As a deity name
Name 308 of the Vishnu Sahasranāma — Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva), as taught by Bhishma to Yudhishthira on his deathbed
As a Hindi name
इष्ट · ishṭa · part.
Desired, wished for; approved; cherished, beloved; reverenced, worshipped — Platts (1884), digital edition courtesy DSAL, University of Chicago, p. 56
इष्ट · masculine
an object of desire, love, or reverence; a favoured deity; an object of desire, love, or reverence; a beloved person
इष्ट
desired; cherished, favourite; revered
Śabdasāgara also records: अभिलषित । चाहा हुआ । वांछित । जैसे,— (क) परिश्रम से इष्ट फल की प्राप्ति होती है । (ख) हमें वहाँ जाना इष्ट नहीं है · अभिप्रेत । जैसे,—ग्रंथकार का इष्ट यह नहीं है
a Hindi word, a tatsama: the Sanskrit word borrowed unchanged into Hindi इष्ट — per Wiktionary’s etymology record
“Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eys- Proto-Indo-European *h₂istós Proto-Indo-Iranian *Hištás Sanskrit इष्ट (iṣṭa)lbor. Hindi इष्ट Learned borrowing from Sanskrit इष्ट (iṣṭa). Doublet of ईठ (īṭh, “desired, beloved”). Related to इच्छा (icchā), इष्टि (iṣṭi).” — per Wiktionary’s etymology record
1. iṣṭa mfn. (for 2. See s.v.), sought, ŚBr.
wished, desired
As a Sanskrit word
Meaning
sought
Scripturally attested Verified derivationMultiple readings (5)Why this matches what you typed
M1 · same meaning "iṣṭa" is the vocative of "iṣṭā" — the same word in a different grammatical case.
M3 · meaning shifts "iṣṭā" is derived from "is" with the tal suffix — a related word whose meaning shifts, so both meanings are shown.
is ind. an interjection of anger or pain or sorrow, L.
(according to BRD. is Ved. = nis cf. iṣ-√ kṛ above.)
iṣṭā f. N. of a plant, L.
Related forms
Dictionary citations
1. iṣṭa mfn. (for 2. See s.v.), sought, ŚBr.
wished, desired
liked, beloved
agreeable
cherished, RV.; ŚBr.; KātyŚr.; Mn.; Pañcat.; Śak. &c.
iṣṭā f. N. of a plant, L.
is ind. an interjection of anger or pain or sorrow, L.
(according to BRD. is Ved. = nis cf. iṣ-√ kṛ above.)
Alternative readings
More than one analysis survives full verification. That ambiguity is real, so we show every reading rather than pick one silently.
Caveats
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