अमृत

See also: अमृता

Hindi

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit अमृत (amṛ́ta). Distantly related to English ambrosia.

Pronunciation

(Standard Hindi) IPA^(key): /əm.ɾɪt̪/, [ɐ̃m.ɾɪt̪]

Noun

अमृत • (amŕt) m (Urdu spelling امرت)

an elixir; a substance that gives immortality to the user
nectar

Declension

Declension of *अमृत* (masc cons-stem)
	singular	plural
direct	अमृत amŕt	अमृत amŕt
oblique	अमृत amŕt	अमृतों amŕtõ
vocative	अमृत amŕt	अमृतो amŕto

Sanskrit

Alternative scripts

অমৃত (Assamese script)
ᬅᬫᬺᬢ (Balinese script)
অমৃত (Bengali script)
𑰀𑰦𑰴𑰝 (Bhaiksuki script)
𑀅𑀫𑀾𑀢 (Brahmi script)
အမၖတ (Burmese script)
અમૃત (Gujarati script)
ਅਮ੍ਰਤ (Gurmukhi script)
𑌅𑌮𑍃𑌤 (Grantha script)
ꦄꦩꦽꦠ (Javanese script)
𑂃𑂧𑃂𑂞 (Kaithi script)
ಅಮೃತ (Kannada script)
អម្ឫត (Khmer script)
ອມ຺ຣິຕ (Lao script)
അമൃത (Malayalam script)
ᠠᠮᡵᡳᢠᠠ (Manchu script)
𑘀𑘦𑘵𑘝 (Modi script)
ᠠᠮᠷᠢᢐᠠ᠋ (Mongolian script)
𑦠𑧆𑧖𑦽 (Nandinagari script)
𑐀𑐩𑐺𑐟 (Newa script)
ଅମୃତ (Odia script)
ꢂꢪꢺꢡ (Saurashtra script)
𑆃𑆩𑆸𑆠 (Sharada script)
𑖀𑖦𑖴𑖝 (Siddham script)
අමෘත (Sinhalese script)
𑩐𑩴𑩙𑩫 (Soyombo script)
𑚀𑚢𑚙 (Takri script)
அம்ரித (Tamil script)
అమృత (Telugu script)
อมฺฤต (Thai script)
ཨ་མྲྀ་ཏ (Tibetan script)
𑒁𑒧𑒵𑒞 (Tirhuta script)
𑨀𑨢𑨼𑨉𑨙 (Zanabazar Square script)

Etymology 1

From Proto-Indo-Iranian *amŕ̥tas (“immortal”), from Proto-Indo-European *n̥mr̥tós (“immortal”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬀𐬨𐬆𐬱𐬀 (aməša, “immortal”), Ancient Greek ἄμβροτος (ámbrotos, “immortal”). Equivalent to अ- (a-) +‎ मृत (mṛta).

The nouns derive fairly readily from the adjective.

Pronunciation

(Vedic) IPA^(key): /ɐ.mŕ̩.tɐ/
(Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /ɐ.mr̩.t̪ɐ/

Adjective

अ॒मृत॑ • (amṛ́ta) stem

immortal, undying; imperishable, deathless, indestructible
- c. 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE, Ṛgveda 1.35.2:
  आ कृ॒ष्णेन॒ रज॑सा॒ वर्त॑मानो निवे॒शय॑न्न् अ॒मृतं॒ मर्त्यं॑ च ।
  हि॒र॒ण्यये॑न सवि॒ता रथे॒ना दे॒वो या॑ति॒ भुव॑नानि॒ पश्य॑न् ॥
  ā́ kṛṣṇéna rájasā vártamāno niveśáyann amṛ́taṃ mártyaṃ ca.
  hiraṇyáyena savitā́ ráthenā́ devó yāti bhúvanāni páśyan.
  Advancing throughout the dusky firmament, laying to rest the immortal and the mortal,
  Borne in his golden chariot he cometh, Savitar, the God who looks on every creature.
alive, not dead
- c. 400 BCE, Mahābhārata
beautiful, pleasant
- c. 400 BCE, Mahābhārata 12.39.16.2:
  पाञ्चजन्याभिषिक्तश्च राजामृतमुखोऽभवत् ॥
  pāñcajanyābhiṣiktaśca rājāmṛtamukhoʼbhavat.
  Bathed with the sanctified water of the shankha, the king became beautiful-faced.

