Bhartri, Bhartṛ, Bhartrī, Bharttṛ, Bharttri: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Bhartri means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India. 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.
The Sanskrit terms Bhartṛ and Bharttṛ can be transliterated into English as Bhartr or Bhartri or Bharttr or Bharttri, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)Bhartṛ (भर्तृ, “husband”).—One of the Eleven Hands denoting Relationships.—(Instructions:) Haṃsāsya and Śikhara hands are held at the throat.

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation1) Bhartṛ (भर्तृ) refers to the “sustainer”, and represents an epithet of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.10. Accordingly as Viṣṇu said to Brahmā:—“[...] Śiva is the creator (kartṛ) of everything, the sustainer (bhartṛ) and destroyer (hartṛ). He is greater than the great. He is the supreme Brahman, the greatest lord, the attributeless, the eternal”.
2) Bhartṛ (भर्तृ) refers to “one’s husband”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.19 (“Kāma’s destruction by Śiva”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Naradā: “[...] With pallid face and limbs, the extremely agitated daughter of the king of mountains returned to her palace taking the maids along with her. Due to the misery on account of the death of her husband [i.e., bhartṛ-mṛtyu-ja-duḥkha], Rati fell down unconscious, as if dead. When she regained consciousness after a while, Rati in her great agitation lamented loudly and said:—[...]”.
Source: valmikiramayan.net: Srimad Valmiki RamayanaBhartṛ (भर्तृ) refers to the “husband”, according to the Rāmāyaṇa chapter 2.29. Accordingly:—“[...] Sītā was distressed to hear these words of Rāma and spoke these words slowly, with her face with tears: ‘[...] Oh, the pure-minded! Following my husband (bhartṛ) with loving devotion, I shall become sin-less; for husband is the supreme deity to me’”.

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraBhartṛ (भर्तृ) refers to the “chief” (of a tribe of people), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 9), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The three constellations from Svāti form the fourth maṇḍala; if Venus should reappear in it, mankind will be free from fear; the Brāhmins and Kṣatriyas will prosper and friends will turn into enemies. If Venus, who so reappears in the said maṇḍala, should be crossed by a planet, the chiefs of the hunters will perish [i.e., kirāta-bhartṛ-pinaṣṭi]; the Ikṣvākus, the border Mlecchas, the people of Avantī and of Pulinda and the Śūrasenas will also perish”.

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiBhartṛ (भर्तृ) and Bhartrī refers to “partners” [i.e., dhyeyasya bhartṛ-bhartrī putra-putrī], according to the Guru Mandala Worship (maṇḍalārcana) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsBhartṛ (भर्तृ) refers to the “master” (of the three worlds), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “This [self], which is master of the three worlds (trijagatī-bhartṛ), omniscient [and] possessed of infinite power, does not recognise itself and has deviated from its own true nature. Tarnished by awful stains arising from eternity, it grasps objects according to its own desire which are very different from itself”.

