Etymology of Brahman — The Expanding/Supreme
Nirukta (Yaska) · 13 · Verse 5
niruktabrahmanetymologysupreme-realityyaska
Sanskrit Original
ब्रह्म इति कस्मात्? बृहति — बृंहयति — वर्धते। वृद्धत्वाद् बृहत्त्वाद् वा ब्रह्मेत्याचक्षते। सर्वं बृहद् ब्रह्म — यत् सर्वं विभाति॥
brahma iti kasmāt? bṛhati — bṛṃhayati — vardhate | vṛddhatvād bṛhattvād vā brahma ity ācakṣate | sarvaṃ bṛhad brahma — yat sarvaṃ vibhāti ||
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Why is it called Brahman? From "bṛh" (to grow, to be great) — that which is great (bṛhat) and which makes all things grow. It is also that which shines through everything. The All-Pervading, All-Growing Reality is Brahman. This root also gives us Bṛhaspati (Lord of growth/speech).