Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 15,941
Date uploaded in London – 3 July 2026
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
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WORDS BEGINNING WITH “P”
Paila- one of the four disciples of Veda Vyasa. The other three are Sumantu, Jaimini and Vaiśampāyana. Paila (पैल) was taught Ṛig Veda; Bahvṛca (Ṛig Veda). He taught it to Indrapramati and to Bāṣkala; Paila was invited for the Rājasūya of Yudhiṣṭhira.
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Panchalam – paanchaalam- Modern Punjab; Land of Five Rivers
Panchali -paanchaali- Draupadi; daughter of Drupada who ruled Punjab.
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Panchatantra – 2000 year old animal stories/ fables of India written by Vishnusarma in Sanskrit . it has five principles taught to princes for a successful rule. It was translated into Persian and then spread throughout the world. It has thousands of quotations on ethics. The five principles are
Book 1 – Mitra-bheda (on causing dissention among friends)
Book 2 – Mitra-lābha ( The Winning of Friends)
Book 3 – Kākolūkīyam (Story of Crows and Owls)
Book 4 – Labdhapraṇāśam (On losing what you have gained)
Book 5 – Aparīkṣitakārakaṃ ( On hasty Actions)
The tales highlight themes of cleverness, the consequences of actions, and various life truths, making Panchatantra a significant influence on storytelling traditions, and serving as a source for adaptations in children’s literature.
Its adaptation is known as Stories of Bidpai. Fables of Bidpai is a collection of moral tales that use animal characters to convey important lessons. These stories are part of a tradition that includes the famous work Kalila wa-Dimna, emphasizing the timeless nature of storytelling in imparting wisdom.
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Pandava – paandava –
The five sons of king Pandu of Hastinapura are called Pancha Pandavas. They are
Yudhisthira – in Tamil Dharman.
Bhima – in Tamil Veeman
Arjuna –
They were born to Kunti.
Nakula – twin brother ; born to Maadri.
Sahadeva -twin brother ; born to Maadri.
They fought with their cousins Kauravas after 13-year banishment to forest and won the kingdom. The full story is in the longest epic in the world called Mahabharata.
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Pandya – paandya – Rulers of South Tamil Nadu from third century BCE. They were the patrons of Tamil language. There were three Tamil Sangams (Tamil Academies) during their rule. Their association with Agastya Rishi is mentioned by Kalidasa, the greatest poet of India. They ruled from Madurai until 13th century CE when the Muslims invaded Madurai. After Muslim’s capture of Madurai, Vijayanagara rulers invaded Madurai and dethroned them.
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Pandu- paandu-
Father of five Pandavas. He was born to king Vichitravirya’s widow Ambalika through Vyasa. As his older brother Dhritarashtra was born blind, he ruled the kingdom from Hastinapura . He married Kunti and Madri ; once he went to the forest for hunting and saw two mating deer. He shot them with arrow; but they were not deer but Kindama rishi in deer hide; they were enjoying conjugal pleasure. Kindama rishi cursed Pandu before dying that Pandu would die if he enjoys conjugal pleasure. A few years later on an enchanting spring day he approached Madri ignoring Kindama rishi’s curse. He died immediately. Madri holding herself responsible for his death left her two children Nakula and Sahadeva to be cared by Kunti and died by entering the funeral pyre.
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Pandit/ Pundit
A pandit (or pundit) is an honorary title given to a Hindu scholar, teacher, or wise man who is highly educated in Sanskrit, philosophy, religion, or law. In everyday use, it can also refer to a Hindu priest who performs rituals, or a highly skilled master of a traditional art, such as Indian classical music.
In Kashmir Brahmins are called Pandits. Original inhabitants. Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India was also a Pandit.
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Panini-paanini– World’s first grammarian. He lived in 7th century BCE according to Goldstucker. He authored the Ashtadhyayi (Eight Chapters), an exhaustive text containing nearly 4,000 sutras (rules) that define the morphological and phonetic structure of classical Sanskrit. Scholars appreciate his work for his scientific approach and crispiness. Patanjali who came several hundred years after Panini, wrote a monumental commentary known as Mahabhashyam. Together with Panini and Patanjali another grammarian Katyayana Vararuchi are praised as Three Great Munis (Rishis).
