Khaḍga
Khaḍga, “sword”
Khaḍga is a name used for more than one thing and place in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.
Things and ideas
- Nandaka: the divine khaḍga (sword) of Bhagavān Vishṇu, the sword of knowledge, the fourth of the four weapons in his four hands; the Brahma Purāṇa speaks of Hari’s khaḍga without giving it this name. Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 38; Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 6, Chapter 8; Skandha 8, Chapter 20; Skandha 11, Chapter 27; Skandha 12, Chapter 11; Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 59, 66–67; Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 6; Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 21, 23, 31, 33, 47, 49, 219, 245, 269–270, 303; Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 59, 210, 226
Places
- Pailūsha and the Sword of Jñāna: the account of Khaḍgatīrtha, “the tīrtha of the sword”, on the northern bank of the Gautamī, where the poor brāhmaṇa Pailūsha learned how the sword of jñāna cuts the enemies of the self. Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 69
Named in passing
- Khaḍga, an ordinary sword: among the things a sādhaka brings out of the Nṛsiṃha Bila, and among the weapons with which Yama’s kiṅkaras punish the pāpīs, told on Yamadūtas. Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 58, 215