अष्टक

{ aṣṭaka }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

AṢṬAKA   See under Āṣṭika.
AṢṬAKA I   A King of the Pūru dyansty. Genealogy. Descended in order from Viṣṇu as follows: Brahmā-Atri-Candra-Budha-Purūravas-Āyus-Nahuṣa- Yayāti-Pūru-Janamejaya-Prācinvā-Pravīra-Namasyu- Vītabhaya-Śuṇḍu-Bahuvidha-Saṁyāti-Rahovādi- Raudrāśva-Matināra-Santurodha-Duṣyanta-Bharata- Suhotra-Bṛhatputra-Ajamīḍha-Aṣṭaka. (This Aṣṭaka was the brother of Śunaśśepha).
AṢṬAKA II   A Rājarṣi born to Viśvāmitra of Mādhavī, wife of Yayāti. [Śloka 18, Chapter 119, Udyoga Parva, M.B.] . See under Gālava.
1) How Aṣṭaka went to heaven.
This story was told to the Pāṇḍavas by the sage Mārkaṇḍeya. “Aṣṭaka, son of Viśvāmitra, performed an Aśvamedha Yāga. All the kings took part in this. Pratardana, Vasumanas and Auśīnara Śibi, and all the brothers of Aṣṭaka attended the function. After the yāga Aṣṭaka took his three brothers for an air travel and on the way met the great sage Nārada. Nārada was also taken in and as they continued their flight, Aṣṭaka asked Nārada who should step down from the aeroplane if only four were allowed to go to heaven. “Aṣṭaka”, replied Nārada and explained the reason also. Once when Nārada stayed at the āśrama of Aṣṭaka the former found many varieties of cows there and asked Aṣṭaka whose they were. Then in self praise Aṣṭaka had said that all those were cows which he had given away as gifts. Aṣṭaka then asked who should get down if only three were allowed to go to heaven. ‘Pratardana’, said Nārada and explained the reason. Once when Pratardana was taking Nārada in the former's chariot four brahmins one behind the other approached him and begged for a horse each. When Pratardana asked for some time the brahmins were not prepared to wait and so he gave all but one of his four horses and asked the fourth to wait. As he was also found to be persistent he gave the one drawing his chariot also and dragged the chariot himself but abusing the brahmins all the way. It was that abuse that gave him the slur. Then Aṣṭaka asked Nārada who should get down if only two were permitted to enter heaven. ‘Vasumanas’, said Nārada and explained the reason. Nārada went to the house of Vasumanas three times and each time the latter spoke highly of his chariot. Nārada also joined in praising his flower-chariot and the brahmins present there also followed suit. Pleased at this Vasumanas became proud of his possession and his vainglorious talks made him unfit. Then Aṣṭaka asked if only one were allowed to go to heaven who should go. ‘Śibi’, said Nārada immediately. Even Nārada would be only next to Śibi and Nārada explained the reason thus. Once a brahmin went to Śibi for food. Śibi asked him what food he relished most and the brahmin said that he would like to have the fresh flesh of Śibi's only son, Bṛhadgarbha. Without even the slightest hesitation Śibi killed his son and cooked his flesh and when the food was ready he went out to invite the brahmin. But on going out the King saw the brahmin setting fire to his palace, treasury, armoury, stables, harem and elephant-sheds. Without even a quiver on his face, the king respectfully took the brahmin inside and gave him food. The brahmin was amazed at the patience of the King and sitting before his food for some time told the King that he would be satisfied if the King himself ate that food. Respecting the request the King was about to eat the flesh of his own son when the brahmin who was none other than Brahmā in disguise praised him for his devotion and gave him back his son adorned with sweet smelling flowers and disappeared blessing them. When his ministers questioned him about this Śibi said, “I do not give for a name or fame. Neither do I give for wealth and happiness. I do it because it is the only way to be rid of sins”. [Chapter 168, Araṇya Parva, M.B.] .
2) Other details.
(1) Aṣṭaka was a Rājarṣi. [Śloka 5, Chapter 86, Ādi Parva, M.B.] .
(2) Aṣṭaka gave away all the puṇya (goodness) he earned to Yayāti. See under Yayāti. [Ślokas 13 & 14, Chapter 122, Udyoga Parva, M.B.] .

