वसिष्ठvasiṣṭha

वसिष्ठ (vasiṣṭha) is a Sanskrit word meaning most excellent, best, or richest, the name of a celebrated Vedic sage and patriarch, the author of a law-book and other works, the family of Vasishtha, the name of an Anuvaka, flesh. Its 39 recorded definitions are grouped into 6 contexts, among them The Sage Vasiṣṭha: Multifaceted Identity, Other Entities or Persons Named Vasiṣṭha, Vasiṣṭha: Specific Scholarly Roles and Authorship.

Roots: 3. वस् (3. vas), 1. वस् (1. vas)
Etymology: E. वस to abide (in the practice of religious austerities), aff. णिनि, वसिन् superlative aff., इष्टन् added, pre-eminent amongst the ascetics; also वशिष्ठ, &c
Definitions: 39

View Declension Tables , 48 forms

Meanings by context

The Sage Vasiṣṭha: Multifaceted Identity

23 definitions

The name of a celebrated Vedic sage and patriarch.

वसिष्ठ (vasiṣṭha) m. (wrongly written वशिष्ठ (vaśiṣṭha)), ‘the most wealthy’, N. of a celebrated Vedic Ṛṣi or sage (owner of the ‘cow of plenty’, called Nandinī, offspring of Surabhi, which by granting all desires made him, as his name implies, master of every वसु (vasu) or desirable object; he was the typical representative of Brāhmanical rank, and the legends of his conflict with Viśvā-mitra, who raised himself from the kingly or Kṣatriya to the Brāhmanical class, were probably founded on the actual struggles which took place between the Brāhmans and Kṣatriyas; a great many hymns of the Ṛg-veda (Title) are ascribed to these two great rivals; those of the seventh Maṇḍala, besides some others, being attributed to Vasiṣṭha, while those of the third Maṇḍala are assigned to Viśvā-mitra; in one of Vasiṣṭha's hymns he is represented as king Su-dās's family priest, an office to which Viśvā-mitra also aspired; in another hymn Vasiṣṭha claims to have been inspired by Varuṇa, and in another [Ṛg-veda (Title) vii, 33, 11] he is called the son of the Apsaras Urvaśī by Mitra and Varuṇa, whence his patronymic Maitrāvaruṇi ; in Manu, i, 35, he is enumerated among the ten Prajā-patis or Patriarchs produced by Manu Svāyambhuva for the peopling of the universe; in the MBh. he is mentioned as the family priest of the solar race or family of Ikṣvāku and Rāma-candra, and in the Purāṇas as one of the arrangers of the Vedas in the Dvāpara age; he is, moreover, called the father of Aurva [Hariv.], of the Sukālins [Mn.], of seven sons [Hariv.; Pur.], and the husband of Akṣa-mālā or Arundhatī [MBh.] and of Ūrjā [Pur.]; other legends make him one of the 7 patriarchal sages regarded as forming the Great Bear in which he represents the star ζ See ऋषि (ṛṣi)), Ṛg-veda (Title) &c. &c. (cf. Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 361 ; 402 n. 1 &c.) [ID=188675]

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

1. Best, most excellent, or wealthiest. 2. Name of a leading Vedic Rishi and lawgiver.

— Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary

A celebrated sage.

— Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary

A celebrated sage

— Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. Name of a celebrated inspired sage. 2. Name of the author of a Smriti.

— Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary

A celebrated sage.

— Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

The name of a sage

— Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. Most excellent, best, or richest. 2. The name of an ancient Rishi, deified as a star in the Great Bear.

— Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1. Most excellent. 2. Name of a famous Vedic seer.

— Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary

1. Name of a celebrated Vedic sage. 2. Name of the author of a law-book.

वसिष्ठ (vasiṣṭha) [Printed book page 0896-b]
Vasiṣṭha, as, m. (superl. of vasu or vasu-

mat; cf. vasīyas), ‘the most wealthy,’ N. of a very

celebrated Vedic Ṛṣi or inspired sage (owner of

the ‘cow of plenty,’ called Nandinī, offspring of

Surabhi, which by granting all desires made him, as

his name implies, master of every vasu or desirable

object; he was the typical representative of Brāh-

manical dignity, and the legends of his conflict with

Viśvā-mitra, who raised himself from the military

to the sacerdotal class, though probably founded on

the actual struggles which took place between the

Brāhmans and Kṣatriyas, were doubtless mostly in-

vented to impress the mind with the power and

superiority of the priesthood; a great many hymns

of the Ṛg-veda are ascribed to these two great

rivals, those of the seventh Maṇḍala, besides some

others, being attributed to Vasiṣṭha, while those of

the third Maṇḍala are assigned to Viśvā-mitra; in

one of Vasiṣṭha's hymns he is represented as king

Su-dās's family priest, an office to which Viśvā-mitra
Page0896-c+ 81

also aspired; in another hymn Vasiṣṭha claims to

have been inspired by Varuṇa, and in another [Ṛg-

veda VII. 33, 11] he is called the son of the Apsaras

Urvaśī by Mitra and Varuṇa, whence his patronymic

Maitrāvaruṇi; in Manu I. 35. he is enumerated

among the ten Prajā-patis or Patriarchs produced by

Manu Svāyambhuva for the peopling of the universe;

