भल्ल

Sanskrit

Alternative scripts

Alternative scripts

• ভল্ল (Assamese script)
• ᬪᬮ᭄ᬮ (Balinese script)
• ভল্ল (Bengali script)
• 𑰥𑰩𑰿𑰩 (Bhaiksuki script)
• 𑀪𑀮𑁆𑀮 (Brahmi script)
• ဘလ္လ (Burmese script)
• ભલ્લ (Gujarati script)
• ਭਲ੍ਲ (Gurmukhi script)
• 𑌭𑌲𑍍𑌲 (Grantha script)
• ꦨꦭ꧀ꦭ (Javanese script)
• 𑂦𑂪𑂹𑂪 (Kaithi script)
• ಭಲ್ಲ (Kannada script)
• ភល្ល (Khmer script)
• ຠລ຺ລ (Lao script)
• ഭല്ല (Malayalam script)
• ᢨᠠᠯᠯᠠ (Manchu script)
• 𑘥𑘩𑘿𑘩 (Modi script)
• ᠪᠾᠠᠯᠯᠠ᠋ (Mongolian script)
• 𑧅𑧉𑧠𑧉 (Nandinagari script)
• 𑐨𑐮𑑂𑐮 (Newa script)
• ଭଲ୍ଲ (Odia script)
• ꢩꢭ꣄ꢭ (Saurashtra script)
• 𑆨𑆬𑇀𑆬 (Sharada script)
• 𑖥𑖩𑖿𑖩 (Siddham script)
• භල‍්ල (Sinhalese script)
• 𑩳𑩽 𑪙𑩽 (Soyombo script)
• 𑚡𑚥𑚶𑚥 (Takri script)
• ப⁴ல்ல (Tamil script)
• భల్ల (Telugu script)
• ภลฺล (Thai script)
• བྷ་ལླ (Tibetan script)
• 𑒦𑒪𑓂𑒪 (Tirhuta script)
• 𑨡𑨬𑩇𑨬 (Zanabazar Square script)

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /bʱɐl.lɐ́/
• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈbʱɐl̪.l̪ɐ/

Etymology 1

The origin is uncertain.

Chatterji considers the word as borrowed from Dravidian; compare Tamil வேல் (vēl, “spear, lance”). Alternatively, Burrow and Turner derive the word from an unattested *भत्ल (bhatla), and connect it to Latin battuo (“to hit; to fight”).

Noun

भल्ल • (bhalla) stem, m

1. a a kind of arrow or missile with a point of a particular shape
2. a particular part of an arrow

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of भल्ल (bhalla)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भल्लः bhallaḥ	भल्लौ / भल्ला¹ bhallau / bhallā¹	भल्लाः / भल्लासः¹ bhallāḥ / bhallāsaḥ¹
Vocative	भल्ल bhalla	भल्लौ / भल्ला¹ bhallau / bhallā¹	भल्लाः / भल्लासः¹ bhallāḥ / bhallāsaḥ¹
Accusative	भल्लम् bhallam	भल्लौ / भल्ला¹ bhallau / bhallā¹	भल्लान् bhallān
Instrumental	भल्लेन bhallena	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लैः / भल्लेभिः¹ bhallaiḥ / bhallebhiḥ¹
Dative	भल्लाय bhallāya	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लेभ्यः bhallebhyaḥ
Ablative	भल्लात् bhallāt	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लेभ्यः bhallebhyaḥ
Genitive	भल्लस्य bhallasya	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लानाम् bhallānām
Locative	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लेषु bhalleṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Noun

भल्ल • (bhalla) stem, n

1. an arrowhead of a particular shape

Declension

Neuter a-stem declension of भल्ल (bhalla)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भल्लम् bhallam	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लानि / भल्ला¹ bhallāni / bhallā¹
Vocative	भल्ल bhalla	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लानि / भल्ला¹ bhallāni / bhallā¹
Accusative	भल्लम् bhallam	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लानि / भल्ला¹ bhallāni / bhallā¹
Instrumental	भल्लेन bhallena	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लैः / भल्लेभिः¹ bhallaiḥ / bhallebhiḥ¹
Dative	भल्लाय bhallāya	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लेभ्यः bhallebhyaḥ
Ablative	भल्लात् bhallāt	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लेभ्यः bhallebhyaḥ
Genitive	भल्लस्य bhallasya	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लानाम् bhallānām
Locative	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लेषु bhalleṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

References

• Monier Williams (1899) “भल्ल”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 748/3.
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (2001) Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎^[1] (in German), volume 3, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 365
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (1963) Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary] (in German), volume 2, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 483
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “bhalla”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press

Etymology 2

From an earlier *भद्ल (bhadla), from an even earlier भद्र (bhadrá, “favourable, auspicious”). Related to भल्लाक्ष (bhallākṣa, “a term used in addressing a flamingo”).

