साधु

See also: साधू, सुधा, सुध, सीधा, संधि, and सीधे

Hindi

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit साधु (sādhú).

Pronunciation

• (Delhi Hindi) IPA^(key): /sɑː.d̪ʱuː/, [s̪äː.d̪ʱuː]

Noun

साधु • (sādhu) m

1. (Hinduism) a sadhu; monk

Declension

Declension of साधु (masc u-stem)

	singular	plural
direct	साधु sādhu	साधु sādhu
oblique	साधु sādhu	साधुओं sādhuõ
vocative	साधु sādhu	साधुओ sādhuo

References

• McGregor, Ronald Stuart (1993), “साधु”, in The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, London: Oxford University Press

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative forms

• sādhu (Latin script)
• 𑀲𑀸𑀥𑀼 (Brahmi script)
• সাধু (Bengali script)
• සාධු (Sinhalese script)
• သာဓု or သႃꩪု (Burmese script)
• สาธุ (Thai script)
• ᩈᩣᨵᩩ (Tai Tham script)
• ສາຘຸ (Lao script)
• សាធុ (Khmer script)
• 𑄥𑄂𑄙𑄪 (Chakma script)

Adjective

साधु

1. Devanagari script form of sādhu

Sanskrit

Alternative scripts

Alternative scripts

• ᬲᬵᬥᬸ (Balinese script)
• সাধু (Assamese script)
• সাধু (Bengali script)
• 𑰭𑰯𑰠𑰲 (Bhaiksuki script)
• 𑀲𑀸𑀥𑀼 (Brahmi script)
• 𑌸𑌾𑌧𑍁 (Grantha script)
• સાધુ (Gujarati script)
• ਸਾਧੁ (Gurmukhi script)
• ꦱꦴꦣꦸ (Javanese script)
• សាធុ (Khmer script)
• ಸಾಧು (Kannada script)
• ສາຘຸ (Lao script)
• സാധു (Malayalam script)
• 𑘭𑘰𑘠𑘳 (Modi script)
• ᠰᠠᢗᢑᠾᠤ (Mongolian script)
• ᠰᠠ᠎᠊ᠠᢡᡠ (Manchu script)
• သာဓု (Burmese script)
• 𑧍𑧑𑧀𑧔 (Nandinagari script)
• 𑐳𑐵𑐢𑐸 (Newa script)
• ସାଧୁ (Odia script)
• ꢱꢵꢤꢸ (Saurashtra script)
• 𑆱𑆳𑆣𑆶 (Sharada script)
• 𑖭𑖯𑖠𑖲 (Siddham script)
• සාධු (Sinhalese script)
• ஸாத⁴ு (Tamil script)
• సాధు (Telugu script)
• สาธุ (Thai script)
• སཱ་དྷུ (Tibetan script)
• 𑒮𑒰𑒡𑒳 (Tirhuta script)

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Iranian *sáHdʰuš.

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /sɑː.dʱú/
• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈs̪ɑː.d̪ʱu/

Adjective

साधु • (sādhú) root form

1. straight, right
2. leading straight to a goal, hitting the mark, unerring (as an arrow or thunderbolt)
3. straightened, not entangled (as threads)
4. well-disposed, kind, willing, obedient
5. successful, effective, efficient (as a hymn or prayer)
6. ready, prepared (as soma)
7. peaceful, secure
8. powerful, excellent, good for (locative) or towards (locative, genitive, dative, accusative, with प्रति (prati), अनु (anu), अभि (abhi), परि (pari), or compound)
9. fit, proper, right
10. good, virtuous, honourable, righteous
11. well-born, noble, of honourable or respectable descent
12. correct, pure
13. classical (as language)

Declension

Masculine u-stem declension of साधु (sādhú)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	साधुः sādhúḥ	साधू sādhū́	साधवः sādhávaḥ
Vocative	साधो sā́dho	साधू sā́dhū	साधवः sā́dhavaḥ
Accusative	साधुम् sādhúm	साधू sādhū́	साधून् sādhū́n
Instrumental	साधुना / साध्वा¹ sādhúnā / sādhvā̀¹	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभिः sādhúbhiḥ
Dative	साधवे / साध्वे² sādháve / sādhvè²	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभ्यः sādhúbhyaḥ
Ablative	साधोः / साध्वः² sādhóḥ / sādhvàḥ²	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभ्यः sādhúbhyaḥ
Genitive	साधोः / साध्वः² sādhóḥ / sādhvàḥ²	साध्वोः sādhvóḥ	साधूनाम् sādhūnā́m
Locative	साधौ sādhaú	साध्वोः sādhvóḥ	साधुषु sādhúṣu
Notes	¹Vedic ²Less common