in the Mahā-bhārata he is mentioned as the family

priest of the solar race or family of Ikṣvāku and

Rāma-candra, and in the Purāṇas as one of the

arrangers of the Vedas in the Dvāpara age; in the

first and second chapters of the Raghu-vaṃśa he is

described as releasing king Dilīpa from his curse of

childlessness by directing him to attend upon the cow

Nandinī in atonement for an offence he had uninten-

tionally committed against the parent cow Surabhi;

according to one account Vasiṣṭha married Ūrjā,

‘Strength;’ according to another, Arundhatī, one of

the Pleiades, by whom he had seven sons [see

arundhatī]; other legends make him one of the

seven great patriarchal sages regarded as forming the

stars of the Great Bear [see ṛṣi]; his name is often

written Vaśiṣṭha, q. v., in which case it must be

connected with vaśa and vaśin); N. of the author

of a law-book (perhaps intended to be ascribed to

the Vedic Ṛṣi above); (ās), m. pl. the family of

Vasiṣṭha; (Vasiṣṭhasyāṅkuśa and Vasiṣṭhasyā-

nupadam, N. of two Sāmans.) —Vasiṣṭha-tantra,

am, n., N. of a Tantra work. —Vasiṣṭha-putra,

ās, m. pl. ‘the sons or descendants of Vasiṣṭha,’ N.

of the authors of Ṛg-veda VII. 33, 10-14. —Va-

siṣṭha-pramukha, as, ā, am, preceded or led

by Vasiṣṭha. —Vasiṣṭha-prācī, f., N. of a place.

—Vasiṣṭha-bhṛgv-atri-sama, as, ā, am, equal

to (the three great saints) Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, and

Atri (all three being reckoned among the nine

Prajā-patis, Manu I. 35). —Vasiṣṭha-saṃhitā, f.,

N. of a philosophical treatise; = yoga-vāsiṣṭha.

—Vasiṣṭhāpavāha (°ṭha-ap°), as, m., N. of a place

on the Sarasvatī (where that river carried the Ṛṣi Va-

siṣṭha away so that he escaped from Viśvā-mitra). [ID=41648]

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)

See page 896

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)

a sage, son of Varuna, one of the seven sages, and husband of Arundhati

वसिष्ठ (vasiṣṭha) [Printed book page 714-1]
Vasiṣṭha (Vaśi° C.), a ṛṣi, son of Varuṇa (or of Mitra

and Varuṇa), one of the Saptarṣis, husband of Arundhatī

(Akṣamālā), father of Śakt(r)i and grandfather of Parāśara.

[Sometimes V. is reckoned among the Prajāpatis (spiritual

sons of Brahmán)]. § 61 (Sarpasattra): I, 55, †2110

(°vat).—§ 130 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 67, 2710 (°sya śāpena, all. to

§ 164).—§ 134 (Viśvāmitra): I, 71, 2923 (°ṃ yaḥ putrair

iṣṭair vyayojayat, cf. § 224).—§ 153 (Pūruvaṃś.): I, 94,

3732 (ṛṣiḥ), 3735 (became the purohita of Saṃvaraṇa,

whom he installed).—§ 161 (Mahābhiṣop.): I, 96, 3853

(śaptāḥ…V°ena, sc. the Vasus, cf. § 164), 3854.—§ 163

(Bhīṣmotpatti): I, 98, 3914 (°śāpadoṣeṇa, all. to § 164).—

§ 164 (Āpavop.): I, 99, 3924 (°nāmā sa muniḥ…Āpavaḥ)

