), (3667), ( sic! ), (3711), (3717), (4122), (4128, only C.), (4186), (4204), (4214), (4233), (4259), (4280), (4283, only C.), (4309), (4317), (4325), (4364), (4418), (4453), (4459), (4668), (4676), (4704), (4885), (4929), (4931), (4956), (5097), (5108), (5136), (5147), (5170), (5195), (5216), (5231), (5243), (5278), (5303), (5319), (5324), (5350), (5392), (5718), (5877), (7122), ( sic! ), (7557), (7581), (7603), (7622); VI, (3), (36), (43), (49), (115), (118), (155), (305), (495), (1532/33, only B.); VII, (6), (47), (306); VIII, (1), (25), (73), (90), (214), (220), (282), (5035); IX, (4), (40), (57), (108), (1973), (2008), (2013), (2064), (2071), (2119), (2159), (2188), (2246), (2255), (2287), (2318), (2360), (2400), (2433), (†2446), (2453), (2503), (2619), (2732), (2745), (2762), (2826), (2831), (2854), (2902), (2905), (2925), (2929), (2981), (3035), (3070), (3077), (3129), (3509); X, (542), (543), (574), (606), (647), (670), (687), (721), (722), (742), (745), (760); XI, (4), (10), (23), (45), (46), (193), (242), (249), (253), (269), (289), (313), (343), (354), (360), (381), (405), (427), (487), (742), (752), (761), (779), (800); XII, (4), (46), (144), (157), (201), (333), (384), (424), (482), (535), (601), (636), (651), (698), (732), (768), (826), (833), (893), (896), (1088), (1135), (1172), (1291), (1348), (1363), (1369), (1393), (1423), (1427), (1430), (1443), (1467), (1486), (1499), (1516), (1534), (1583), (1589), (1689), (1698), (1713), (1805), (1806), (1844), (1862), (1883), (1896), (1913), (1928), (1935), Page701-a+ 63 (1964), (1984), (1987), (2116), (2122), (2268), (†2714), (5962), (6120), (6126), (6210), (6219), (6231), (6238), (†6261), (6456), (10275), 12337 (disciple of Vyāsa), 12760 ( Taittiriḥ… V°pūrvajaḥ ), (12998), 13003, 13012, (13023), (13060), (13119), (13131), (13333), (13396), (13399), (13427), (13460), (13554), (13615), (13628), (13639), (13645), (13701), (13714); XIII, (83), 331 ( viprarṣir ajñānād brāhmaṇaṃ hatvā spṛṣṭo bālava- dhena ca (!) ), (371), (605), (613), (1296), (1356), (1758), (1775), (1863), (1934) (ought to have been Bhīṣma), (2931), (2967), (†3693), (3696), (3698), (3730), (4222), (5139), (5387), (5402), (5574), (5575), (5921), (6294), (6931), (6936), (7532), (7627), (7629), (7692), (7706), (7729), (7741), (7754), (7759), (7795); XIV, (1), (20), (119) (ought to have been Vyāsa), (†275) (do., only C.), (†292), (293), (354), (373), (408), (414), (1476), (1478), (1536), (1589), (1596), (1626), (1653), (1661), (1676), (1680) (C., by error Saudāsa ), (1690), (1706), (1721), (1724), (1752), (1777), (1808), (1809), (1850), (1873), (1895), (1936), (1965), (1984), (2009), (2033), (2055), (2072), (2083), (2089), (2097), (2108), (2110), (2141), (2175), (2195), (2221), (2253), (2302), (2341), (2359), (2381), (2435), (2466), (2486), (2510), (2536), (2553), (2603), (2644), (2690), (2807), (2816), (2849), (2886); XV, (4), (29), (43), (60), (118), (127), (134), (153), (156), (165), (170), (261, only B.), (268), (302), (307), (352), (356), (387), (395), (410), (428), (441), (458), (495), (520), (538), (†558), (560), (574), (576), (592), (618), (636), (656), (†673), (685), (691), (715), (741), (771), (800), (862), (868), (889), (923), (939), (956), (958), (979), (983), (1011), (1050), (1087); XVI, (1), (13), (15), (33), (57), (†105), (133), (148), (177), (254), (291); XVII, (2), (47), (53), (57), (69), (73), (89), (95); XVIII, (3), (40), (81), (125), 155, 182 ( °kīrtitaṃ ), 199, (214). Cf. Brahmarṣi, Vyāsaśiṣya. [ ID=11327 ]
- 1. A pupil of Vyasa in charge of the Yajur Veda. 2. A sage who divided the Yajur Veda into eighty-six parts and taught them to his pupils.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) [Printed book page 3-339 ] Vaiśampāyana (I) — a pupil of Vyāsa in charge of the Yajus; was taught Nigada (Yajurveda). His pupils were Ca- rakādhvaryus. Yājñavalkya was one of the pupils; was also a Paurāṇika. 1 A Śrutaṛṣi, divided the Yajur Veda into 86 parts and distributed them among his 86 pupils; 2 did not attend the Meru conference and ordered his pupils to take to Brahma vidyā. 3 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. I. 4. 21; XII. 6. 52 and 61; XII. 7. 5. Vā. 60. 13; 61. 5.] [ Footnote: 2) Br. II. 1. 13; 33. 5; 34. 13; 35. 8-9, 20-22.] [ Footnote: 3) Vā. 61. 14-16.] [ ID=13750 ]

### Specific Puranic Accounts of Sage Vaiśampāyana (2 definitions)
- a sage who was invited for the Rajasuya of Yudhishthira  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Vaiśampāyana (II) — a sage who was invited for the Rājasūya of Yudhiṣṭhīra. Bhā. X. 74. 8. [ ID=13751 ]
- 1. The sage who cursed king Janamejaya. 2. Questioned by Shaunaka for light on rituals conducive to realizing one's desires.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Vaiśampāyana (III) — the sage who cursed king Jana- mejaya; questioned by Śaunaka for light on rituals condu- cive to realisation of one's desires. M. 50. 58; 93. 1; Vā. 99. 251. [ ID=13752 ]

### Character in Kādambarī (Parrot) (1 definition)
- of a son of Shukanasa who was transformed into a parrot  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a son of Śuka-nāsa (transformed into a parrot), Kād. [ ID=207755 ]

### Lineage (Gotra) of Vaiśampāyana (1 definition)
- belonging to the Bhargava gotra  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Vaiśampāyana (IV) — of Bhārgava gotra. M. 195. 24. [ ID=13753 ]

### Vaiśampāyana as an Author (1 definition)
- of an author  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of an author, Cat. [ ID=207754 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); 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.

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