भक्त

See also: भक्ती, भक्ति, भक्तों, and भक्तो

Hindi

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Sanskrit भक्त (bhakta). Doublet of भात (bhāt) and बख़्त (baxt).

Pronunciation

• (Delhi) IPA^(key): /bʱəkt̪/, [bʱɐkt̪]
• Rhymes: -əkt̪

Noun

भक्त • (bhakt) m (Urdu spelling بھکت)

1. devotee, adorer
2. (politics, slang) bhakt (ardent right-wing Hindu nationalist) [21st c.]
   • 2019 December 23, ज़फ़र आग़ा [zafar āġā], “झारखण्ड: हिन्दुत्व और ध्रुवीकरण की चाशनी में लिपटे ‘मोदी मॅजिक’ के क़िले की बुनियाद हिलने लगी है [jhārkhaṇḍ: hindutva aur dhruvīkraṇ kī cāśnī mẽ lipṭe ‘modī mĕjik’ ke qile kī buniyād hilne lagī hai]”, in Navjivan‎^[1]:

     लेकिन, राजनीति की ज़मीनी असलियत भक्तों को नज़र नहीं आ रही।

     lekin, rājnīti kī zamīnī asliyat bhaktõ ko nazar nahī̃ ā rahī.

     However, the bhakts do not understand the actual political situation.

Declension

Declension of भक्त (masc cons-stem)

	singular	plural
direct	भक्त bhakt	भक्त bhakt
oblique	भक्त bhakt	भक्तों bhaktõ
vocative	भक्त bhakt	भक्तो bhakto

Further reading

• McGregor, Ronald Stuart (1993) “भक्त”, in The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, London: Oxford University Press
• Dāsa, Śyāmasundara (1965–1975) “भक्त”, in Hindī Śabdasāgara [lit. Sea of Hindi words] (in Hindi), Kashi [Varanasi]: Nagari Pracarini Sabha

Sanskrit

Alternative scripts

Alternative scripts

• ভক্ত (Assamese script)
• ᬪᬓ᭄ᬢ (Balinese script)
• ভক্ত (Bengali script)
• 𑰥𑰎𑰿𑰝 (Bhaiksuki script)
• 𑀪𑀓𑁆𑀢 (Brahmi script)
• ဘက္တ (Burmese script)
• ભક્ત (Gujarati script)
• ਭਕ੍ਤ (Gurmukhi script)
• 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤 (Grantha script)
• ꦨꦏ꧀ꦠ (Javanese script)
• 𑂦𑂍𑂹𑂞 (Kaithi script)
• ಭಕ್ತ (Kannada script)
• ភក្ត (Khmer script)
• ຠກ຺ຕ (Lao script)
• ഭക്ത (Malayalam script)
• ᢨᠠᡬᢠᠠ (Manchu script)
• 𑘥𑘎𑘿𑘝 (Modi script)
• ᠪᠾᠠᢉᢐᠠ᠋ (Mongolian script)
• 𑧅𑦮𑧠𑦽 (Nandinagari script)
• 𑐨𑐎𑑂𑐟 (Newa script)
• ଭକ୍ତ (Odia script)
• ꢩꢒ꣄ꢡ (Saurashtra script)
• 𑆨𑆑𑇀𑆠 (Sharada script)
• 𑖥𑖎𑖿𑖝 (Siddham script)
• භක‍්ත (Sinhalese script)
• 𑩳𑩜 𑪙𑩫 (Soyombo script)
• 𑚡𑚊𑚶𑚙 (Takri script)
• ப⁴க்த (Tamil script)
• భక్త (Telugu script)
• ภกฺต (Thai script)
• བྷ་ཀྟ (Tibetan script)
• 𑒦𑒏𑓂𑒞 (Tirhuta script)
• 𑨡𑨋𑩇𑨙 (Zanabazar Square script)

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Iranian *bʰaktás (“distributed, allotted, share, portion”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂g-tó-s, from *bʰeh₂g- (“to divide, distribute”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬠𐬀𐬑𐬙𐬀 (baxta), Persian بخت (baxt). By surface analysis, भज् (bhaj, “to divide, distribute”, root) +‎ -त (-ta).