(the Vasu Dyaus stole the homadhenu of V.; V. then cursed

the Vasus to be reborn (Dyaus as Bhīṣma)).—§ 165 (Satya-

vatīlābhop.): I, 100, 4001 (Bhīṣma learnt the Vedas with

their Aṅgas from V.).—§ 188 (Madayantī): I, 122, 4736

(Madayantī jagāma rṣiṃ V°ṃ…tasmāl lebhe ca sā putram

Aśmakaṃ, cf. § 225).—§ 191 (Arjuna): I, 123, 4807 (among

the seven maharṣis present at the birth of Arjuna).—§ 222

(Tapatyup.): I, 173, 6596 (ṛṣisattamaṃ), 6601, 6604

(ṛṣiḥ), (6605), 6609, 6610 (maharṣiḥ), 6612, 6614 (ṛṣiḥ),

6615, 6617, 6619, 6627 (the purohita of Saṃvaraṇa, prevailed

upon Sūrya to give Saṃvaraṇa Tapatī in marriage).—§ 223

(Vāsiṣṭha): I, 174, 6635, 6636, 6638 (Brahmaṇo mānasaḥ

putro V°o 'rundhatīpatiḥ), 6639 (only B., etymology), 6643

(ṛṣisattamaṃ); 175, 6649 (Viśvāmitra-V°yoḥ), 6654

(°āśramaṃ), 6655 (ṛṣiḥ), 6657, (6665), (6668), 6670 (°sya

nandinī), (6672), 6673, (6676), (6678), 6679 (the hostility

between V. and Viśvāmitra).—§ 224 (Kalmāṣapāda): I,

176, 6701 (°kulavardhanaṃ, i.e. Śakt(r)i), 6710 (Viśvāmitra-

V°yoḥ), 6712 (ṛṣeḥ putraṃ V°sya V°m iva tejasā, i.e.

Śakt(r)i), 6736 (°syaiva putreṣu), 6737 (putrān V°sya)

(when Kalmāṣapāda had been cursed by Śakt(r)i and

Viśvāmitra had caused a Rākṣasa to possess him, Kalmā-

ṣapāda devoured Śakt(r)i and the other sons of V.).—§ 225

(Vāsiṣṭha): I, 176, 6738; 177, (6758), 6760 (ṛṣiḥ),

6763, (6767), 6769 (ṛṣiḥ), 6771 (6775), 6779, 6780, 6782

(maharṣiṇā), 6787, 6788 (ṛṣiḥ) (from grief V. in vain tried

to commit suicide, but, hearing of his daughter-in-law being

quick with child, he refrained from his purpose. V. after-

wards delivered Kalmāṣapāda from the curse, and begat

Aśmaka on his queen Madayantī).—§ 226 (Parāśara): I,

178, 6794 (muniḥ, grandfather of Parāśara), 6795 (muniṃ),

6796 (viprarṣiṃ), 6802.—§ 227 (Aurvop.): I, 178, (6802);

179, (6826); 180, (6862) (told Parāśara the story of

Aurva).—§ 228 (do.): I, 181, 6865, 6868, 6871, 6882 (ye ca

Śaktryavarāḥ putrā V°sya mahāmuneḥ), 6883, 6885.—§ 229

(Vasiṣṭhop.): I, 182, 6889, 6891, 6907 (ṛṣeḥ), 6909, 6912

(on account of a curse denounced upon Kalmāṣapāda, V.

begat a son on his queen, cf. § 225).—§ 240 (Vaivāhikap.):

I, 199, 7352 (yathā…V°e cāpy Arundhatī, sc. bhava

bhartṛṣu).—§ 249 (Arjunavanavāsap.): I, 215, 7813 (°sya

Page714-b+ 63

ca parvataṃ, near Himavat(?)).—§ 259b (Arundhatī): I,

233, 8456 (Saptarṣimadhyagaṃ…muniṃ, his wife,

Arundhatī, became jealous of him).—§ 270 (Brahmasabhāv.):

II, 11, 436 (among the prajānāṃ patayaḥ in the palace of

Brahmán).—§ 327 (Draupadīparitāpav.): III, 31, 1171

(among those ṛṣis who have become of pure souls by virtue).

—§ 347 (Nalopākhyānap.): III, 64, 2462 (°-Bhṛgv-

Atrisamaiḥ).—§ 358 (Tīrthayātrāp.): III, 82, 4098 (āśrame

V°sya, a tīrtha on the mountain Arbuda).—§ 368 (do.): III,

83, 7050 (°syāśramaṃ, at Badarīpācana).—§ 370 (do.): III,

84, 8118 (āśramo V°sya, a tīrtha at the Niścirā).—§ 376

(do.): III, 85, 8264 (among the ṛṣis who expect Yudhi-

ṣṭhira on his tīrthayātrā).—§ 384 (Agastyop.): III, 102,

8739 (°syāśrame).—§ 391 (Ṛṣyaśṛṅga): III, 113, 10092

(Arundhatī vā subhāgā V°ṃ…yathā, sc. paryacarat).—

§ 410 (Vipāśā): III, 130, 10544 (atra—i.e. in the Vipāśā—

vai putraśokena V°o bhagavāṇ ṛṣiḥ baddhvātmānaṃ nipātito

vipāśaḥ punar utthitaḥ, cf. § 225), 10553 (Arundhatīsahāyaḥ,

obtained tranquillity at Ujjānaka).—§ 439 (Yakṣayuddhap.):

