
Jason C. answered 03/31/23
Ivy League-educated tutor for English, Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit
Great question! According to the rules of Sanskrit grammar, the nominal stem śreyas is a comparative adjective (viśeṣaṇa) meaning "better" or "more excellent." The grammatical tradition explains it as the comparative degree formed irregularly (that is, in a way not predictable according to the rules of grammar) from either śrīmat ("auspicious") or praśasya ("praiseworthy"). Śreyasī is the feminine form (or, much less likely, the nominative/accusative neuter dual form) of that stem—so it could literally mean "the better woman." According to Sanskrit lexicographers, however, it is also the name of a plant—possibly the black myrobalan (हरड or हरीतकी in Hindi). Śreyasī could also be a woman's proper name. Like Christoph, I'm unable to settle on a single definition for the word in Hindi—would like to see how it was used in context!