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /bʱɐk.tɐ́/, [bʱɐk̚.tɐ́]
• (Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /ˈbʱɐk.t̪ɐ/, [ˈbʱɐk̚.t̪ɐ]

Adjective

भक्त • (bhaktá) stem

1. distributed, assigned, allotted
2. engaged in, occupied with, loyal, faithful

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of भक्त (bhaktá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भक्तः bhaktáḥ	भक्तौ / भक्ता¹ bhaktaú / bhaktā́¹	भक्ताः / भक्तासः¹ bhaktā́ḥ / bhaktā́saḥ¹
Vocative	भक्त bhákta	भक्तौ / भक्ता¹ bháktau / bháktā¹	भक्ताः / भक्तासः¹ bháktāḥ / bháktāsaḥ¹
Accusative	भक्तम् bhaktám	भक्तौ / भक्ता¹ bhaktaú / bhaktā́¹	भक्तान् bhaktā́n
Instrumental	भक्तेन bhakténa	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तैः / भक्तेभिः¹ bhaktaíḥ / bhaktébhiḥ¹
Dative	भक्ताय bhaktā́ya	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तेभ्यः bhaktébhyaḥ
Ablative	भक्तात् bhaktā́t	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तेभ्यः bhaktébhyaḥ
Genitive	भक्तस्य bhaktásya	भक्तयोः bhaktáyoḥ	भक्तानाम् bhaktā́nām
Locative	भक्ते bhakté	भक्तयोः bhaktáyoḥ	भक्तेषु bhaktéṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Feminine ā-stem declension of भक्ता (bhaktā́)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भक्ता bhaktā́	भक्ते bhakté	भक्ताः bhaktā́ḥ
Vocative	भक्ते bhákte	भक्ते bhákte	भक्ताः bháktāḥ
Accusative	भक्ताम् bhaktā́m	भक्ते bhakté	भक्ताः bhaktā́ḥ
Instrumental	भक्तया / भक्ता¹ bhaktáyā / bhaktā́¹	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्ताभिः bhaktā́bhiḥ
Dative	भक्तायै bhaktā́yai	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्ताभ्यः bhaktā́bhyaḥ
Ablative	भक्तायाः / भक्तायै² bhaktā́yāḥ / bhaktā́yai²	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्ताभ्यः bhaktā́bhyaḥ
Genitive	भक्तायाः / भक्तायै² bhaktā́yāḥ / bhaktā́yai²	भक्तयोः bhaktáyoḥ	भक्तानाम् bhaktā́nām
Locative	भक्तायाम् bhaktā́yām	भक्तयोः bhaktáyoḥ	भक्तासु bhaktā́su
Notes	¹Vedic ²Brāhmaṇas

Neuter a-stem declension of भक्त (bhaktá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भक्तम् bhaktám	भक्ते bhakté	भक्तानि / भक्ता¹ bhaktā́ni / bhaktā́¹
Vocative	भक्त bhákta	भक्ते bhákte	भक्तानि / भक्ता¹ bháktāni / bháktā¹
Accusative	भक्तम् bhaktám	भक्ते bhakté	भक्तानि / भक्ता¹ bhaktā́ni / bhaktā́¹
Instrumental	भक्तेन bhakténa	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तैः / भक्तेभिः¹ bhaktaíḥ / bhaktébhiḥ¹
Dative	भक्ताय bhaktā́ya	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तेभ्यः bhaktébhyaḥ
Ablative	भक्तात् bhaktā́t	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तेभ्यः bhaktébhyaḥ
Genitive	भक्तस्य bhaktásya	भक्तयोः bhaktáyoḥ	भक्तानाम् bhaktā́nām
Locative	भक्ते bhakté	भक्तयोः bhaktáyoḥ	भक्तेषु bhaktéṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Noun

भक्त • (bhaktá) stem, n

1. share, portion
2. food, meal
3. boiled rice

Declension

Neuter a-stem declension of भक्त (bhaktá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भक्तम् bhaktám	भक्ते bhakté	भक्तानि / भक्ता¹ bhaktā́ni / bhaktā́¹
Vocative	भक्त bhákta	भक्ते bhákte	भक्तानि / भक्ता¹ bháktāni / bháktā¹
Accusative	भक्तम् bhaktám	भक्ते bhakté	भक्तानि / भक्ता¹ bhaktā́ni / bhaktā́¹
Instrumental	भक्तेन bhakténa	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तैः / भक्तेभिः¹ bhaktaíḥ / bhaktébhiḥ¹
Dative	भक्ताय bhaktā́ya	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तेभ्यः bhaktébhyaḥ
Ablative	भक्तात् bhaktā́t	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तेभ्यः bhaktébhyaḥ
Genitive	भक्तस्य bhaktásya	भक्तयोः bhaktáyoḥ	भक्तानाम् bhaktā́nām
Locative	भक्ते bhakté	भक्तयोः bhaktáyoḥ	भक्तेषु bhaktéṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Descendants