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 geography
Source: Wisdom Library: Teachers, Saints and SagesBhartri or Bhartrinath refers to one of the “nine saints” (Navnath) according to the translator of Nisargadatta Maharaj's converstaions and Suamitra Mullarpattan.—These nine saints form the basis of the Navnath Sampradaya (the lineage of the nine Gurus). They are worshipped collectively as well as individually. [...] The nine teachers [e.g., Bhartri-nath] are considered representative of great teachers in this tradition or Parampara tradition—a succession of Teachers (Gurus) and Disciples (Shishyasa) in Indian-origin religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
Bhartṛ-nātha is also supposed to be the incarnation of Hari-nārāyaṇa—one of the “nine Nārāyaṇas” (Navanārāyaṇa).
Source: Google Books: Routledge Handbook of South Asian ReligionsBhartṛ (भर्तृ) or Bhartṛnātha refers to one of the Nine Nāthas which is part of a tradition called the Navanātha Sampradāya.—Cf. the list provided by Dasgupta (1995: 207): Matsyendra, Gorakṣa, Gahinī, Jvālendra, Kāriṇapa (Kaṇerī?), Carpaṭa, Revaṇa, Bhartṛ, and Gopīcandra. Note that Revaṇa is also mentioned by the NSCar.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryBhartṛ (भर्तृ).—m. [bhṛ-tṛc]
1) A husband; यद्भर्तुरेव हितमिच्छति तत् कलत्रम् (yadbhartureva hitamicchati tat kalatram) Bhartṛhari 2.8; स्त्रीणां भर्ता धर्मदाराश्च पुंसाम् (strīṇāṃ bhartā dharmadārāśca puṃsām) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 6.18.
2) A lord, master, superior; भर्तुः शापेन (bhartuḥ śāpena) Meghadūta 1; गण°, भूत° (gaṇa°, bhūta°) &c.
3) A leader, commander, chief; स्वभर्तृनामग्रहणाद्बभूव सान्द्रे रजस्यात्मपरावबोधः (svabhartṛnāmagrahaṇādbabhūva sāndre rajasyātmaparāvabodhaḥ) R.7.41.
4) A supporter, bearer, protector; भर्ता स्वानां श्रेष्ठः पुर एता भवति (bhartā svānāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pura etā bhavati) Bri. Up.1.3.18.
5) The creator.
6) Name of Viṣṇu; सवनो भावनो भर्ता (savano bhāvano bhartā) V. Sah.
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Bhartrī (भर्त्री).—
1) A mother.
2) A female supporter.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryBharttṛ (भर्त्तृ).—mfn. (-rttā-ttrī-rttṛ) 1. A cherisher, a nourisher, a protector. 2. A holder, a supporter. m.
(-rttā) 1. A husband. 2. A lord, a master. E. bhṛ to nourish, &c. aff. tṛc .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryBhartṛ (भर्तृ).—i. e. bhṛ + tṛ, I. m., f. trī, and n. 1. One who contains, [Śiśupālavadha] 9, 17. 2. A cherisher, [Bhagavadgītā, (ed. Schlegel.)] 9, 18. 3. A protector. Ii. m. 1. A lord, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 36; master, [distich] 155. 2. A commander, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 7, 94. 3. A husband, [Hitopadeśa] i. [distich] 196, M. M.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryBhartṛ (भर्तृ).—1. (bhartṛ) [masculine] bearer, supporter, maintainer, lord, chief; [feminine] bhartrī female supporter mother.
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Bhartṛ (भर्तृ).—2. [masculine] husband; [abstract] tva† [neuter]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Bhartṛ (भर्तृ):—[from bhara] m. (once in [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] bhartṛ) a bearer (cf. [Latin] fertor), one who bears or carries or maintains (with [genitive case] or ifc.), [Ṛg-veda; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] a preserver, protector, maintainer, chief, lord, master, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc. (f(trī). a female supporter or nourisher, a mother, [Atharva-veda; Kauśika-sūtra; Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa])
3) [v.s. ...] m. a husband, [Ṛg-veda v, 58, 7; Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryBharttṛ (भर्त्तृ):—(rttā) 4. m. A husband, a lord. a. Nourishing; holding.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Bhartrī (भर्त्री) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Bhaṭṭiṇī.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusBhartṛ (ಭರ್ತೃ):—[noun] = ಭರತಿ [bharati]2.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryBhartṛ (भर्तृ):—n. 1. husband; 2. lord; master; superior; 3. Mythol. Vishnu;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+14): Bhartridarike, Bhartridarshana, Bhartridarshanakanksha, Bhartridarshanalalasa, Bhartridridhavrata, Bhartriduhitar, Bhartriduhitri, Bhartrighna, Bhartrighnatva, Bhartrihari, Bhartriharinirveda, Bhartriharipurusharthashataka, Bhartriharishataka, Bhartrihema, Bhartrijaya, Bhartrika, Bhartrima, Bhartrimant, Bhartrimedhra, Bhartrimenthata.
Full-text (+205): Bhartrihari, Bhartridaraka, Bhartrimati, Bhartrimentha, Bhartritva, Bhartrighni, Bhartrivrata, Bhartristhana, Bhartribhakta, Bhartripriya, Bhartrisat, Bhartrisvamin, Abhibhartri, Bhartrihema, Bhartricitta, Bhartrivatsala, Amshubhartri, Mahibhartri, Bhartridevata, Grihabhartri.
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Search found 29 books and stories containing Bhartri, Bhartṛ, Bhartr, Bhartrī, Bharttṛ, Bharttri; (plurals include: Bhartris, Bhartṛs, Bhartrs, Bhartrīs, Bharttṛs, Bharttris). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhagavad-gita (with Vaishnava commentaries) (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 13.17 < [Chapter 13 - Prakṛti-puruṣa-vibhāga-yoga]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 1.88.6 < [Sukta 88]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 149 < [Volume 6 (1882)]
Abhinaya-darpana (English) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 346 < [Volume 3 (1906)]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 3.2.47 < [Part 2 - Affection and Service (dāsya-rasa)]