बुद्ध (buddh)
noun/adjective
Primarily a proper noun referring to Gautama Buddha (buddh); also used as a common adjective/noun meaning 'enlightened, awakened one'.
Sense
1
:
Gautama Buddha (proper noun)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: गौतम बुद्ध (gautam buddh), तथागत (tathaagat, literary/religious epithet), भगवान बुद्ध (bhagvaan buddh)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the name every Indian schoolchild learns alongside महात्मा गांधी (mahaatmaa gaandhii) and अशोक (ashok) -- बुद्ध (buddh) founded बौद्ध धर्म (bauddh dharm, Buddhism) and is revered across India, especially in places like सारनाथ (saarnaath) and बोधगया (bodhagyaa). Statues of him sitting in meditation are a common sight in homes and gardens across Delhi-NCR, often just for their peaceful aesthetic rather than strict religious observance.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat बुद्ध (buddh) and बुध (budh, the planet Mercury / the day Wednesday) as the same word because of the similar spelling and single vs double द; they are unrelated. 2) As a proper name it does not take gender agreement changes the way the common-noun/adjective sense might suggest.
Sample Sentences:
बुद्ध का जन्म लुम्बिनी में हुआ था।
The Buddha was born in Lumbini.
(buddh kaa janm lumbinii men huaa thaa।)
बुद्ध ने सारनाथ में अपना पहला उपदेश दिया।
The Buddha gave his first sermon in Sarnath.
(buddh ne saarnaath men apnaa pahlaa updesh diyaa।)
बुद्ध को बोधगया में ज्ञान प्राप्त हुआ था।
The Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya.
(buddh ko bodhagyaa men gyaan praapt huaa thaa।)
हमारे बगीचे में बुद्ध की एक शांत मूर्ति रखी है।
There is a peaceful statue of the Buddha placed in our garden.
(hamaare bagiiche men buddh kii ek shaant moorti rakhii hai।)
स्कूल में बच्चों को महात्मा गांधी, अशोक और बुद्ध के बारे में पढ़ाया जाता है।
Children are taught about Mahatma Gandhi, Ashoka, and the Buddha in school.
(skool men bachchon ko mahaatmaa gaandhii, ashok aur buddh ke baare men padhaayaa jaataa hai।)
बुद्ध ने बौद्ध धर्म की स्थापना की थी।
The Buddha had founded Buddhism.
(buddh ne bauddh dharm kii sthaapnaa kii thii।)
अगर बुद्ध राजमहल नहीं छोड़ते, तो शायद बौद्ध धर्म कभी न बनता।
If the Buddha had not left the palace, Buddhism might never have come into being.
(agar buddh raajmahal nahiin chhodte, to shaayad bauddh dharm kabhii n bantaa।)
बुद्ध सदा शांति और करुणा का मार्ग दिखाते रहेंगे।
The Buddha will always keep showing the path of peace and compassion.
(buddh sadaa shaanti aur karunaa kaa maarg dikhaate rahenge।)
क्या तुमने बुद्ध की जीवनी पढ़ी है?
Have you read the Buddha's biography?
(kyaa tumne buddh kii jiivnii padhii hai?)
भगवान बुद्ध को शांति और अहिंसा का प्रतीक माना जाता है।
Lord Buddha is regarded as a symbol of peace and non-violence.
(bhagvaan buddh ko shaanti aur ahinsaa kaa pratiik maanaa jaataa hai।)
बुद्ध पूर्णिमा के दिन लोग बुद्ध की पूजा करते हैं।
On Buddha Purnima, people worship the Buddha.
(buddh poornimaa ke din log buddh kii poojaa karte hain।)
Sense
2
:
enlightened, awakened (literal/spiritual sense)
adjective
Synonyms: ज्ञानी (gyaanii), प्रबुद्ध (prabuddh, literary)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: बुद्ध (buddh) literally comes from the Sanskrit root बुध (budh, 'to know, awaken'), so calling someone बुद्ध (buddh) in this sense casts them as having attained deep spiritual awareness -- it is a weighty, respectful word, not used lightly the way 'wise' might be in English.
Common Mistakes: 1) This adjectival sense is rare in everyday speech outside religious/philosophical discussion -- learners are more likely to need the proper-noun sense than this one.
Sample Sentences:
साधना के अंत में उनका मन बुद्ध हो गया।
At the end of his meditation practice, his mind became enlightened.
(saadhnaa ke ant men unkaa man buddh ho gayaa।)
जो व्यक्ति सत्य को जान लेता है, वह बुद्ध कहलाता है।
The person who comes to know the truth is called enlightened.
(jo vyakti saty ko jaan letaa hai, vah buddh kahlaataa hai।)
क्या मनुष्य इस जीवन में ही बुद्ध हो सकता है?
Can a human become enlightened in this very life?
(kyaa manushy is jiivan men hii buddh ho saktaa hai?)
गुरु ने कहा, तुम स्वयं बुद्ध बनो, किसी और की शरण मत लो।
The guru said, become enlightened yourself, do not take refuge in anyone else.
(guru ne kahaa, tum svayan buddh bano, kisii aur kii sharan mat lo।)
यदि उसका अहंकार मिट जाता, तो वह बुद्ध हो जाता।
If his ego had dissolved, he would have become enlightened.
(yadi uskaa ahankaar mit jaataa, to vah buddh ho jaataa।)
उस संत को बुद्ध पुरुष माना जाता है।
That saint is considered an enlightened being.
(us sant ko buddh purush maanaa jaataa hai।)
बुद्ध मन में कोई क्षोभ नहीं टिकता।
No agitation lingers in an enlightened mind.
(buddh man men koii kshobh nahiin tiktaa।)
वर्षों की तपस्या के बाद वह ऋषि बुद्ध हुआ।
After years of austerity, that sage became enlightened.
(varshon kii tapasyaa ke baad vah rishi buddh huaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
बुद्ध
(buddh)
(sg.m.oblique):
बुद्ध
(buddh)
(pl.m.direct):
बुद्ध
(buddh)
(pl.m.oblique):
बुद्धों
(buddhon)
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
बुद्ध
(buddh)