• Dardic:
  • Khowar: بوت (bot)
  • → Proto-Nuristani:
    • Gawar-Bati: bat
    • Grangali: bōt
    • Kalami: batt
    • Kashmiri: بَتَ (bata)
    • Phalura: بھات (bhāt), بت (bat)
    • Prasuni: bū́tū̆, butū́
    • Shina: بت (băt)
    • Shumashti: bǟt
    • Torwali: bāt
    • Waigali: bōt
• Pali: bhatta
• Prakrit: 𑀪𑀢𑁆𑀢 (bhatta)
  • Central:
    • Sauraseni Prakrit:
      • Awadhi: भातु (bhātu)
      • Old Gujarati:
        • Gujarati: ભાત (bhāt)
          • → Kachchi: ભાંત (bhā̃t)
      • Hindustani: bhāt, bhātī
        • Devanagari script: भात, भाती
        • Arabic script: بھَات, بھَاتِی
  • Eastern:
    • Magadhi Prakrit:
      • Assamese: ভাত (bhat)
      • Bengali: ভাত (bhat)
      • Bihari: भात (bhāt)
        • Bhojpuri: भात (bhāt)
      • Chakma: 𑄞𑄖𑄴 (bhāt)
      • Odia: ଭାତ (bhāta)
      • Rohingya: bát
      • Sylheti: ꠜꠣꠔ (báto)
  • Northern:
    • Khasa Prakrit:
      • Central Pahari:
        • Garhwali: भात (bhāt)
        • Kumaoni: भात (bhāt)
      • Eastern Pahari:
        • Nepali: भात (bhāt)
      • Western Pahari:
        • Bhadrawahi: भत्त (bhatt), भात (bhāt)
  • Southern:
    • Helu Prakrit:
      • Dhivehi: ބަތް (bat̊)
      • Sinhalese: බත (bata)
    • Maharastri Prakrit:
      • Konkani: bhāta

        Devanagari script: भात (bhāt)

        Latin script: bhat

        Kannada script: ಭಾತ್ (bhāt)

      • Old Marathi: 𑘥𑘰𑘝𑘹𑘽 (bhāteṃ), 𑘥𑘰𑘝 (bhāta)
        • Marathi: भात (bhāt)
  • Western:
    • Takka Apabhramsa:
      • Punjabi: bhatt, bhappā

        Gurmukhi script: ਭੱਤ, ਭੱਪਾ

        Shahmukhi script: بھتّ, بھَپَّا

    • Vracada Apabhramsa:
      • Sindhi: bhatu

        Arabic script: ڀَتُ

        Devanagari script: भतु

• → Tamil: பத்தம் (pattam)

Noun

भक्त • (bhaktá) stem, m

1. a worshipper, devotee

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of भक्त (bhaktá)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भक्तः bhaktáḥ	भक्तौ / भक्ता¹ bhaktaú / bhaktā́¹	भक्ताः / भक्तासः¹ bhaktā́ḥ / bhaktā́saḥ¹
Vocative	भक्त bhákta	भक्तौ / भक्ता¹ bháktau / bháktā¹	भक्ताः / भक्तासः¹ bháktāḥ / bháktāsaḥ¹
Accusative	भक्तम् bhaktám	भक्तौ / भक्ता¹ bhaktaú / bhaktā́¹	भक्तान् bhaktā́n
Instrumental	भक्तेन bhakténa	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तैः / भक्तेभिः¹ bhaktaíḥ / bhaktébhiḥ¹
Dative	भक्ताय bhaktā́ya	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तेभ्यः bhaktébhyaḥ
Ablative	भक्तात् bhaktā́t	भक्ताभ्याम् bhaktā́bhyām	भक्तेभ्यः bhaktébhyaḥ
Genitive	भक्तस्य bhaktásya	भक्तयोः bhaktáyoḥ	भक्तानाम् bhaktā́nām
Locative	भक्ते bhakté	भक्तयोः bhaktáyoḥ	भक्तेषु bhaktéṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Descendants

• → Hindi: भक्त (bhakt)
  • → English: bhakt
• → Marathi: भक्त (bhakta)
• → Old Marathi: 𑘥𑘎𑘿𑘝 (bhakta), 𑘥𑘐𑘝 (bhagata)
• → Punjabi: ਭਗਤ (bhagat) / بھگت (bhgt)
  • → English: bhagat
• → Marwari: भगत (bhagat)
• → Tamil: பக்தன் (paktaṉ)
• ⇒ Telugu: భక్తుడు (bhaktuḍu)

Further reading

• “भक्त॑” in Carl Cappeller, A Sanskrit–English Dictionary: Based upon the St. Petersburg Lexicons, Strasbourg: Karl J. Trübner, 1891, →OCLC, page 370, column 1.
• Arthur Anthony Macdonell (1893) “भक्त”, in A practical Sanskrit dictionary with transliteration, accentuation, and etymological analysis throughout, London: Oxford University Press, page 200
• Monier Williams (1899) “Bhaktá”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 743, column 1.
• Horace Hayman Wilson, A dictionary in Sanscrit and English, 2nd ed., Calcutta: Education Press, Circular Road, 1832, page 610
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “bhakta”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press, page 530