Feminine ī-stem declension of साध्वी (sādhvī́)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	साध्वी sādhvī́	साध्व्यौ / साध्वी¹ sādhvyaù / sādhvī́¹	साध्व्यः / साध्वीः¹ sādhvyàḥ / sādhvī́ḥ¹
Vocative	साध्वि sā́dhvi	साध्व्यौ / साध्वी¹ sā́dhvyau / sādhvī́¹	साध्व्यः / साध्वीः¹ sā́dhvyaḥ / sā́dhvīḥ¹
Accusative	साध्वीम् sādhvī́m	साध्व्यौ / साध्वी¹ sādhvyaù / sādhvī́¹	साध्वीः sādhvī́ḥ
Instrumental	साध्व्या sādhvyā̀	साध्वीभ्याम् sādhvī́bhyām	साध्वीभिः sādhvī́bhiḥ
Dative	साध्व्यै sādhvyaì	साध्वीभ्याम् sādhvī́bhyām	साध्वीभ्यः sādhvī́bhyaḥ
Ablative	साध्व्याः sādhvyā̀ḥ	साध्वीभ्याम् sādhvī́bhyām	साध्वीभ्यः sādhvī́bhyaḥ
Genitive	साध्व्याः sādhvyā̀ḥ	साध्व्योः sādhvyòḥ	साध्वीनाम् sādhvī́nām
Locative	साध्व्याम् sādhvyā̀m	साध्व्योः sādhvyòḥ	साध्वीषु sādhvī́ṣu
Notes	¹Vedic

Neuter u-stem declension of साधु (sādhú)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	साधु sādhú	साधुनी sādhúnī	साधू / साधु / साधूनि¹ sādhū́ / sādhú / sādhū́ni¹
Vocative	साधु / साधो sādhú / sā́dho	साधुनी sā́dhunī	साधू / साधु / साधूनि¹ sā́dhū / sādhú / sā́dhūni¹
Accusative	साधु sādhú	साधुनी sādhúnī	साधू / साधु / साधूनि¹ sādhū́ / sādhú / sādhū́ni¹
Instrumental	साधुना / साध्वा² sādhúnā / sādhvā̀²	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभिः sādhúbhiḥ
Dative	साधवे / साध्वे³ sādháve / sādhvè³	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभ्यः sādhúbhyaḥ
Ablative	साधोः / साधुनः¹ / साध्वः³ sādhóḥ / sādhúnaḥ¹ / sādhvàḥ³	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभ्यः sādhúbhyaḥ
Genitive	साधोः / साधुनः¹ / साध्वः³ sādhóḥ / sādhúnaḥ¹ / sādhvàḥ³	साधुनोः sādhúnoḥ	साधूनाम् sādhūnā́m
Locative	साधुनि sādhúni	साधुनोः sādhúnoḥ	साधुषु sādhúṣu
Notes	¹Later Sanskrit ²Vedic ³Less common

Adverb

साधु • (sādhú)

1. straight, aright, regularly
2. well, rightly, skilfully, properly, agreeably

   sādhú √vṛt (+ locative) — to behave well towards

   sādhú √kṛ — to set eight

   sādhú √ās — to be well or at ease

3. well, greatly, in a high degree
4. assuredly, indeed

Interjection

साधु • (sādhú)

1. good! well done! bravo!
2. well, enough of, away with (+instrumental)!
3. well come on! (+imperative or 1. pr.)

Noun

साधु • (sādhú) root form, m

1. a good or virtuous or honest man
2. a holy man, saint, sage, seer; a sadhu
3. (Jainism) a जिन (jina) or deified saint
4. a jeweller
5. a merchant, money-lender, usurer
6. (grammar) a derivative or inflected noun
7. a saintly woman
8. a kind of root (= मेदा (medā))

Declension

Masculine u-stem declension of साधु (sādhú)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	साधुः sādhúḥ	साधू sādhū́	साधवः sādhávaḥ
Vocative	साधो sā́dho	साधू sā́dhū	साधवः sā́dhavaḥ
Accusative	साधुम् sādhúm	साधू sādhū́	साधून् sādhū́n
Instrumental	साधुना / साध्वा¹ sādhúnā / sādhvā̀¹	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभिः sādhúbhiḥ
Dative	साधवे / साध्वे² sādháve / sādhvè²	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभ्यः sādhúbhyaḥ
Ablative	साधोः / साध्वः² sādhóḥ / sādhvàḥ²	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभ्यः sādhúbhyaḥ
Genitive	साधोः / साध्वः² sādhóḥ / sādhvàḥ²	साध्वोः sādhvóḥ	साधूनाम् sādhūnā́m
Locative	साधौ sādhaú	साध्वोः sādhvóḥ	साधुषु sādhúṣu
Notes	¹Vedic ²Less common