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of अ॒मृत॑
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	अ॒मृतः॑ (amṛ́taḥ)	अ॒मृतौ॑ (amṛ́tau) अ॒मृता॑¹ (amṛ́tā¹)	अ॒मृताः॑ (amṛ́tāḥ) अ॒मृता॑सः¹ (amṛ́tāsaḥ¹)
accusative	अ॒मृत॑म् (amṛ́tam)	अ॒मृतौ॑ (amṛ́tau) अ॒मृता॑¹ (amṛ́tā¹)	अ॒मृता॑न् (amṛ́tān)
instrumental	अ॒मृते॑न (amṛ́tena)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृतैः॑ (amṛ́taiḥ) अ॒मृते॑भिः¹ (amṛ́tebhiḥ¹)
dative	अ॒मृता॑य (amṛ́tāya)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृते॑भ्यः (amṛ́tebhyaḥ)
ablative	अ॒मृता॑त् (amṛ́tāt)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृते॑भ्यः (amṛ́tebhyaḥ)
genitive	अ॒मृत॑स्य (amṛ́tasya)	अ॒मृत॑योः (amṛ́tayoḥ)	अ॒मृता॑नाम् (amṛ́tānām)
locative	अ॒मृते॑ (amṛ́te)	अ॒मृत॑योः (amṛ́tayoḥ)	अ॒मृते॑षु (amṛ́teṣu)
vocative	अमृ॑त (ámṛta)	अमृ॑तौ (ámṛtau) अमृ॑ता¹ (ámṛtā¹)	अमृ॑ताः (ámṛtāḥ) अमृ॑तासः¹ (ámṛtāsaḥ¹)

¹Vedic

Feminine ā-stem declension of अ॒मृता॑
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	अ॒मृता॑ (amṛ́tā)	अ॒मृते॑ (amṛ́te)	अ॒मृताः॑ (amṛ́tāḥ)
accusative	अ॒मृता॑म् (amṛ́tām)	अ॒मृते॑ (amṛ́te)	अ॒मृताः॑ (amṛ́tāḥ)
instrumental	अ॒मृत॑या (amṛ́tayā) अ॒मृता॑¹ (amṛ́tā¹)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृता॑भिः (amṛ́tābhiḥ)
dative	अ॒मृता॑यै (amṛ́tāyai)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृता॑भ्यः (amṛ́tābhyaḥ)
ablative	अ॒मृता॑याः (amṛ́tāyāḥ) अ॒मृता॑यै² (amṛ́tāyai²)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृता॑भ्यः (amṛ́tābhyaḥ)
genitive	अ॒मृता॑याः (amṛ́tāyāḥ) अ॒मृता॑यै² (amṛ́tāyai²)	अ॒मृत॑योः (amṛ́tayoḥ)	अ॒मृता॑नाम् (amṛ́tānām)
locative	अ॒मृता॑याम् (amṛ́tāyām)	अ॒मृत॑योः (amṛ́tayoḥ)	अ॒मृता॑सु (amṛ́tāsu)
vocative	अमृ॑ते (ámṛte)	अमृ॑ते (ámṛte)	अमृ॑ताः (ámṛtāḥ)

¹Vedic
²Brāhmaṇas

Neuter a-stem declension of अ॒मृत॑
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	अ॒मृत॑म् (amṛ́tam)	अ॒मृते॑ (amṛ́te)	अ॒मृता॑नि (amṛ́tāni) अ॒मृता॑¹ (amṛ́tā¹)
accusative	अ॒मृत॑म् (amṛ́tam)	अ॒मृते॑ (amṛ́te)	अ॒मृता॑नि (amṛ́tāni) अ॒मृता॑¹ (amṛ́tā¹)
instrumental	अ॒मृते॑न (amṛ́tena)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृतैः॑ (amṛ́taiḥ) अ॒मृते॑भिः¹ (amṛ́tebhiḥ¹)
dative	अ॒मृता॑य (amṛ́tāya)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृते॑भ्यः (amṛ́tebhyaḥ)
ablative	अ॒मृता॑त् (amṛ́tāt)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृते॑भ्यः (amṛ́tebhyaḥ)
genitive	अ॒मृत॑स्य (amṛ́tasya)	अ॒मृत॑योः (amṛ́tayoḥ)	अ॒मृता॑नाम् (amṛ́tānām)
locative	अ॒मृते॑ (amṛ́te)	अ॒मृत॑योः (amṛ́tayoḥ)	अ॒मृते॑षु (amṛ́teṣu)
vocative	अमृ॑त (ámṛta)	अमृ॑ते (ámṛte)	अमृ॑तानि (ámṛtāni) अमृ॑ता¹ (ámṛtā¹)

