Shata-shlokI of Shankara - 23,24 of 101-kuhaka-the meaning !

[Guest guest]

Greetings Kenji,

 

after doing an extensive Google search, this is what i found ! the

meaning of Kuha-ka in Srimad BHagvatam and other scriptures.

 

kuh deceive (Skt.)

 

kuha cheat, in: akuha no cheat (R.); kuhaka cheat, juggler (MBh.);

kuha, kuhaka deceitful (Pali);

 

here are some examples in how this word 'kuhaka' is used in srimad

bhagvatam

 

s.b 1.15.21

 

tad vai dhanus ta iṣavaḥ sa ratho hayās te

 

so 'haḿ rathī nṛpatayo yata ānamanti

 

sarvaḿ kṣaṇena tad abhūd asad īśa-riktam=

769;

 

bhasman hutaḿ *kuhaka-rāddham* ivoptam ūṣyām

 

in this verse. *kuhaka-raddam" means ACCUMULATING MONEY WITH A MAGIC

WAND .

 

 

I have the very same Gāṇḍīva bow, the same arrows, th=

e same chariot

drawn by the same horses, and I use them as the same Arjuna to whom

all the kings offered their due respects. But in the absence of Lord

Kṛṣṇa, all of them, at a moment's notice, have become nul=

l and void.

It is exactly like offering clarified butter on ashes, accumulating

money with a magic wand or sowing seeds on barren land.

 

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KUHAKA is also a name of a SNAKE in srimad bhagvatam

 

5.24.29 S.B

 

tato 'dhastān mahātale kādraveyāṇāḿ sa=

rpāṇāḿ naika-śirasāḿ krodhavaśo

nāma gaṇaḥ *kuhaka*-takṣaka-kāliya-suṣen&=

#803;ādi-pradhānā mahā-bhogavantaḥ

patattri-rājādhipateḥ puruṣa-vāhād anavarat=

am udvijamānāḥ sva-

kalatrāpatya-suhṛt-kuṭumba-sańgena kvacit pramatt=

7; viharanti

 

 

The planetary system below Talātala is known as Mahātala. It is t=

he

abode of many-hooded snakes, descendants of Kadrū, who are always

very angry. The great snakes who are prominent are *Kuhaka,* Takṣaka,=

 

Kāliya and Suṣeṇa. The snakes in Mahātala are always =

disturbed by

fear of Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, but although t=

hey are full

of anxiety, some of them nevertheless sport with their wives,

children, friends and relatives.

 

 

**********************************************************************

KUHAKA -also means Cheater or Deceiver

10.31.10

 

prahasitaḿ priya-prema-vīkṣaṇaḿ

 

viharaṇaḿ ca te dhyāna-mańgalam

 

rahasi saḿvido yā hṛdi spṛśaḥ

 

*kuhaka* no manaḥ kṣobhayanti hi

 

 

Your smiles, Your sweet, loving glances, the intimate pastimes and

confidential talks we enjoyed with You — all these are auspicious to

meditate upon, and they touch our hearts. But at the same time,* O

deceiver,* they very much agitate our minds.

 

**********************************************************************

kuhaka- another meaning is SHOWMAN OR PUPPETEER

 

10.54.12 S.B.

 

yathā dāru-mayī yoṣit

 

nṛtyate *kuhakecchayā*

 

evam īśvara-tantro 'yam

 

īhate sukha-duḥkhayoḥ

 

 

Just as a puppet in the form of a woman dances by the desire of the

puppeteer, so this world, controlled by the Supreme Lord, struggles

in both happiness and misery.

 

**********************************************************************

SO, IN these verses in srimad bhagvatam, *kuhaka* means someone who

cheats ,. a rogue, a juggler, a trickster, an imposter, a deceiver ,

a puppeteer or a magician....

 

ALL THESE MEANINGS ARE TAKEN FROM SRILA PRABHPADHA'S TRANSLATIONS OF

SRIMAD BHAGVATAM.

 

**********************************************************************

kenji, but the word "kuhaka" meaning 'where' used in a sense of

wonderment and awe also seems to be in vogue.

 

Ku as a root word means to do or act ...

 

i have seen this usage

 

ku gachet?

 

where are you going... ?

 

just thinking aloud

[Guest guest]

in adi shankara's baja govindam stotra,

 

there is verse which goes like this

 

kaate kaantaa kaste putraH

saMsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitraH .

kasya tvaM kaH kuta aayaataH

tattvaM chintaya tadiha bhraataH

 

Who is your wife? And who is your child?

Strange indeed is this mortal world!

Who are you? And who is your own?

Where is the region whence you come?

Brother, ponder on these things.

 

here "ku" means where and used in wonderment and awe as kenji has

pointed out!

 

well, one root and so many derivatives!