उपदेश (updesh)

noun A somewhat formal/bookish word meaning a moral lesson, piece of preachy advice, or sermon -- one sense covers both the neutral 'teaching/sermon' use and the mildly critical 'unwanted preaching' use.
Sense 1 : moral teaching, sermon, preachy advice
noun, masculine
Synonyms: नसीहत (nasiihat), सीख (siikh), शिक्षा (shikshaa, formal), प्रवचन (pravchan, religious sermon specifically)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Think of a guru sitting on a raised seat at a temple or a grandfather lecturing the family after dinner -- उपदेश (updesh) is that register: elevated, moralizing, often one-directional. In casual conversation, calling someone's advice उपदेश (updesh) rather than सलाह (salaah) can gently mock them for being preachy, similar to saying 'don't give me a sermon' in English.
Common Mistakes: 1) उपदेश (updesh) usually carries a whiff of being told what to do, often unsolicited -- साथ रहने पर बड़े-बुज़ुर्ग उपदेश देते हैं (saath rahne par bade-buzurg updesh dete hain, 'elders give sermons when you live with them') feels different from simple advice. 2) The common verb pairing is उपदेश देना (updesh denaa, 'to give a sermon/lecture') -- learners sometimes reach for करना (karnaa) instead, which does not fit here.
Sample Sentences:
गुरु जी ने शिष्यों को उपदेश दिया। The guru gave a sermon to his disciples.
(guru jii ne shishyon ko updesh diyaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मुझे उपदेश मत दो, मुझे पता है क्या करना है। Don't give me a sermon, I know what to do.
(mujhe updesh mat do, mujhe pataa hai kyaa karnaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
दादा जी खाने के बाद रोज़ उपदेश देते हैं। Grandfather gives a moral lecture every day after dinner.
(daadaa jii khaane ke baad roz updesh dete hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
स्वामी जी मंच से उपदेश दे रहे हैं। Swami ji is delivering a sermon from the stage.
(svaamii jii manch se updesh de rahe hain।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम मुझे उपदेश देते तो मैं ज़रूर नाराज़ हो जाता। If you had lectured me, I would definitely have gotten annoyed.
(agar tum mujhe updesh dete to main zaroor naaraaz ho jaataa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
उसका उपदेश सुनकर सब बोर हो गए। Everyone got bored listening to his sermon.
(uskaa updesh sunkar sab bor ho gae।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह उपदेश गीता के दूसरे अध्याय में दिया गया है। This moral teaching is given in the second chapter of the Gita.
(yah updesh giitaa ke doosre adhyaay men diyaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
क्या तुम मुझे हमेशा उपदेश ही दोगे? Are you always just going to give me sermons?
(kyaa tum mujhe hameshaa updesh hii doge?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
बुज़ुर्गों के उपदेश में कभी-कभी सच्चाई छिपी होती है। Sometimes there is hidden truth in the elders' preaching.
(buzurgon ke updesh men kabhii-kabhii sachchaaii chhipii hotii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बिना माँगे उपदेश देना अच्छी बात नहीं है। Giving unsolicited sermons is not a good thing.
(binaa maange updesh denaa achchhii baat nahiin hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): उपदेश (updesh)
(sg.m.oblique): उपदेश (updesh)
(pl.m.direct): उपदेश (updesh)
(pl.m.oblique): उपदेशों (updeshon)