III, 163, 11855 (sapta devarṣayaḥ…V°pramukhāḥ).—

§ 496 (Skandotpatti): III, 224, 14282 (°pramukhā mukhyā

viprendrāḥ).—§ 527 (Rāmopākhyānap.): III, 277, 15981

(°-Vāmadevābhyāṃ).—§ 543 (Rāmābhiṣeka): III, 292,

16597 (°o Vāmadevaś ca, anointed Rāma Dāśarathi).—§ 562

(Bhagavadyānap.): V, 83η, 2946 (°o Vāmadevaś ca, wor-

shipped Kṛṣṇa).—§ 565 (Gālavacarita): V, 106, 3721

(ṛṣiḥ, Dharma assumed the form of V.); 108, 3773 (atra—

i.e. in the east—pūrvaṃ V°sya paurāṇasya, dvijarṣabha, sūtiś

caiva pratiṣṭhā ca nidhanaṃ ca prakāśate); 117, 3970 (reme

…yathā…V°ś cākṣamālayā).—§ 574 (Jambūkh.):

VI, 2, 65 (Arundhalī tayā 'py eṣa V°ḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtaḥ, one

of the stars [in Ursa major]).—§ 589 (Droṇābhiṣekap.):

VII, 6, 160 (°a iva viprāṇāṃ, sc. śreṣṭhaḥ).—§ 599 (Jayad-

rathavadhap.): VII, 94ε, 3453 (mentioned in a blessing).

—§ 602 (Droṇavadhap.): VII, 190ν, 8727.—§ 615i (Sapta-

sārasvata): IX, 38, 2212 (performed a sacrifice for Kuru

in Kurukṣetra).—§ 615n (Viśvāmitra): IX, 40, 2302

(°āśramaṃ), 2303 (Brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ), 2304 (munisattamaḥ)

(V.'s hostility with Viśvāmitra, cf. § 223).—§ 615p

(Vasiṣṭhāpavāha): IX, 42, 2358 (°syāpavāhaḥ), 2360, 2361

(āśramo vai V°sya, in Sthānutīrtha), 2365, 2366 (Viśvāmitra-

V°au), 2367, 2369 (dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ), 2374, 2376, 2377, 2378,

2380, (2381), 2383, 2392, 2393 (ṛṣisattamaṃ) (Viśvāmitra

ordered the Sarasvatī to bring V. to him that he might slay

him).—§ 615y (Badarapācana): IX, 48, 2767 (viprarṣeḥ),

2768 (Indra assumed the form of V.).—§ 635 (Rājadh.):

XII, 37, 1354 (preceptor of Bhīṣma).—§ 637 (do.): XII,

46, 1568 (°śiṣyaṃ, i.e. Bhīṣma); 47η, 1594 (among the

ṛṣis who surrounded Bhīṣma).—§ 641g (Mucukundop.):

XII, 74, 2814 (the purohita of Mucukunda); 122, 4499

(īśaṃ viprāṇāṃ).—§ 656 (Khaḍgotpattik.): XII, 166α,

6135 (°āṅgirasau, among the mind-born sons of Brahmán),

(β), 6142 (°-Gautamāgastyāḥ).—§ 665 (Mokṣadh.): XII,

208α, 7570 (the seventh of Brahmán's seven sons), (ι),

7598 (the second of the ṛṣis of the north).—§ 677 (do.):

XII, 235, 8591 (Rantideva gave lukewarm water to V.),

8601 (avarṣati Parjanye sarvabhūtāni bhūtakṛt V°o jīvayām

āsa Prajāpatir iva prajāḥ), 8604 (Mitrasaha, i.e. Kalmā-

ṣapāda, gave his wife Madayantī to V. (C. Damayantīṃ), cf.

§ 225).—§ 693b (Vṛtravadha): XII, 282, 10118 (restored

Indra to senses by uttering the Rathantara sāman), (10119),

10124, 10130.—§ 702 (Mokṣadh.): XII, 293α, 10762;

297, 10877 (propagator of one of the four original gotras).—

Page715-a+ 62

§ 705 (do.): XII, 303, 11220 (°sya ca saṃvādaṃ Karālaja-

nakasya ca), 11221, (11226); 304, (11263); 305, (11317);

306, (11339); 307, (11373); 308, (11418); 309,

(11466) (discourse between V. and Karālajanaka), 11511

(obtained the sacred knowledge from Hiraṇyagarbha and

taught it to Nārada).—§ 717b (Nārāyaṇīya): XII, 335α,

12686 (among the twenty-one Prajāpatis).—§ 717c (Upari-

cara): XII, 336β, 12725 (among the seven ṛṣis named

Citraśikhaṇḍins).—§ 717b (Nārāyaṇīya): XII, 341ν, 13040

(among the eight Prakṛtis), (ξ), 13075 (among the seven

spiritual sons of Brahmán); 343, VII). ††13209 (Hairaṇya-

garbhāt, cursed Hiraṇyakaśipu); 350, 13642 (°sya sutaḥ

Śaktriḥ), †13686 (mānasaṃ…Pitāmahasya), 13697 (°kula-

nandanaḥ, i.e. Vyāsa).—§ 721 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 3α, 183

