Pandita, Paṇḍita, Paṇḍitā: 17 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Pandita means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarPaṇḍita (पण्डित).—Writer of Citprabhā, a commentary on the Paribhāșenduśekhara. A commentary on the Laghuśabdenduśekhara is also ascribed to him. He was a Gauda Brāhmaņa whose native place was Kurukșetra. He lived in the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryPaṇḍita (पण्डित).—A scholar learned in Vedic literature, not only academically but also by dint of spiritual realization. Though this is the proper definition of the word, the term is also loosely applied to any scholar.
Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)Paṇḍita (पण्डित) refers to “learned scholar”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismPaṇḍita was a title in Indian Buddhism awarded to scholars who have mastered the five sciences (Sanskrit: pañcavidyāsthāna) in which a learned person was traditionally supposed to be well-versed.
The five sciences are:
- science of language (śabdavidyā),
- science of logic (hetuvidyā),
- science of medicine (cikitsāvidyā),
- science of fine arts and crafts (śilakarmasthānavidyā),
- and science of spirituality (adhyātmavidyā).
The stipulation can be traced to (but may well predate) the Mahāyāna-sūtrālamkāra-kārikā, which states: "Without becoming a scholar in the five sciences, not even the supreme sage can become omniscient. For the sake of refuting and supporting others, and for the sake of knowing everything himself, he makes an effort in these [five sciences]."
etymology: Paṇḍita (Sanskrit; Tibetan: khepa; Wyl: mkhas pa).
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names1. Pandita
The Bodhisatta born as a merchant. See the Kutavanija Jataka.
2. PanditaOne of the four novices invited by the brahmin whose house came later to be known as the Pancachiddageha (DhA.iv.176ff). In the time of Kassapa Buddha he was known as Mahaduggata. In his last birth his mother was the daughter of a rich merchant of Savatthi. During her pregnancy, she had a longing to give to five hundred monks, headed by Sariputta, the choicest portions of red fish, to don yellow robes, to sit in the outer circle of the monks seats, and to partake of the food left over by the monks. This longing was satisfied, and seven times she held similar festivities. When the child was born he was called Pandita because, from the day of his conception, various people of the household who had been stupid or deaf or dumb recovered their faculties. When seven years old, he was filled with the desire to become a monk, and was ordained by Sariputta, a constant visitor to the house. For seven days his parents held a festival in honour of his ordination. On the eighth day he went, with Sariputta, into the village for alms; on the way, certain things which he saw- a ditch, arrow makers, carpenters - made him wish to strive for arahantship. Thereupon, with the leave of Sariputta, he returned to the monastery requesting the Elder to bring him some red fish on his return from the alms round. In the monastery, Sakka stilled all noises and held back the sun and the moon, lest Pandita should be disturbed. The Buddha, seeing this, detained Sariputta back on his way to the monastery, and engaged him in conversation until Pandita should have succeeded in his effort. After a while, Pandita became an arahant and the whole world rejoiced. Ibid., ii.139ff.
3. PanditaA Pacceka Buddha, mentioned in a nominal list. M.iii.70; ApA.i.107.
Pandita VaggaThe sixth chapter of the Dhammapada.
Pandita SuttaOn three things enjoined by the wise and the good: charity, going into homelessness, and support of parents. A.i.151.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraPaṇḍitā (पण्डिता) is the name of Śrīmatī’s nurse, according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (“lives of the 63 illustrious persons”): a Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three important persons in Jainism.
Accordingly,
“[...] One day Śrīmatī had gone to a pleasure-garden, and her nurse, named Paṇḍitā, seized a favorable opportunity and spoke to her privately: ‘You are like my life to me; I am like your mother. There is no reason for lack of confidence between us. Tell me, daughter, why you have taken to silence. Make your grief easier by sharing it with me. When I know your grief, I shall proceed to the business of curing it. For a treatment of an unknown disease is not right’.”.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geogprahy
Source: Shodhganga: Kakati Ganapatideva and his timesPaṇḍita (पण्डित) is the name of a Telugu poet active during the reign of Gaṇapatideva-mahārāja (r. 1199-1262 A.D.) The political unity, the economic prosperity and growth of Telugu literature created and promoted national consciousness among the Āndhras which found its echos in the literary compositions of this period.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryPaṇḍita.—(HD), same as Dharmatattvavit according to Śukra, II. 85; head of the ecclesiastical department (Hist. Dharm., Vol. III, p. 115). (CII 4), epithet of Brāhmaṇas. (IE 8-3), the court Pandit, mentioned as Pātra. Note: paṇḍita is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarypaṇḍita : (adj.) wise. (m.) a wise man.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryPaṇḍita, (adj.) (cp. Ved. paṇḍita) wise, clever, skilled, circumspect, intelligent Vin. II, 190 (+buddhimanto); D. I, 12 (°vedaniya comprehensible only by the wise), 120 (opp. duppañña); III, 192; M. I, 342; III, 61, 163, 178; S. IV, 375 (+viyatta medhāvin); V, 151 (+vyatta kusala); A. I, 59, 68, 84, 101 sq. , 162 (paṇḍitā nibbānaṃ adhigacchanti); II, 3 sq. , 118, 178, 228; III, 48=It. 16; Sn. 115, 254, 335, 523, 721, 820, 1007, 1125 (Ep. of Jatukaṇṇī); It. 86; Dh. 22, 28, 63 (°mānin), 79, 88, 157, 186, 238, 289; J. III, 52 (sasa°); Nd1 124; Pv IV. 332 (opp. bāla; =sappañña PvA. 254); Dhs. 1302; Miln. 3, 22; DA. I, 117; DhA. IV, 111; VvA. 257; PvA. 39, 41, 60 (=pañña), 93, 99. (Page 404)

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarypaṇḍita (पंडित).—m (S) A learned Brahman, a doctor, a scholar. 2 Used in letters and notes after the name of a great personage. 3 fig. A person adroit or skilful at a thing gen.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishpaṇḍita (पंडित).—m A learned Brahman, a doctor, a scholar. A person adroit or skilful at a thing gen.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPaṇḍita (पण्डित).—a. [paṇḍā tārakā° itac ]
1) Learned, wise; स्वस्थे को वा न पण्डितः (svasthe ko vā na paṇḍitaḥ).
