Karuṇā

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Sanskrit term translated as empathy, compassion or mercy

title: "Karuṇā" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["wholesome-factors-in-buddhism", "jain-philosophical-concepts", "sanskrit-words-and-phrases", "buddhist-philosophical-concepts", "hindu-philosophical-concepts", "kindness", "compassion"] description: "Sanskrit term translated as empathy, compassion or mercy" topic_path: "philosophy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karuṇā" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Sanskrit term translated as empathy, compassion or mercy ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox Buddhist term"]

Field	Value
title	Karuṇā
en	Compassion
bn	করুণা
(kôruṇa)
my	ကရုဏာ
my-Latn	ɡəjṵnà
zh	慈悲
zh-Latn	cíbēi
ja	慈悲
ja-Latn	jihi
km	ករុណា
km-Latn	kârŭna
ko	비
si	කරුණා
ta	கருணை
(Karuai)
kn	ಕರುಣೆ
(karuṇe)
tl	Kaluna
th	กรุณา
th-Latn	karuna
bo	སྙིངརྗེ
vi	Bi
vi-Hani	悲
id	Belas kasih; belas kasihan; welas asih
::

**** () is generally translated as compassion or mercy and sometimes as self-compassion or spiritual longing. It is a significant spiritual concept in the Indic religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, is one of the fundamental virtues and qualities that a spiritual aspirant is encouraged to cultivate. Many Hindu deities are depicted as embodiments of compassion. Karuṇā is often linked with other virtues such as "Maitri" (loving-kindness) and "Ahimsa" (non-violence). Together, these virtues form the foundation of a righteous and spiritually fulfilling life. The word comes from the Sanskrit kara, meaning “to do” or “to make,” indicating an action-based form of compassion, rather than the pity or sadness associated with the English word. In Hindu mythology, the concept of "Karuṇā" or compassionate action is deeply embedded and is often illustrated through stories, characters, and teachings. Each avatar's story of Hindu pantheon is an embodiment of divine compassion in action. For instance, in Shiva Tandava Stotra, Shiva is described as Karunavataram, meaning compassion personified.

Navarasa

Karuna is one of the nine primary rasas (aesthetic principles) in classical Indian arts and literature."Karuṇā Rasa," or the sentiment of compassion, is a pivotal theme in the Ramayana, one of India's principal epics. The narrative commences with the sage Valmiki observing a tragic incident involving a pair of krauncha birds (Sarus cranes), setting the emotional tone for the epic. Witnessing the male bird being killed by a hunter, leaving its partner in anguish, Valmiki is moved to curse the hunter through a spontaneous verse, which ultimately becomes the Ramayana's first shloka (verse). This moment, steeped in sorrow and compassion, not only initiates the composition of the epic but also symbolically prefigures the central narrative of love, loss, and separation experienced by the protagonists, Rama and Sita, embodying the essence of "Karuṇā Rasa." Following this, the god Brahma instructs Valmiki to write Rama's story, revealing the entire tale to him.

Yoga

The foundational work of Yoga, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras—a comprehensive compilation of Sanskrit aphorisms elucidating the theory and practice of yoga—specifically emphasize the concept of Karuna.

The verse maitrī-karuṇā-muditopekṣaṇāṃ sukha-duḥkha-puṇyāpuṇya-viṣayāṇāṃ bhāvanātaś citta-prasādanam advocates for the cultivation of friendliness (Maitri), compassion (Karuna), joy (Mudita), and equanimity (Upeksha) in response to life's dualities: happiness (Sukha) and suffering (Duhkha), as well as moral virtue (Punya) and vice (Apunya). This practice, according to Patanjali, is instrumental in achieving a state of mental tranquility (Chittaprasadanam), underscoring the psychological and ethical dimensions integral to yoga's philosophical framework.

Buddhism

is important in all schools of Buddhism. For Theravada Buddhists, dwelling in is a means for attaining a happy present life and heavenly rebirth. For Mahāyāna Buddhists, is a co-requisite for becoming a Bodhisattva.

According to Ven.Sangye Khandro's'book Awakening a Kind Heart, karuṇā can be described as the wish for all sentient beings to be free from suffering and its causes. However, in order for us to benefit others, we need to balance it with clear wisdom (paññā**)** to act objectively.

Theravada Buddhism

In Theravāda Buddhism, is one of the four "divine abodes" (pi), along with loving kindness (Pāli: pi), sympathetic joy (pi), and equanimity (pi).{{multiref2 |1= |2="" in }} In the Pali canon, Gautama Buddha recommends cultivating these four virtuous mental states to both householders and monastics. When one develops these four states, Buddha counsels radiating them in all directions, as in the following stock canonical phrase regarding : ::quote He keeps pervading the first direction—as well as the second direction, the third, and the fourth—with an awareness imbued with compassion. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with compassion: abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will. ::

Such a practice purifies one's mind, avoids evil-induced consequences, leads to happiness in one's present life, and, if there is a future karmic rebirth, it will be in a heavenly realm.

The Pali commentaries distinguish between and pi in the following complementary manner: sa is the desire to remove harm and suffering (pi) from others; while pi is the desire to bring about the well-being and happiness (pi) of others. The "far enemy" of is cruelty, a mind-state in obvious opposition. The "near enemy" (quality which superficially resembles but is in fact more subtly in opposition to it), is (sentimental) pity: here too one wants to remove suffering, but for a partly selfish (attached) reason hence not the pure motivation.{{multiref2 |1= |2= }} In the Pāli Canon, Buddhas are also described as choosing to teach "out of compassion for beings."