(°sya…hataṃ putraśataṃ, sc. by Viśvāmitra), 192 (salile

purātmānaṃ majjayan, all. to § 225), 193.—§ 723 (do.):

XIII, 6, 296 (°sya saṃvādaṃ Brahmaṇaś ca, °s° also C.),

297 (°s° also C., discourse between V. and Brahmán).—

§ 730g (Upamanyu): XIII, 14χ, 913 (°s tvam ṛṣīṇāṃ,

sc. asi, sc. Śiva).—§ 730 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 14ββ, 991.

—§ 732 (do.): XIII, 24, 1678 (caturthas tvaṃ V°sya, sc.

Vyāsa).—§ 734 (do.): XIII, 26α, 1761 (among the ṛṣis

who came to see Bhīṣma).—§ 746 (do.): XIII, 78, 3732

(the purohita of Saudāsa); 79, (3757); 80, (3785)

(instructed Saudāsa about gifts of kine).—§ 747 (do.):

XIII, 84β, 3968 (devarṣiṃ), 3975.—§ 747b (Suvarṇotpatti):

XIII, 85, (4104) (related the Suvarṇotpatti), 4183.—§ 748b

(Tārakavadhop.): XIII, 85, 4219 (related the Tāraka-

vadhopākhyāna).—§ 749 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 92δ, 4392.

—§ 750b (Bisastainyop.): XIII, 93α, 4416 (4439), (4461),

(4484) (°s° also C.), 4484 (do., etymology), (4515).—§ 751b

(Śapathavidhi): XIII, 94α, †4550, (4563).—§ 759 (Ānuśā-

sanik.): XIII, 106δ, 5200.—§ 766 (do.): XIII, 126, 6046

(sapta…ṛṣayaḥ…V°pramukhāḥ), 6047; 130, 6102/3

(only B.).—§ 767 (do.): XIII, 137α, 6250 (Rantideva made

gifts to V.), 6257 (avarṣati ca Parjanye sarvabhūtāni devarāṭ/

V°o jīvayām āsa), 6259 (Kakṣasena made gifts to V.), 6262

(Mitrasaha—i.e. Kalmāṣapāda—gave his wife Madayantī

to V.).—§ 770 (do.): XIII, 151α, †7088, (ι), 7116 (among

the seven Dhaneśvarasya guravaḥ in the north), 7158 (ξ),

†7160.—§ 772b (Pavanārjunasaṃv.): Vāyu said: Once

the gods performing a sacrifice at the Vaikhānasa lake thought

of the ṛṣi V. Seeing the gods emaciated and reduced in

consequence of the dīkṣā, the gigantic Dānavas named Khalins

desired to slay them. The slain Dānavas plunged into the

lake, and in consequence of a boon granted by Brahmán they

revived. Taking up mountains, etc., they agitated the lake

and caused the water to rise for hundred yojanas. Ten

thousands of them attacked the gods who repaired to Indra;

Indra repaired to V., who burnt the Khalins and caused the

Gangā, who had gone to Kailāsa, to penetrate the lake, thus

arose the river Sarayū; the place came to be named after the

Khalins (khalino 'bhavat). Name thou a kṣatriya superior to

V. (XIII, 156): XIII, 156, 7279, 7280, 7289, 7290.—

§ 773b (Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva): XIII, 159, †7372 (arose from

the seed of the gods, which fell into a jar.)—§ 775 (Ānuśā-

sanik.): XIII, 166ζ, 7670 (among the ṛṣis of the north).—

§ 779 (Aśvamedhikap.): XIV, 11, 311 (restored Indra to

senses with the Rathantara sāman, cf. XII, 10118).—§ 782b

(Brāhmaṇagītā): XIV, 27, 781 (sapta saptarṣayaḥ siddhā

V°pramukhaiḥ saha, read pramukhās tathā?).—§ 782g (Guru-

śiṣyasaṃv.): XIV, 35δ, 961.

Page715-b+ 62

Cf. also the following synonyms:—

Āpava, q.v.

Arundhatīpati (“the husband of Arundhatī”): I,

6638 (V°).

Brahmarṣi (q.v.), Devarṣi (q.v.).

Hairanyagarbha (“the son of Hiranyagarbha [i.e.

Brahmán]”): XII, ††13209 (V°).