2) Shrewd, clever.
3) Skilled in, proficient, skilful (generally with loc. or in comp.); मधु- रालापनिसर्गपण्डिताम् (madhu- rālāpanisargapaṇḍitām) Ku.4.16; so रतिपण्डित (ratipaṇḍita) 4.18; नयपण्डित (nayapaṇḍita) &c.;
-taḥ 1 A scholar, learned man, Paṇdita.
2) Incense.
3) An adept, expert.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPaṇḍita (पण्डित).—m.
(-taḥ) 1. A scholar, a teacher, a Pandit, a learned Brahman, or one read in sacred science, and teaching it to his disciples. 2. Incense. 3. Clever. 4. Proficient. E. paṇḍā learning, tāra0 itac aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPaṇḍita (पण्डित).—I. adj. Learned, wise, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 14; shrewd, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 334; skilled, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 164. Ii. m. A scholar, a wise man, Mahābhārata 5, 990.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPaṇḍita (पण्डित).—[adjective] learned, educated, wise, clever in, familiar with (—°); [masculine] scholar, teacher. — Abstr. tva† [neuter]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Paṇḍita (पण्डित):—[from paṇḍ] mfn. (according to some, for spandita) learned, wise, shrewd, clever, skilful in, conversant with ([locative case] or [compound]; cf. [Pāṇini 2-1, 40]), [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Upaniṣad; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] m. a scholar, a learned man, teacher, philosopher, a Pandit, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a man (= taka), [Mahābhārata]
4) [v.s. ...] of a Brāhman changed into an antelope, [Harivaṃśa]
5) [v.s. ...] incense, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+23): Pandita gadadhara, Pandita jonaka, Pandita maddhaka, Pandita pajaka, Pandita rupadeva kavi, Pandita shribaka, Panditagarva, Panditahladini, Panditajatiya, Panditaka, Panditakarabhindipala, Panditakumaraka, Panditamandala, Panditamanika, Panditamanin, Panditammanya, Panditammanyamana, Panditapanditammanya, Panditapanha, Panditaparitosha.
Ends with (+156): Aggadhanuggaha Pandita, Aggapandita, Alikapandita, Amiracandra pandita, Amrita pandita, Ananda pandita, Ananta pandita, Anarthapandita, Aniruddha pandita, Annaiya pandita, Apandita, Aranyapandita, Atipandita, Avaspandita, Avispandita, Balapandita, Bhanu pandita, Bhanupandita, Bhatta bhaskara pandita, Bhimasimhapandita.
Full-text (+731): Ranapandita, Panditata, Panditamanika, Panditavadin, Panditamanin, Panditaka, Murkhapandita, Sheshakrishna, Rajavyavaharakosha, Vireshvara, Panditarajashataka, Matimant, Rama pandita, Krishna pandita, Narayana Pandita, Ramakrishna pandita, Shabdamanjari, Panditaparitosha, Panditasarvasva, Panditaprashnottara.
Relevant text
Search found 48 books and stories containing Pandita, Paṇḍita, Paṇḍitā; (plurals include: Panditas, Paṇḍitas, Paṇḍitās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bodhisattvacharyavatara (by Andreas Kretschmar)
Text Sections 62-63 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]
Text Section 41 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]
Text Section 151-153 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 7 - Kālacakra lineage: Somanātha < [Book 10 - The Kālacakra]
Chapter 1 - The Kashmirian Scholar Śākyaśrī < [Book 15 - Monastic Systems]
Chapter 6 - Kālacakra lineage: Kālacakrapāda senior and junior < [Book 10 - The Kālacakra]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 14: Sixth incarnation as Vajrajaṅgha < [Chapter I]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Note on “women whose love is scorned” < [Notes]
Appendix 4.2 - Nala and Damayantī < [Appendices]
Shrimad Bhagavad-gita (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 7.15 < [Chapter 7 - Vijñāna-Yoga (Yoga through Realization of Transcendental Knowledge)]
Verse 10.8 < [Chapter 10 - Vibhūti-yoga (appreciating the opulences of the Supreme Lord)]
Verse 4.19 < [Chapter 4 - Jñāna-Yoga (Yoga through Transcendental Knowledge)]
Early Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Temples in Tondaimanad < [Chapter II - Temples of Parantaka I’s Time]
Temples in Tiruvorriyur < [Chapter II - Temples of Parantaka I’s Time]
Temples in Melpadi < [Chapter IX - Temples of Rajaraja I’s Time]