vihvala

 The Sanskrit word "vihvala" is written in 

Devanagari as विह्वल

The Sanskrit word "vihvala" generally means agitated, 

bewildered, overwhelmed, or ecstatic; it conveys a state 

of mental or emotional disturbance or being overcome 

by intense emotions.

General Meanings

• Agitated or disturbed: Refers to a state of restlessness or 
• unease caused by emotional or mental disturbance 

  1

  .
• Bewildered or confused: Indicates being perplexed, puzzled, or 
• unable to think clearly 

  2

  .
• Overwhelmed: Often used in the context of overwhelming 
• feelings, such as ecstatic love or transcendental bliss, e.g., 
• preme ha-ila vihvala means being overwhelmed by ecstatic love 

  1

  .
• Distressed or afflicted: Can describe someone experiencing 
• intense emotional suffering 

  1

  .
• Despondent or alarmed: Sometimes used to indicate fearfulness 
• or psychological turmoil 

  1

  .
• 

  

  3 Sources

Specific Contexts in Literature

• In Bhagavata Purana and other Sanskrit texts, it describes 
• being emotionally overwhelmed, especially in devotional or 
• transcendental contexts (e.g., ananda-vihvala – overwhelmed 
• with bliss) 

  1

  .
• In Shaktism texts, it describes being distraught or confused, 
• particularly in the presence of divine or powerful stimuli 

  1

  .
• Classical Sanskrit poetry uses the term to depict characters’ 
• emotional intensity, ecstasy, or mental perturbation 

  2

  .
• 

  

  3 Sources

Summary of Connotations

• Pronounced as vih-və-lā
• Used both as an adjective (someone is vihvala) and in 
• compounds to indicate emotional states (e.g., priti-vihvala).
• Can imply mental disturbance due to love, fear, devotion, 
• or overwhelming joy.

In essence, "vihvala" captures the intense emotional spectrum 

from bewilderment and distress to ecstatic overwhelm, making 

it a versatile term in Sanskrit describing both secular and spiritual 

emotional states 

Sanskrit Dictionary+2

.