Traditionally derived from तड् (taḍ, “to strike”) and compared to ताड (tāḍa, “a blow”). Alternative theories derive the word from an unattested *तृदित् (tṛdit), from तृद् (tṛd, “to pierce; to split”).
The meaning of "lightning" cannot be assumed for its appearances in the Rigveda; the "lightning" meaning may have developed afterwards.
तडित् • (taḍít) stem, f
| singular | dual | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | तडित् (taḍit) | तडितौ (taḍitau) तडिता¹ (taḍitā¹) |
तडितः (taḍitaḥ) |
| vocative | तडित् (taḍit) | तडितौ (taḍitau) तडिता¹ (taḍitā¹) |
तडितः (taḍitaḥ) |
| accusative | तडितम् (taḍitam) | तडितौ (taḍitau) तडिता¹ (taḍitā¹) |
तडितः (taḍitaḥ) |
| instrumental | तडिता (taḍitā) | तडिद्भ्याम् (taḍidbhyām) | तडिद्भिः (taḍidbhiḥ) |
| dative | तडिते (taḍite) | तडिद्भ्याम् (taḍidbhyām) | तडिद्भ्यः (taḍidbhyaḥ) |
| ablative | तडितः (taḍitaḥ) | तडिद्भ्याम् (taḍidbhyām) | तडिद्भ्यः (taḍidbhyaḥ) |
| genitive | तडितः (taḍitaḥ) | तडितोः (taḍitoḥ) | तडिताम् (taḍitām) |
| locative | तडिति (taḍiti) | तडितोः (taḍitoḥ) | तडित्सु (taḍitsu) |