आज्ञा (aagyaa)
noun
A formal, somewhat literary word for 'permission' or 'order/command', carrying a tone of respect or hierarchy that everyday इजाज़त (ijaazat) does not.
Sense
1
:
permission (formal)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: इजाज़त (ijaazat), अनुमति (anumti, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear आज्ञा (aagyaa) in a respectful household when someone asks a parent or elder, आज्ञा दीजिए (aagyaa diijie, 'please give your permission/leave'), especially when taking leave to go somewhere -- it carries a note of deference that इजाज़त (ijaazat) lacks in everyday shop or friend-to-friend talk. It also appears often in devotional and mythological contexts, where a disciple or subject seeks the आज्ञा (aagyaa) of a guru or king.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for आज्ञा (aagyaa) in casual requests where इजाज़त (ijaazat) or permission (parmishan) would sound far more natural; आज्ञा (aagyaa) suits formal, respectful, or old-fashioned contexts -- addressing elders, teachers, or in devotional/literary speech. 2) The common verb pairing is आज्ञा देना (aagyaa denaa, to grant permission) or आज्ञा लेना (aagyaa lenaa, to take/ask permission), not a direct verb form of आज्ञा itself.
Sample Sentences:
गुरुजी, मुझे जाने की आज्ञा दीजिए।
Respected teacher, please give me permission to leave.
(gurujii, mujhe jaane kii aagyaa diijie।)
पिताजी ने मुझे विदेश जाने की आज्ञा दे दी।
Father gave me permission to go abroad.
(pitaajii ne mujhe videsh jaane kii aagyaa de dii।)
बिना आज्ञा के महल में प्रवेश करना मना है।
Entering the palace without permission is forbidden.
(binaa aagyaa ke mahal men pravesh karnaa manaa hai।)
शिष्य ने गुरु से आज्ञा माँगी।
The disciple asked the guru for permission.
(shishy ne guru se aagyaa maangii।)
यदि आपकी आज्ञा हो, तो मैं कुछ कहना चाहता हूँ।
If you would give permission, I would like to say something.
(yadi aapkii aagyaa ho, to main kuchh kahnaa chaahtaa hoon।)
अगर माताजी आज्ञा देतीं, तो हम तीर्थयात्रा पर निकल जाते।
If mother had given her permission, we would have set out on the pilgrimage.
(agar maataajii aagyaa detiin, to ham tiirthyaatraa par nikal jaate।)
राजा की आज्ञा के बिना कोई भी सभा में नहीं बोल सकता था।
Without the king's permission, no one could speak in the assembly.
(raajaa kii aagyaa ke binaa koii bhii sabhaa men nahiin bol saktaa thaa।)
आज्ञा मिलते ही सैनिक आगे बढ़ गए।
As soon as permission was received, the soldiers moved forward.
(aagyaa milte hii sainik aage badh gae।)
क्या मुझे यहाँ बैठने की आज्ञा है?
Do I have permission to sit here?
(kyaa mujhe yahaan baithne kii aagyaa hai?)
आज्ञा दी जाती है कि सभी छात्र समय पर उपस्थित हों।
Permission is granted on the condition that all students be present on time.
(aagyaa dii jaatii hai ki sabhii chhaatr samay par upasthit hon।)
Sense
2
:
order, command
noun, feminine
Synonyms: आदेश (aadesh), हुक्म (hukm)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This sense shows up in phrases like आज्ञा का पालन करना (aagyaa kaa paalan karnaa, 'to obey an order'), often in stories of kings, gurus, or gods commanding their subjects or disciples -- it frames obedience as a duty owed to legitimate authority, distinct from the more neutral आदेश (aadesh) used in bureaucratic or official settings.
Common Mistakes: 1) In this sense आज्ञा (aagyaa) is markedly more formal and hierarchical than हुक्म (hukm), which can sound almost military or blunt; आज्ञा (aagyaa) is the word used for a superior's or deity's command, not a boss barking at an employee.
Sample Sentences:
राजा की आज्ञा थी कि कोई भी नगर से बाहर न जाए।
It was the king's order that no one should leave the city.
(raajaa kii aagyaa thii ki koii bhii nagar se baahar n jaae।)
शिष्य को गुरु की आज्ञा का पालन करना चाहिए।
A disciple should obey his guru's command.
(shishy ko guru kii aagyaa kaa paalan karnaa chaahie।)
सैनिक अपने सेनापति की आज्ञा का पालन करते हैं।
Soldiers obey the commands of their general.
(sainik apne senaapti kii aagyaa kaa paalan karte hain।)
गुरु ने आज्ञा दी कि शिष्य हर सुबह ध्यान करे।
The guru gave the order that the disciple should meditate every morning.
(guru ne aagyaa dii ki shishy har subah dhyaan kare।)
यह आज्ञा देवताओं द्वारा दी गई थी।
This order was given by the gods.
(yah aagyaa devtaaon dvaaraa dii gaii thii।)
यदि राजा की आज्ञा होती, तो मंत्री तुरंत युद्ध की तैयारी करते।
If the king had given the order, the ministers would have immediately prepared for war.
(yadi raajaa kii aagyaa hotii, to mantrii turant yuddh kii taiyaarii karte।)
स्वामी की आज्ञा मानो, वरना दंड मिलेगा।
Obey your master's command, or you will be punished.
(svaamii kii aagyaa maano, varnaa dand milegaa।)
भगवान की आज्ञा के बिना पत्ता भी नहीं हिलता, ऐसा कहा जाता है।
It is said that not even a leaf moves without God's command.
(bhagvaan kii aagyaa ke binaa pattaa bhii nahiin hiltaa, aisaa kahaa jaataa hai।)
दरबारी ने राजा की आज्ञा टालने की हिम्मत नहीं की।
The courtier did not dare to defy the king's order.
(darbaarii ne raajaa kii aagyaa taalne kii himmat nahiin kii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
आज्ञा
(aagyaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
आज्ञा
(aagyaa)
(pl.f.direct):
आज्ञाएँ
(aagyaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
आज्ञाओं
(aagyaaon)