हिन्दी (hindi) WN

 noun  आठ का समूह   Ex. गंगा अष्टक में गंगा की स्तुति में आठ श्लोक हैं ।

ONTOLOGY:

समूह (Group) ➜ संज्ञा (Noun)

Wordnet:

ben অষ্টক

guj અષ્ટક

kok अष्टक

ori ଅଷ୍ଟକ

san अष्टकम्

urd اشٹک , آٹھ

कोंकणी (Konkani) WN

 noun  आठाचो समूह   Ex. गंगा अष्टकांत गंगाची तुस्तीचे आठ श्लोक आसात

ONTOLOGY:

समूह (Group) ➜ संज्ञा (Noun)

Wordnet:

ben অষ্টক

guj અષ્ટક

hin अष्टक

ori ଅଷ୍ଟକ

san अष्टकम्

urd اشٹک , آٹھ

A dictionary, Marathi and English

   An aggregate of eight. 2 The eight sections collectively of Panini's grammar. 3 m A common term for the eight portions of a संहिता or collection of the formulæ of the Rig Veda.
   aṣṭaka a S Eight: also eighth.

Aryabhushan School Dictionary

 n   An aggregate of eight. A common term-(1) the eight sections collectively of Pânini's grammar. (2) the eight portions of a संहिता. (3) collection of the formulæ of the Rig Veda.
 a   Eight, also eighth.

A Sanskrit English Dictionary

अष्टक  mfn.  mf( आ or इका)n. ( [Śulb.]; cf. [Pāṇ. 7-3, 45] Comm.) consisting of eight parts, [ŚBr.]; [RPrāt.] &c.
   one who is acquainted with the eight books of पाणिनि's grammar, [Pāṇ. 4-2, 65] Sch.
अष्टक  m.  m. N. of a son of विश्वामित्र (author of the hymn, [RV. x, 104]), [AitBr.]; [ĀśvŚr.]; [MBh.] &c.
अष्टक  n.  n. a whole consisting of eight parts (as each of the eight अष्टकs of the [RV.], or as, [TS. i], or as पाणिनि's grammar &c.)

The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary

अष्टक [aṣṭaka] a.  a. [अष्ट परिमाणमस्य कन्] Consisting of 8 parts eight-fold; क्रोधजोऽपि गणोऽष्टकः [Ms.7.48.]
   कः [अष्टकं (पाणिनेः), विदन्ति अधीयते वा इत्यष्टकाः सूत्राच्च कोपधात् [P.IV.2.65.] Sk.] One who studies or is acquainted with the eight Adhyāyās of Pāṇini's grammar.
  N. N. of a son of Viśvāmitra (author of the hymn [Rv.1.14.] )-का [अश्नन्ति पितरोऽस्यां तिथौ अश्-तकन् [Uṇ.3.148] ]
   A collection of three days (7th, 8th, and 9th) beginning from the seventh day after the full moon.
   the 8th day of three months on which the Manes are to bo propitiated.
   A Śrāddha to be performed on the above days; worship of the Manes on certein days; तस्य व्रातस्य योऽस्य द्वितीयोऽ- पानः साष्टका [Av.15.16.2;] अष्टकापितृदैवत्यमित्ययं प्रसृतो जनः [Rām.2.18.14.]
   The 8th day of a month; [Ms.4.113-4.]
   कम् A whole consisting of 8 parts.
   The 8 chapters of Pāṇinī's Sūtras; (अष्टावध्यायाः परिमाणमस्य इत्यष्टकम्; पाणिनेः सूत्रम् Sk.).
   The study of the Sūtras.
   A division of the Ṛigveda (it being divided into 8 Aṣṭakas or 1 Ma- ṇḍalas).
   Any group of eight; as वानराष्टकम्, तारा- ष्टकम्, मङ्गलाष्टकम् &c. गङ्गाष्टकं पठति यः प्रयतः प्रभाते वाल्मीकिना विरचितं शुभदं मनुष्यः
   The number eight. -Comp.
-अङ्गः, -ङ्गम्   a kind of board or cloth for playing with dice on (having eight divisions).

Shabda-Sagara

अष्टक  mfn.  ( -कः-का-कं)
   1. Eight.
   2. Eighth.
  n.  ( -कं) The eight sections of PĀNINI'S Grammar.
  m.  ( -कः)
   1. The formulæ of the Rig Veda as collected into eight portions, thence called Ashtakas.
   2. One acquainted with PĀMINI'S rules or the formulæ of the Veda.
    E. कन् added to अष्ट.

ROOTS:

कन् अष्ट