गन्धर्व

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Iranian *g(ʰ)andʰarwás ~ *g(ʰ)andʰarbʰás, ultimately likely from a BMAC substrate. Compare Young Avestan 𐬔𐬀𐬧𐬛𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬡𐬀‎ (gaṇdərəβa), 𐬔𐬀𐬧𐬛𐬀𐬭𐬆𐬡𐬀‎ (gaṇdarəβa).

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /ɡɐn̪.d̪ʱɐɽ.ʋɐ́/
• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ɡɐn̪ˈd̪ʱɐɽ.ʋɐ/

Noun

गन्धर्व • (gandharvá) m

1. (Hinduism, Buddhism) a gandharva (one of a class of male heavenly beings, famed singers and guardians of soma)
   • c. 1700 BCE – 1200 BCE, Ṛgveda 9.86.36

     सप्त स्वसारो अभि मातरः शिशुं नवं जज्ञानं जेन्यं विपश्चितम् ।
     अपां गन्धर्वं दिव्यं नृचक्षसं सोमं विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजसे ॥

     sapta svasāro abhi mātaraḥ śiśuṃ navaṃ jajñānaṃ jenyaṃ vipaścitam .
     apāṃ gandharvaṃ divyaṃ nṛcakṣasaṃ somaṃ viśvasya bhuvanasya rājase .

     The Sisters Seven, the Mothers, stand around the Babe, the noble, new-born Infant, skilled in holy song,
     Gandharva of the floods, divine, beholding men, Soma, that he may reign as King of all the world.

2. (figuratively) a skilled singer, bard
   • c. 700 CE – 900 CE, Bhāgavata Purāṇa 1.11.20

     नटनर्तकगन्धर्वाः सूत मागध वन्दिनः ।
     गायन्ति चोत्तमश्लोक चरितानि अद्‍भुतानि च ॥

     naṭanartakagandharvāḥ sūta māgadha vandinaḥ .
     gāyanti cottamaśloka caritāni ad‍bhutāni ca .

3. a sage, religious man
4. horse
   • c. 400 BCE, Mahābhārata 3

   Synonym: अश्व (aśva)

5. A male given name.