Adjective

भल्ल • (bhalla) stem

1. auspicious, favourable

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of भल्ल (bhalla)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भल्लः bhallaḥ	भल्लौ / भल्ला¹ bhallau / bhallā¹	भल्लाः / भल्लासः¹ bhallāḥ / bhallāsaḥ¹
Vocative	भल्ल bhalla	भल्लौ / भल्ला¹ bhallau / bhallā¹	भल्लाः / भल्लासः¹ bhallāḥ / bhallāsaḥ¹
Accusative	भल्लम् bhallam	भल्लौ / भल्ला¹ bhallau / bhallā¹	भल्लान् bhallān
Instrumental	भल्लेन bhallena	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लैः / भल्लेभिः¹ bhallaiḥ / bhallebhiḥ¹
Dative	भल्लाय bhallāya	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लेभ्यः bhallebhyaḥ
Ablative	भल्लात् bhallāt	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लेभ्यः bhallebhyaḥ
Genitive	भल्लस्य bhallasya	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लानाम् bhallānām
Locative	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लेषु bhalleṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Feminine ā-stem declension of भल्ला (bhallā)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भल्ला bhallā	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लाः bhallāḥ
Vocative	भल्ले bhalle	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लाः bhallāḥ
Accusative	भल्लाम् bhallām	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लाः bhallāḥ
Instrumental	भल्लया / भल्ला¹ bhallayā / bhallā¹	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लाभिः bhallābhiḥ
Dative	भल्लायै bhallāyai	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लाभ्यः bhallābhyaḥ
Ablative	भल्लायाः / भल्लायै² bhallāyāḥ / bhallāyai²	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लाभ्यः bhallābhyaḥ
Genitive	भल्लायाः / भल्लायै² bhallāyāḥ / bhallāyai²	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लानाम् bhallānām
Locative	भल्लायाम् bhallāyām	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लासु bhallāsu
Notes	¹Vedic ²Brāhmaṇas

Neuter a-stem declension of भल्ल (bhalla)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भल्लम् bhallam	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लानि / भल्ला¹ bhallāni / bhallā¹
Vocative	भल्ल bhalla	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लानि / भल्ला¹ bhallāni / bhallā¹
Accusative	भल्लम् bhallam	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लानि / भल्ला¹ bhallāni / bhallā¹
Instrumental	भल्लेन bhallena	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लैः / भल्लेभिः¹ bhallaiḥ / bhallebhiḥ¹
Dative	भल्लाय bhallāya	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लेभ्यः bhallebhyaḥ
Ablative	भल्लात् bhallāt	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लेभ्यः bhallebhyaḥ
Genitive	भल्लस्य bhallasya	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लानाम् bhallānām
Locative	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लेषु bhalleṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Descendants

• Prakrit: 𑀪𑀮𑁆𑀮 (bhalla)
  • Magadhi Prakrit:
    • Bengali: ভাল (bhal), ভালো (bhalō)
    • Early Assamese: ভাল (bhalo)
      • Assamese: ভাল (bhal)
    • Sylheti: ꠜꠣꠟꠣ (bála)
  • ⇒ Sauraseni Prakrit: *𑀪𑀮𑁆𑀮𑀕 (*bhallaga)
    • Hindustani:

      Hindi: भला (bhalā)

      Urdu: بھلا

    • Old Gujarati: भलउं (bhalaüṃ)
      • Gujarati: ભલું (bhalũ)

References

• Monier Williams (1899) “भल्ल”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 748/3.
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (2001) Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎^[2] (in German), volume 3, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 365
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (1996) Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎^[3] (in German), volume 2, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 254
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “bhalla”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press

Etymology 3

The origin is uncertain.

Perhaps from the same origin as Etymology 1; flattering euphemisms for bears were common in ancient India.

Alternatively, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerH- (“brown, bear”), itself a possibly-euphemistic replacement for Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (“bear”), phonetically modified by taboo.

Noun

भल्ल • (bhalla) stem, m

1. a bear
   • c. 800 CE – 950 CE, Nārāyaṇa, Hitopadeśa

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of भल्ल (bhalla)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	भल्लः bhallaḥ	भल्लौ / भल्ला¹ bhallau / bhallā¹	भल्लाः / भल्लासः¹ bhallāḥ / bhallāsaḥ¹
Vocative	भल्ल bhalla	भल्लौ / भल्ला¹ bhallau / bhallā¹	भल्लाः / भल्लासः¹ bhallāḥ / bhallāsaḥ¹
Accusative	भल्लम् bhallam	भल्लौ / भल्ला¹ bhallau / bhallā¹	भल्लान् bhallān
Instrumental	भल्लेन bhallena	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लैः / भल्लेभिः¹ bhallaiḥ / bhallebhiḥ¹
Dative	भल्लाय bhallāya	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लेभ्यः bhallebhyaḥ
Ablative	भल्लात् bhallāt	भल्लाभ्याम् bhallābhyām	भल्लेभ्यः bhallebhyaḥ
Genitive	भल्लस्य bhallasya	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लानाम् bhallānām
Locative	भल्ले bhalle	भल्लयोः bhallayoḥ	भल्लेषु bhalleṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Derived terms

• भल्लूक (bhallūka)
• अच्छभल्ल (acchabhalla)

References

• Monier Williams (1899) “भल्ल”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 748/3.
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (2001) Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎^[4] (in German), volume 3, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 366
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (1963) Kurzgefasstes Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindischen [A Concise Etymological Sanskrit Dictionary] (in German), volume 2, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 485
• Chatterji, Suniti Kumar (1954) Bhartiya Aryabhasha Aur Hindi, Rajkamal Prakashan, page 73
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “bhalla”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press

Etymology 4

Related to मल्ल (malla, “wrestler, boxer by profession”).

Proper noun

भल्ल • (bhalla) m

1. (in the plural) the name of a tribe of people

References

• Monier Williams (1899) “भल्ल”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 748/3.
• Mayrhofer, Manfred (2001) Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen [Etymological Dictionary of Old Indo-Aryan]‎^[5] (in German), volume 3, Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag, page 366
• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985) “bhalla”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press