Vakyakaram Vararuchim, Bhashyakaram Patanjalim
Paninim Sutrakaram cha pranatosmi Munitrayam
He lived before Buddha and other great philosophers of sixth century BCE. Though he mentioned several great grammarians before his time, we don’t know anything about them
Panini mentioned the grammarians before his time: Upavarsha, Parasarya, Karmanda, Sakatayana, Apitali and Sakalya.
Western linguists wonder how a person can write a grammar in such a scientific way at that period. Most of the world was uncivilised at that time. But India had produced wealthy literature, quantitatively and qualitatively very high. Only when there is vast literature one can write a grammar.
In Kashmir, a king passed an order that everyone must learn Ashtadhyayi and those who passed in it were awarded 1000 gold coins each!
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Parasara
Parāśara (पराशर) is the son of Śakti and grandson of Vasiṣṭha and Arundhatī, he was born to Śakti and Adṛśyantī./ Matsya/ Satyavati Their son was Vyasa.
Genealogy. Descending in order from Viṣṇu—Brahmā -Vasiṣṭha—Śakti—Parāśara.
Millions of Hindus recite Vishnu Sahsranamam everyday where the genealogy is given as follows:
vyāsaṃ vasiṣṭha naptāraṃ śaktēḥ pautramakalmaṣam ।
parāśarātmajaṃ vandē śukatātaṃ tapōnidhim
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Parijata – paarijaata-
This mythical (Parijata) tree rose of the milk ocean when Devas and Asuras churned it to get Amrita. Indra took it and planted it in his garden. “Its bark was gold, and it was embellished with young sprouting leaves of a copper colour, and fruit stalks bearing numerous clusters of fragrant fruits.”
Once Narada brought a flower of this tree to Dwaraka and presented it to his friend Krishna. He waited to see to which of his wives Krishna gave the flower. The flower was given to Rukmini, and Narada went straight to Satyabhama and made a show of sorrow. On her enquiring why he was not in good cheer, the sage told Satyabhama, that he had presented Krishna with a flower of the Parijata tree thinking that she was her favourite wife and he would present it to her, but was grieved to find that Krishna had given it to Rukmini.
Satyabhama’s jealousy was roused and she asked Narada what could be done to spite Rukmini. The sage advised her to ask Krishna to bring the Parijata tree itself from heaven and plant it near her house. After giving this advice, he went back to the celestial region and told Indra to guard the Parijata tree carefully as thieves were about.
When Krishna saw Satyabhama in angry mood he asked her the reason. She told him, “You pretend that I am your favourite wife, but treat me as Rukmini’s handmaid she said, and asked him what made him present the Parijata flower to Rukmini. Then Krishna asked her what he could do in expiation. She wanted possession of the tree. Krishna immediately proceeded to Amaravati, Capital City of Indra’s Empire. Krishna stole into Indra’s grove and started uprooting the tree. The king of the gods came upon the scene and caught the thief red-handed but seeing who his despoiler was, he allowed him, after some show of resentment, to take the tree to Dwaraka, Capital city of Krishna’s empire.
Botanical Information: Two different plants are known as Parijata one is Coral Jasmine (Pavala Mallikai in Tamil) and another is Baobab Tree in Uttar Pradesh.
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Parikshit
Posthumous son of Abhimanyu. He was the only descendent of the Pandavas. When he was in the womb of Uttara, he was saved from the Brahmastra fired by Ashwattama.
Once when Parikshit went to forest for hunting. When he was thirsty, he went to the hermitage of Shamika rishi and asked for water. The rishi was in deep meditation and did not respond. Thinking that the Rishi was pretending, Parikshit placed a dead snake around the neck of the seer. When Shrungi, son of Shamika came to know this, he cursed that king Parikshit would die on the seventh day at the hands of Takshaka Naga. Despite heavy security in the palace , Takshaka hid himself in a fruit basket taken into the palace and killed him.
(Actually it was a long going fight between Krishna and tribal Nagas from the days of Kaliaya Mardhan and Khandava forest burning. It was settled and a peace agreement was signed during Janamejaya’s rule who massacred tribal nagas in the name of Sarpa Yajna. Two rishis Jaratkaru and Astika facilitated the peace agreement. Brahmins recite a mantra thrice a day referring to this peace agreement in Narmadaiyai Namah ……………………….. mantra facing North).
To be continued……………………..
Tags – HINDU DICTIONARY IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL 76; இந்து மத கலைச்சொல் அகராதி- 76 , Parasara, Paila, Parikshit
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Tamil and Vedas 
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