Bhagavad

Bhagavad is a Sanskrit adjective used in Hindu literature to mean “blessed,” “divine,” or “of the Bhagavān (the Lord).” The root bhaga conveys fortune, glory, or divine virtue, and the suffixes commonly found in Sanskrit compounds indicate possession of that quality or relation to. In this sense, Bhagavad functions as a stem form that appears in various names and phrases to denote things associated with the divine.

In scriptural usage, Bhagavad appears most prominently in the sense of describing texts or beings connected with the Lord. The best-known example is the Bhagavad Gita, often translated as “The Song of the Lord,” a 700-verse dialogue within the Mahabharata in which Krishna imparts spiritual guidance to Arjuna. The root also appears in related compound forms and in the broader Bhāgavata tradition, which includes works such as the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (the Srimad Bhāgavatam) that recounts the life and deeds of Krishna and other avatars.

As an epithet, Bhagavān is used to refer to deities such as Krishna or Vishnu, and the term appears in hymns, prayers, and devotional poetry across various Hindu traditions. While Bhagavad is not a standalone text, it serves as a productive root in compound names and phrases that signal a relationship to the divine or to blessed qualities.

Overall, Bhagavad functions as a linguistic indicator of divinity or blessedness within Sanskrit religious literature, contributing to the naming and characterization of sacred texts and worship within Hinduism.