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bhagavato

bhagavant

masc dat sg of bhagavant (noun); masc abl sg of bhagavant (noun); masc gen sg of bhagavant (noun); masc dat sg of bhagavant (adj); …

1. bhagavato (masc): to the Buddha; for the Buddha
2. bhagavato (masc): of the Buddha
3. bhagavato (masc): from the Buddha
4. bhagavant (masc): Sublime One; Blessed One; Fortunate One; Auspicious One; epithet of the Buddha; lit. having good fortune quality
5. bhagavant (adj): fortunate; lit. having good fortune quality

Built from

• bha — root · share, portion
  Possibly related to Sanskrit bhaj- 'to divide, distribute, partake'. The concrete imagery is of receiving one's portion or lot.
• ga — stem · (connecting element)
  May derive from √gam 'to go', but its exact function in the compound is uncertain; it may be merely a euphonic bridge or old stem-former.
• vant — ending · having, endowed with
  Suffix -vant (< -want) forms possessive adjectives. In this form bhagavato is the dative, ablative, or genitive singular masculine.

Etymology. From bha- 'share, portion' (perhaps related to Sanskrit bhaj- 'to divide, distribute', whence 'to possess as one's share') + -ga- (possibly 'to go', or a connecting vowel) + -vant 'having, endowed with' (suffix forming adjectives). The word literally suggests 'one endowed with a share of fortune' or 'one to whom good falls'. The compound sense 'fortunate, blessed' became a standard honorific for the Buddha.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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