¹Vedic

Descendants

Pali: amata
- → Thai: อมตะ (à-má-dtà)

Noun

अ॒मृत॑ • (amṛ́ta) stem, m

immortal, god
- c. 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE, Ṛgveda
1. a name of Vishnu
  - c. 400 BCE, Mahābhārata
2. a name of Shiva
kudzu, a vine of variety Pueraria montana var. lobata (syn. Phaseolus trilobus)

Declension

Masculine a-stem declension of अ॒मृत॑
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	अ॒मृतः॑ (amṛ́taḥ)	अ॒मृतौ॑ (amṛ́tau) अ॒मृता॑¹ (amṛ́tā¹)	अ॒मृताः॑ (amṛ́tāḥ) अ॒मृता॑सः¹ (amṛ́tāsaḥ¹)
accusative	अ॒मृत॑म् (amṛ́tam)	अ॒मृतौ॑ (amṛ́tau) अ॒मृता॑¹ (amṛ́tā¹)	अ॒मृता॑न् (amṛ́tān)
instrumental	अ॒मृते॑न (amṛ́tena)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृतैः॑ (amṛ́taiḥ) अ॒मृते॑भिः¹ (amṛ́tebhiḥ¹)
dative	अ॒मृता॑य (amṛ́tāya)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृते॑भ्यः (amṛ́tebhyaḥ)
ablative	अ॒मृता॑त् (amṛ́tāt)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृते॑भ्यः (amṛ́tebhyaḥ)
genitive	अ॒मृत॑स्य (amṛ́tasya)	अ॒मृत॑योः (amṛ́tayoḥ)	अ॒मृता॑नाम् (amṛ́tānām)
locative	अ॒मृते॑ (amṛ́te)	अ॒मृत॑योः (amṛ́tayoḥ)	अ॒मृते॑षु (amṛ́teṣu)
vocative	अमृ॑त (ámṛta)	अमृ॑तौ (ámṛtau) अमृ॑ता¹ (ámṛtā¹)	अमृ॑ताः (ámṛtāḥ) अमृ॑तासः¹ (ámṛtāsaḥ¹)

¹Vedic

Noun

अ॒मृत॑ • (amṛ́ta) stem, n

immortality, elixir
- c. 1500 BCE – 1000 BCE, Ṛgveda 10.129.2:
  न मृत्युर् आसीद् अमृतं न तर्हि न रात्र्या अह्न आसीत् प्रकेतः ।
  आनीद् अवातं स्वधया तद् एकं तस्माद् धान्यन् न परः किं चनास ॥
  na mṛtyur āsīd amṛtaṃ na tarhi na rātryā ahna āsīt praketaḥ.
  ānīd avātaṃ svadhayā tad ekaṃ tasmād dhānyan na paraḥ kiṃ canāsa.
  Death was not then, nor was there immortality: no sign was there, the day's and night's divider. That One Thing, breathless, breathed by its own nature: apart from it was nothing whatsoever.
nectar, ambrosia, Soma
residue or leavings of a yajna
- c. 200 BCE – 200 CE, Manusmṛti

Declension

Neuter a-stem declension of अ॒मृत॑
	singular	dual	plural
nominative	अ॒मृत॑म् (amṛ́tam)	अ॒मृते॑ (amṛ́te)	अ॒मृता॑नि (amṛ́tāni) अ॒मृता॑¹ (amṛ́tā¹)
accusative	अ॒मृत॑म् (amṛ́tam)	अ॒मृते॑ (amṛ́te)	अ॒मृता॑नि (amṛ́tāni) अ॒मृता॑¹ (amṛ́tā¹)
instrumental	अ॒मृते॑न (amṛ́tena)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृतैः॑ (amṛ́taiḥ) अ॒मृते॑भिः¹ (amṛ́tebhiḥ¹)
dative	अ॒मृता॑य (amṛ́tāya)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृते॑भ्यः (amṛ́tebhyaḥ)
ablative	अ॒मृता॑त् (amṛ́tāt)	अ॒मृता॑भ्याम् (amṛ́tābhyām)	अ॒मृते॑भ्यः (amṛ́tebhyaḥ)
genitive	अ॒मृत॑स्य (amṛ́tasya)	अ॒मृत॑योः (amṛ́tayoḥ)	अ॒मृता॑नाम् (amṛ́tānām)
locative	अ॒मृते॑ (amṛ́te)	अ॒मृत॑योः (amṛ́tayoḥ)	अ॒मृते॑षु (amṛ́teṣu)
vocative	अमृ॑त (ámṛta)	अमृ॑ते (ámṛte)	अमृ॑तानि (ámṛtāni) अमृ॑ता¹ (ámṛtā¹)

