As a Hindi name
पाठक · noun · masculine
जो पढे़ । पढ़नेवाला । वाचक · जो पढा़वे । पढा़नेवाला । अध्यापक · धर्मोंपदेशक — Śabdasāgara
पाठक · pāṭhak · s.m.
Reader, lecturer, preceptor, tutor, teacher, professor; spiritual preceptor; a Brāhman who reads in public the Purāṇas or other sacred works of the Hindūs; a panḍit who declares what is the law or custom according to the sacred writings — Platts (1884), digital edition courtesy DSAL, University of Chicago, p. 215
पाठक · feminine,masculine
a surname, equivalent to English Pathak, used by Brahmins.
पाठक · masculine
reader, learner
a Hindi word, a tatsama: the Sanskrit word borrowed unchanged into Hindi पाठक — per Wiktionary’s etymology record
“Borrowed from Sanskrit पाठक (pāṭhaka).” — per Wiktionary’s etymology record
pāṭhaka m. a reciter, reader (f(ikā). , Pāṇ. iv, 1, 4, Sch.)
a student, pupil, Cat.
As a Sanskrit word
Meaning
a public reciter of the Purāṇas or other sacred works
Verified derivationMultiple readings (9)Why this matches what you typed
M3 · meaning shifts "pāṭhaka" is derived from "pāṭha" with the ka/kan suffix — a related word whose meaning shifts, so both meanings are shown.
pāṭha m. (√ paṭh) recitation, recital, Kāv.
reading, perusal, study (esp. of sacred texts), Śikṣ. &c.
pāṭhaka m. a reciter, reader (f(ikā). , Pāṇ. iv, 1, 4, Sch.)
a student, pupil, Cat.
Dictionary citations
pāṭhaka m. a reciter, reader (f(ikā). , Pāṇ. iv, 1, 4, Sch.)
a student, pupil, Cat.
a scholar, lecturer, preceptor, teacher (cf. dharma-, nakṣatra-, smṛti-), Mn.; MBh.; Pañc.
a public reciter of the Purāṇas or other sacred works, W.
a Paṇḍit who declares what is the law or custom according to the scriptures, ib.
pāṭha m. (√ paṭh) recitation, recital, Kāv.
reading, perusal, study (esp. of sacred texts), Śikṣ. &c.
Alternative readings
More than one analysis survives full verification. That ambiguity is real, so we show every reading rather than pick one silently.
Caveats
Sources contain errors and engines have limits; every claim above carries its citation so you can verify it. This is guidance about names and their sources — not religious or astrological consultation. How we work · Our sources