Maitrāvāruṇi (“the son of Mitra and Varuṇa”), q.v.

Vāruṇi (“the son of Varuṇa”), q.v.

[ID=11659]

— Index to the Names in the Mahabharata

A revered sage in Hindu mythology.

— The Purana Index

A celebrated sage born from the breath of Brahma, husband of Arundhati, and father of seven Brahmarshis.

— The Purana Index

1. A siddha. 2. The preceptor of Shraddhadeva.

— The Purana Index

a sage of the Vaivasvata epoch

— The Purana Index

born in the Varuni-yajna from the centre of Vasu, progenitor of Pitris and Sukatas

— The Purana Index

1. One who cursed Haihaya to be ruined. 2. A sage of middle devotion. 3. A great seer and knower of the supreme spirit.

— The Purana Index

1. A contemporary of Sagara and family preceptor of the Ikshvakus. 2. The family priest of Dasharatha and Rama.

— The Purana Index

1. A sage of the first epoch of Savarna Manu. 2. The grandfather of Parashara.

— The Purana Index

The younger brother of Agastya who cursed Nimi to become bodyless, and a royal priest of Nimi.

— The Purana Index

The family priest of Dharmamurti, who praised Shiva to burn Tripuram.

— The Purana Index

One of the most prominent priestly figures of Vedic tradition, traditionally associated with the seventh Mandala of the Rigveda and known for his rivalry with Vishvamitra.

वसिष्ठ (vasiṣṭha) [Printed book page 2-274]
Vasiṣṭha is the name of one of the most prominent priestly

figures of Vedic tradition. The seventh Maṇḍala of the

Rigveda is ascribed to him; this ascription is borne out by the

fact that the Vasiṣṭhas¹ and Vasiṣṭha² are frequently mentioned

in that Maṇḍala, besides being sometimes referred to elsewhere.

That by the name Vasiṣṭha a definite individual is always

meant is most improbable, as Oldenberg³ shows; Vasiṣṭha

must normally mean simply ‘a Vasiṣṭha.’ But it is not

necessary to deny that a real Vasiṣṭha existed, for one hymn⁴

seems to show clear traces of his authorship, and of his assist-

ance to Sudās against the ten kings.

The most important feature of Vasiṣṭha's life was apparently
Page2-275+ 68

his hostility to Viśvāmitra. The latter was certainly⁵ at one

time the Purohita (‘domestic priest’) of Sudās, but he seems

to have been deposed from that post, to have joined Sudās'

enemies, and to have taken part in the onslaught of the kings

against him, for the hymn of Sudās' triumph⁴ has clear

references to the ruin Viśvāmitra brought on his allies.⁶

Oldenberg,⁷ however, holds that the strife of Viśvāmitra and

Vasiṣṭha is not to be found in the Rigveda. On the other

hand, Geldner⁸ is hardly right in finding in the Rigveda⁹ a

compressed account indicating the rivalry of Śakti, Vasiṣṭha's

son, with Viśvāmitra, the acquisition by Viśvāmitra of special

skill in speech, and the revenge of Viśvāmitra, who secured the

death of Śakti by Sudās' servants, an account which is more

fully related by Ṣaḍguruśiṣya,¹⁰ which appeared in the Śāṭyāya-

naka,¹¹ and to which reference seems to be made in the brief

notices of the Taittirīya Saṃhitā¹² and the Pañcaviṃśa Brāh-

maṇa¹³ regarding Vasiṣṭha's sons having been slain, and his

overcoming the Saudāsas. But it is important to note that no

mention is made in these authorities of Sudās himself being

actually opposed to Vasiṣṭha, while in the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa¹⁴

Vasiṣṭha appears as the Purohita and consecrator of Sudās

Paijavana. Yāska¹⁵ recognizes Viśvāmitra as the Purohita of

Sudās; this accords with what seems to have been the fact
Page2-276+ 63

that Viśvāmitra originally held the post. Probably, however,

with the disappearance of Sudās, Viśvāmitra recovered his

position, whereupon Vasiṣṭha in revenge for the murder of

his sons secured in some way unspecified the defeat of the

Saudāsas.¹⁶

At any rate it is hardly necessary to suppose that the enmity

of the Saudāsas and Vasiṣṭhas was permanent. There is

evidence¹⁷ that the Bharatas had the Vasiṣṭhas as Purohitas,

while other versions¹⁸ regard them as Purohitas for people

(prajāḥ) generally. It seems that the Vasiṣṭhas were pioneers

in adopting the rule that Purohitas should act as Brahman

priest¹⁹ at the sacrifice: the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa²⁰ states that

