Bhadram Te And Bhadant

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text from "Bhadram te and Bhadant" by H. C. Bhayani, focusing on the linguistic and contextual analysis of these terms:

The article by H. C. Bhayani explores two Sanskrit expressions, "bhadram te" and "bhadanta," examining their usage and potential origins, particularly within the context of ancient Indian religious and literary traditions.

1. "Bhadram te" in Valmiki's Ramayana:

• Function: The expression "bhadram te" is identified as a formula of blessing, an invocation to ward off evil, or a formal greeting.
• Syntactic Usage: Crucially, it's noted that "bhadram te" is often inserted into sentences in Valmiki's Ramayana in a way that breaks the normal syntactical order. It appears as an asyndeton, meaning it's added without a clear grammatical connection to the preceding or succeeding parts of the sentence.
• Illustrative Examples: The author provides several quotes from the first and second Kanda of the Ramayana to demonstrate this peculiar usage. These examples show "bhadram te" appearing mid-speech, often in a fixed metrical position, typically as the last two words of the first or third line of an Anustubh meter.
  • Examples include its use when referring to Tataka, the sons of Dasharatha, or when characters are addressing other individuals like Lakshmana or Shatrughna.
• Interpretation: The consistent, albeit syntactically disruptive, insertion suggests a formulaic or conventional nature to the phrase, likely serving a ritualistic or emphatic purpose of invoking well-being or safety for the addressee.

2. "Bhadanta" and its Connection to "Bhadram te":

• "Bhadanta" in Pali and Jain Agamas: The term "bhadanta" is well-known in Pali literature as a respectful term of address or an adjective used for Buddhist mendicants and monks. A contracted form, "bhamte" (from "bhadante"), is also frequently used in the Jain Agamas.
• Etymological Roots: The root "bhand" is linked to meanings like "kalyana" (auspicious, good) and "sukha" (happiness). "Bhadanta," derived from this, is semantically interpretable as "kalyanakaraka" (one who causes auspiciousness or well-being).
• Potential Influence of "Bhadram te": Bhayani suspects that the frequent use of "bhadanta" as a respectful term of address might have been influenced by the Middle Indo-Aryan (MIA) form of the traditional blessing formula "bhadram te." The progression could be "bhadram te" > "bhaddani te" > "bhadante."
• Expressing Reverence and Good Wishes: The act of using "bhadanta" can be seen as the speaker expressing their reverence and good wishes, similar to saying "Bless you!" or "Let no evil visit you."
• Parallel to Other Blessing Utterances: This is compared to other exclamations like "jaya" (victory), "jiva" (long live), "nanda" (joy), and "vardhasva" (may you prosper), which are shouted as blessings for significant individuals on festive occasions.
• Connection to "Jiva": A parallel is drawn with the Sanskrit "jiva" and its Prakrit/Apabhramsa forms ("jiu," "jiul"), which evolved into similar particles in various New Indo-Aryan languages used for assent, respect, or as honorific additions to names.
• Specialization of the Term: The author posits that from the general respectful term of address "bhadanta," the specific form "bhadanta" emerged, which later became specialized as a term exclusively for Buddhist monks and mendicants.

In essence, Bhayani's analysis highlights the evolving usage and potential interconnectedness of these terms. "Bhadram te" functions as an older, formulaic blessing within classical Sanskrit literature, often inserted for emphasis and well-being. "Bhadanta," while having its own etymological roots in auspiciousness, may have been further shaped and popularized as a term of respect for religious ascetics due to the underlying sentiment of blessing and good wishes inherent in the older "bhadram te" formula.