¹Vedic

Descendants

Prakrit: 𑀅𑀫𑀬 (amaya), 𑀅𑀫𑀺𑀬 (amiya), 𑀅𑀫𑀼𑀬 (amuya)
- Assamese: অমিয়া (omia), অমিয় (omio)
- Gujarati: અમી (amī)
- Odia: ଅମିଅ (amia)
Pali: amata
→ Assamese: অমিতা (omita)
→ English: amrita
→ Hindi: अमृत (amŕt)
→ Indonesian: amerta
→ Old Tamil: 𑀅𑀫𑀺𑀭𑁆𑀢𑀫𑁆 (amirtam), 𑀅𑀫𑀼𑀢𑀫𑁆 (amutam)
- Tamil: அமிர்தம் (amirtam)
- Tamil: அமுதம் (amutam)
→ Polish: amrita
→ Thai: อมฤต (à-má-rít)

References

Monier Williams (1899), “अमृत”, in A Sanskrit–English Dictionary, […], new edition, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 82, column 2.
Apte, Vaman Shivram (1890), “अमृत”, in The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary, Poona: Prasad Prakashan, page 205
Hellwig, Oliver (2010–2026), “amṛta”, in DCS - The Digital Corpus of Sanskrit, Berlin, Germany.

Etymology 2

From the middle voice of Proto-Indo-European *mért, athematic root aorist of *mer- (“to die”).

Pronunciation

(Vedic) IPA^(key): /ɐ́.mr̩.tɐ/
(Classical Sanskrit) IPA^(key): /ɐ.mr̩.t̪ɐ/

Verb

अमृ॑त • (ámṛta) third-singular indicative (type A, aorist, root मृ) (Vedic)

aorist of मृ (mṛ, “to die”)

Conjugation

Aorist: -, अमृ॑त (ámṛta)
	Active			Mediopassive
	Singular	Dual	Plural	Singular	Dual	Plural
Indicative
Third	-	-	-	अमृ॑त ámṛta	अम्रा॑ताम् ámrātām	अम्र॑त ámrata
Second	-	-	-	अमृ॑थाः ámṛthāḥ	अम्रा॑थाम् ámrāthām	अमृ॑ध्वम् ámṛdhvam
First	-	-	-	अम्रि॑ ámri	अमृ॑वहि ámṛvahi	अमृ॑महि ámṛmahi
Injunctive
Third	-	-	-	मृ॒त mṛtá	म्राता॑म् mrā́tām	म्रन्त॑ mránta
Second	-	-	-	मृ॒थाः mṛthā́ḥ	म्राथा॑म् mrā́thām	मृ॒ध्वम् mṛdhvám
First	-	-	-	म्रि mrí	मृ॒वहि॑ mṛváhi	मृ॒महि॑ mṛmáhi
Subjunctive
Third	-	-	-	मर॑ते / मरा॑तै márate / márātai	मरै॑ते máraite	मर॑न्त máranta
Second	-	-	-	मर॑से / मरा॑सै márase / márāsai	मरै॑थे máraithe	मर॑ध्वे / मरा॑ध्वै máradhve / márādhvai
First	-	-	-	मरै॑ márai	मरा॑वहै márāvahai	मरा॑महे / मरा॑महै márāmahe / márāmahai
Notes	The subjunctive is only used in Vedic Sanskrit.

The Rigveda also has active subjunctive forms: 3sg. मराति (marāti) (with irregular long आ (ā)) and 3pl. मरन्ति (maranti).

Descendants

From the subjunctive:

Pali: marati
Prakrit: 𑀫𑀭𑀇 (maraï) (see there for further descendants)

References

Rix, Helmut, editor (2001), “*mer-”, in Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben [Lexicon of Indo-European Verbs] (in German), 2nd edition, Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, →ISBN, pages 439-440
Lubotsky, Alexander (2011), “mar”, in The Indo-Aryan Inherited Lexicon (in progress) (Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Project), Leiden University, pages 301-302
Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985), “máratē”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press
Tedesco, P. (1944) “The Supposed Rigvedic Present márate” in Language 20, no. 4, pages 212–222