Noun

साधु • (sādhú) root form, n

1. the good or right or honest, a good etc. thing or act

   साध्व् अस्ति (sādhv asti) (+dative) — it is well with

   sādhu-√man (+ accusative) — to consider a thing good, approve

2. gentleness, kindness, benevolence

Declension

Neuter u-stem declension of साधु (sādhú)
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	साधु sādhú	साधुनी sādhúnī	साधू / साधु / साधूनि¹ sādhū́ / sādhú / sādhū́ni¹
Vocative	साधु / साधो sādhú / sā́dho	साधुनी sā́dhunī	साधू / साधु / साधूनि¹ sā́dhū / sādhú / sā́dhūni¹
Accusative	साधु sādhú	साधुनी sādhúnī	साधू / साधु / साधूनि¹ sādhū́ / sādhú / sādhū́ni¹
Instrumental	साधुना / साध्वा² sādhúnā / sādhvā̀²	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभिः sādhúbhiḥ
Dative	साधवे / साध्वे³ sādháve / sādhvè³	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभ्यः sādhúbhyaḥ
Ablative	साधोः / साधुनः¹ / साध्वः³ sādhóḥ / sādhúnaḥ¹ / sādhvàḥ³	साधुभ्याम् sādhúbhyām	साधुभ्यः sādhúbhyaḥ
Genitive	साधोः / साधुनः¹ / साध्वः³ sādhóḥ / sādhúnaḥ¹ / sādhvàḥ³	साधुनोः sādhúnoḥ	साधूनाम् sādhūnā́m
Locative	साधुनि sādhúni	साधुनोः sādhúnoḥ	साधुषु sādhúṣu
Notes	¹Later Sanskrit ²Vedic ³Less common

Descendants

• Ashokan Prakrit: 𑀲𑀸𑀥𑀼 (sādhu)
  • Ardhamagadhi Prakrit: 𑀲𑀸𑀳𑀼 (sāhu)
  • Magadhi Prakrit: 𑀰𑀸𑀳𑀼 (śāhu)
    • Assamese: সাউ (xau)
  • Maharastri Prakrit: 𑀲𑀸𑀳𑀼 (sāhu)
    • Hindustani: sāh, sāhū

      Hindi: साह, साहू

      Urdu: صاح‎ (sāh), ساہُو‎ (sāhū)

    • Marathi: साव (sāv)
    • Nepali: साहू (sāhū)
    • Punjabi:

      Gurmukhi script: ਸਾਊ (sāū)

      Shahmukhi script: ساؤُ‎ (sāū)

    • Sindhi:

      Arabic script: سَائُو‎

      Devanagari script: साऊ

  • Sauraseni Prakrit: 𑀲𑀸𑀳𑀼 (sāhu)
    • Hindustani: sāh, sāhū

      Hindi: साह, साहू

      Urdu: صاح‎ (sāh), ساہُو‎ (sāhū)

    • Marathi: साव (sāv)
    • Nepali: साहू (sāhū)
    • Punjabi:

      Gurmukhi script: ਸਾਊ (sāū)

      Shahmukhi script: ساؤُ‎ (sāū)

    • Sindhi:

      Arabic script: سَائُو‎

      Devanagari script: साऊ

• Pali: sādhu
  • → Burmese: သာဓု (sadhu.)
  • → Shan: သႃႇထူႉ (sàa thṵ̂u)
  • → Thai: สาธุ (sǎa-tú)
  • → Chinese: 善哉 (shànzāi) (calque)
• → English: sadhu
• → Gujarati: સાધુ (sādhu)
• → Hindi: साधु (sādhu)
• → Kannada: ಸಾಧು (sādhu)
• → Marathi: साधू (sādhū)
• → Malay: sadu
  • Indonesian: sadu (“best”)
• → Old Javanese: sādhu (“good, virtuous; sadhu”)
  • Javanese: ꦱꦢꦸ (sadu)
  • → Balinese: ᬲᬵᬥᬸ (sadu)
  • → Indonesian: sadu (“sadhu”) (semantic loan)
• → Tamil: சாது (cātu)

References

• “साधु॑” in Carl Cappeller, A Sanskrit–English Dictionary: Based upon the St. Petersburg Lexicons, Strasbourg: Karl J. Trübner, 1891, →OCLC, page 612, column 2.
• Arthur Anthony Macdonell (1893), “साधु”, in A practical Sanskrit dictionary with transliteration, accentuation, and etymological analysis throughout, London: Oxford University Press, page 346
• Monier Williams (1899), “Sādhú”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 1201, column 2.