Mahayana Buddhism

In Mahāyāna Buddhism, is one of the two qualities, along with enlightened wisdom (Sanskrit: sa), to be cultivated on the bodhisattva path. According to scholar Rupert Gethin, this elevation of to the status of prajña is one of the distinguishing factors between the Theravāda arahant ideal and the Mahāyāna bodhisattva ideal: ::quote

Throughout the Mahāyāna world, Avalokiteśvara (Sanskrit; Chinese: Guan Yin; Japanese: Kannon; Tibetan: Chenrezig) is a bodhisattva who embodies .

In the Intermediate section of the Stages of Meditation by Kamalaśīla, he writes: ::quote

In Tibetan Buddhism, one of the foremost authoritative texts on the Bodhisattva path is the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra by Shantideva. In the eighth section entitled Meditative Concentration, Shantideva describes meditation on Karunā as thus:

::quote

Jainism

is associated with the Jain practice of compassion. For instance, is one of the four reflections of universal friendship—along with amity (Sanskrit: sa), appreciation (sa) and equanimity (madhyastha)—used to stop (samvara) the influx of karma.

Miscellaneous

is a common first name throughout India, used for both genders.

In literature

In Aldous Huxley's novel Island, the concept of "karuna" is pivotal to the philosophical and spiritual ethos of the society depicted in the book. In the novel, it represents an ideal of emotional intelligence and empathetic living, contrasting with the more self-centered and materialistic attitudes seen in the Western world. This concept is central to the practices and worldview of the inhabitants of Pala, a fictional island situated between the Andaman Islands and Sumatra. Huxley uses the mynah birds throughout the novel as a recurring motif to reinforce the importance of mindfulness and compassion in Pala's society. The birds are trained to repeat "Karuna" at key moments, such as during moments of stress, conflict, or potential violence. This serves to remind the islanders (and the reader) to approach situations with understanding and empathy.

Notes

Sources

References

Regarding the Sanskrit word, see [https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/MWScanpdf/mw0255-karaTa.pdf "{{IAST. karuṇā"] in {{harvtxt. Monier-Williams. 1964. karuṇā"] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-07-11 in {{harvtxt). Rhys Davids. Stede. 1921–25. Warder. 2004. Buddhaghosa. 1999. Vsm.]] IX.77ff. Saddhatissa. 2003. SN]] 3.39, {{harvtxt. Thanissaro. 1994. AN]] 3.65, {{harvtxt. Salzberg. 1995. Gethin. 1998. Bodhi. 2000. SN]] 41.7
[https://hinduismpedia.kailaasa.org/wiki/Karuna Karuna] hinduismpedia {{dead link. (March 2024)
"What is Karuna? - Definition from Yogapedia".
(21 June 2008). "Karuna, Karuṇā, Karuṇa: 44 definitions".
Bhandari, N. B. (2022). The Outlook: Journal of English Studies. Outlook, 13, 100-114.
Schwartz, Susan L. Rasa: Performing the divine in India. Columbia University Press, 2004.
(2009). "Why Sārus Cranes Epitomize Karuṇarasa in the Rāmāyaṇa". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.
(20 August 2018). "Inseparable in virtue". The Hindu.
https://www.kmspks.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/Awakening-2ndEdition.2013-Web.pdf Page 11-14 of the book
For instance, in the ''Kālāmā Sutta'' ([[Anguttara Nikaya. AN]] 3.65), the Buddha speaks of all Noble Disciples ({{transliteration. pi. Ariya-[[Savaka]]) developing the brahmaviharas. {{harvtxt. Thanissaro. 1994
{{harvtxt. Thanissaro. 1994. The "four directions" refer to east, south, west, and north.
{{harvtxt. Thanissaro. 1994. In regards to in which heavenly realm a frequent {{IAST. karuṇā-dweller will be reborn, {{harvtxt. Thanissaro. 2006 identifies it as the realm of radiant ({{transliteration. pi. abhassara) devas, whose lifespans last two eons.
[[Sutta Nipata. Sn]]-[[Atthakatha. A]] 128 (cited by {{harvtxt. Rhys Davids. Stede. 1921–25. Buddha Dharma Education Association & BuddhaNet. Similarly, the post-canonical ''[[Visuddhimagga]]'' IX.105–109, provides further elucidation, such as with a metaphor describing {{transliteration. pi. mettā as a mother's wish for her (healthy) child to grow up and {{transliteration. sa. karuṇā as a mother's wish for her sick child to get well, {{harvtxt. Buddhaghosa. 1999
In Pali, {{transliteration. pi. sattesu... kāruññataṃ paṭicca, found in [[Digha Nikaya. DN]] 3.6 (regarding [[Vipassī Buddha]]), [[Majjhima Nikaya. MN]] 26.21 and SN 6.1, see, e.g., {{harvtxt. Bodhi. 2000. Thanissaro. 1997. Several other references in the Pali Canon to the Buddha's acting out of "compassion" are not related directly to {{transliteration. pi. karuṇā but to the synonymous {{transliteration. pi. anukampā, which is also defined as "mercy" in {{harvtxt. Rhys Davids. Stede. 1921–25
{{harvtxt. Gethin. 1998
{{harvtxt. Gyatso. Kamalashila. 2019
{{harvtxt. Shantideva. 2011
{{harvtxt. Shah. Regarding ''samvara'', see [[Karma_in_Jainism#Release_from_karmas. "Release from karmas"]]. From a comparative religion perspective, cf. Buddhism's four [[brahmavihara]]; for instance, {{transliteration. sa. maitri is often identified as a Sanskrit correlate of the Pali {{transliteration. pi. mettā—{{harvtxt. Rhys Davids. Stede. 1921–25
Huxley, Aldous. "Island." Harper & Brothers, 1962.

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