the Vasiṣṭhas were once the only priests to act as Brahmans,

but that later any priest could serve as such.²¹ A rivalry

with Jamadgni and Viśvāmitra is reported in the Taittirīya

Saṃhitā.²² Parāśara and Śatayātu are associated with Vasiṣṭha

in the Rigveda,²³ being apparently, as Geldner²⁴ thinks, the

grandson and a son of Vasiṣṭha. According to Pischel,²⁵ in

another hymn,²⁶ Vasiṣṭha appears as attempting to steal the

goods of his father Varuṇa; Geldner²⁷ also shows that the

Rigveda²⁸ contains a clear reference to Vasiṣṭha's being a son

of Varuṇa and the nymph Urvaśī. Perhaps this explains the

fact that the Vasiṣṭhas are called the Tṛtsus in one passage
Page2-277+ 52

of the Rigveda;²⁹ for being of miraculous parentage, Vasiṣṭha

would need adoption into a Gotra, that of the princes whom

he served, and to whom Agastya seems to have introduced

him.

There are numerous other references to Vasiṣṭha as a Ṛṣi

in Vedic literature,³⁰ in the Sūtras,³¹ and in the Epic, where

he and Viśvāmitra fight out their rivalry.³²
[Footnote: 1) Rv. vii. 7, 7; 12, 3; 23, 6; 33,

1 et seq.; 37, 4; 39, 7; 40, 7; 76, 6. 7;

77, 6; 80, 1; 90, 7; 91, 7; x. 15, 8;

66, 14; 122, 8.]

[Footnote: 2) Rv. vii. 9, 6; 13, 4. 21; 22, 3;

23, 1; 26, 5; 33, 11 et seq.; 42, 6;

59, 3; 70, 6; 73, 3; 86, 5; 88, 1; 95, 6;

96, 1; x. 65, 15; 150, 5; i. 112, 9.]

[Footnote: 3) Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgen-

ländischen Gesellschaft, 42, 204 et seq.

Cf. vii. 23, 1 (singular) with verse 6

(plural).]

[Footnote: 4) Rv. vii. 18. As to vii. 33, Olden-

berg and Geldner differ. See Vedische

Studien, 2, 130. But it is rather doubtful

whether it can possibly be said to be

as early as vii. 18, or to have any claim

to be really an utterance of Vasiṣṭha.]

[Footnote: 5) See Rv. iii. 33. 53; Muir, Sanskrit

Texts, 12, 328 et seq.]

[Footnote: 4) Rv. vii. 18. As to vii. 33, Olden-

berg and Geldner differ. See Vedische

Studien, 2, 130. But it is rather doubtful

whether it can possibly be said to be

as early as vii. 18, or to have any claim

to be really an utterance of Vasiṣṭha.]

[Footnote: 6) Hopkins, Journal of the American

Oriental Society, 15, 260 et seq.]

[Footnote: 7) Op. cit., 204, n. 3.]

[Footnote: 8) Op. cit., 2, 158 et seq.]

[Footnote: 9) iii. 53, 15. 16. 21-24, the last four

verses being the famous Vasiṣṭha-

dveṣiṇyaḥ, which Durga, the commen-

tator on the Nirukta, declines to

explain, because he was a Kāpiṣṭhala

Vāsiṣṭha (see Muir, op. cit., 12, 344;

Bṛhaddevatā, iv. 117 et seq., with Mac-

donell's notes). What the verses really

mean is not at all certain. See Olden-

berg, Ṛgveda-Noten, 1, 254 et seq.]

[Footnote: 10) Cf. Sāyaṇa on Rv. vii. 32, and

Macdonell's edition of the Sarvānu-

kramaṇī, 107; Weber, Indische Studien,

1, 119.]

[Footnote: 11) See the note in the Anukramaṇī

on vii. 32, where both the Tāṇḍaka

and the Śāṭyāyanaka are quoted (Muir,

op. cit., 12, 328).]

[Footnote: 12) vii. 4, 7, 1. In iii. 1, 7, 3; v. 4,

11, 3, also Vasiṣṭha is a foe of Viśvā-

mitra.]

[Footnote: 13) iv. 7, 3; viii. 2, 3; xix. 3, 8;

xxi. 11, 2. The story is alluded to in

the Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇa, iv. 8, and in

the Jaiminīya Brāhmaṇa, i. 150; iii. 26.

83. 149. 204. In ii. 390 it is definitely

stated, as in the Śāṭyāyanaka (n. 10),

that Śakti was cast into the fire by the

Saudāsas.]

[Footnote: 14) vii. 34, 9; viii. 21, 11. Cf. Śāṅkh-

āyana Śrauta Sūtra, xvi. 11, 14.]

[Footnote: 15) Nirukta, ii. 24; Śāṅkhāyana

Śrauta Sūtra, xxvi. 12, 13.]

[Footnote: 16) Roth, Zur Litteratur und Geschichte

des Weda, 121 et seq., considered that

the Vasiṣṭhas were finally successful in

the effort to remove the Viśvāmitras

from favour. Weber, Indische Studien,

1, 120; Episches im vedischen Ritual, 34,

doubted this, and Muir, op. cit., 12,

371-375, held the problem to be in-

soluble. Roth and Muir, however, both

complicated the question by regarding

the Bharatas as enemies of the Tṛtsus,

which (see Tṛtsu) is not at all probable,

though it is still the view of Bloomfield,

Journal of the American Oriental Society,

16, 41, 42.]

[Footnote: 17) Pañcaviṃśa Brāhmaṇa, xv. 4, 24;

Weber, Indische Studien, 10, 34.]

[Footnote: 18) Taittirīya Saṃhitā, iii. 5, 2, 1;

Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā, xxxvii. 17.]

[Footnote: 19) Vasiṣṭha was Brahman at the sacri-

fice of Śunaḥśepa, Aitareya Brāhmaṇa,

vii. 16; Śāṅkhāyana Srauta Sūtra,

xv. 21, 4.]

[Footnote: 20) xii. 6, 1, 41. Cf. iv. 6, 6, 5.]

[Footnote: 21) Ṣaḍviṃśa Brāhmaṇa, i. 5; Weber,

Indische Studien, 10, 35.]

[Footnote: 22) iii. 1, 7, 3. Cf. n. 11.]

[Footnote: 23) vii. 18, 21.]

[Footnote: 24) Vedische Studien, 2, 132.]

[Footnote: 25) Vedische Studien, 2, 55 et seq.]

[Footnote: 26) vii. 55. Aufrecht, Indische Studien,

4, 337, took the hymn to refer to a

lover's visit to a maiden. Cf. Lanman,

Sanskrit Reader, 370; Bṛhaddevatā,

vi. 11, with Macdonell's notes.]

[Footnote: 27) Vedische Studien, 2, 138. So also

Nirukta, v. 13; Muir, Sanskrit Texts,

12, 231, n. 97; Bṛhaddevatā, v. 150.

151.]

[Footnote: 28) vii. 33, 11.]

[Footnote: 29) vii. 83, 8.]

[Footnote: 30) Rv. i. 112, 9; vii. 88, 4; 96, 3;

x. 95, 17; 181, 1; Kāṭhaka Saṃhitā,

xvi. 19; xx. 9; xxxii. 2 (Indische Studien,

3, 478); Maitrāyaṇī Saṃhitā, i. 4, 12;

ii. 7, 9; iv. 2, 9; Taittirīya Saṃhitā,

v. 2, 10, 5; Av. iv. 29, 4; Aitareya

Brāhmaṇa, vi. 18, 3; Kauṣītaki Brāh-

maṇa, xxvi. 14; xxix. 2. 3; xxx. 3;

Jaiminīya Upaniṣad Brāhmaṇa, iii. 3,

13; 15, 2; 18, 6; Aitareya Āraṇyaka,

ii. 2, 2; Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad,

ii. 2, 4, etc.]

[Footnote: 31) See Weber, Indische Studien, 10,

89-92; Episches im vedischen Ritual, 35.]

[Footnote: 32) Muir, Sanskrit Texts, 12, 375-414.

Cf. Ludwig, Translation of the Rig-

veda, 3, 131 et seq.; Weber, Episches im

vedischen Ritual, 31-34; Indian Literature,

31, 37, 53, 79, 123, 162; Oldenberg,

Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen

Gesellschaft, 42, 204-207.]
[ID=2843]

— The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects

Other Entities or Persons Named Vasiṣṭha

6 definitions

The name of an Anuvaka

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

the sage presiding over the months of Shuci and Shukra

— The Purana Index

another name for the sage Apava

— The Purana Index

a son of Vali

— The Purana Index

a resident of Brahmakshetra

— The Purana Index

sacred to the ancestors

— The Purana Index

Vasiṣṭha: Specific Scholarly Roles and Authorship

4 definitions

The author of a law-book and other works.

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

1. The eighth Veda Vyasa. 2. A sage who heard the Brahmanda Purana from Indra and narrated it to Sarasvata.

— The Purana Index

a master of the science of architecture

— The Purana Index

a disciple of Jaimini who learned and taught sacred texts

— The Purana Index

Vasiṣṭha's Family and Lineage

3 definitions

the family of Vasishtha

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Urja

— The Purana Index

see Vasishtas

— The Purana Index

Adjective: Most Excellent/Richest

2 definitions

most excellent, best, or richest

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

See page 930.

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Vasiṣṭha (neuter): Flesh

1 definition

flesh

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

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Definitions on this page come from 13 works: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary, Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872), Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary, The Purana Index, The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects, Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon.