<p>Below you can see some titles and names.</p>
<p>The title is (Sammasam)Buddha and the name is Kassapa, the title is bhikkhu and the name is Sahaka, the title is Mara and the name is Dusi, the title is disciple (<em>savaka</em>) and the name is Vidhura, the title is brahmin and the name is Kakusandha.</p>
<p>In all the cases, the title precedes the name in the English translation, just like how we say Doctor Fauci or President Obama in English.</p>
<p>But in all the cases, the title comes after the name in Pali.</p>
<p>So both are the same. One in English and one in Pali.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn48.57/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 48.57</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Once upon a time, sir, I lived the spiritual life under the fully
awakened Buddha Kassapa.<br />
<em>Bhūtapubbāhaṃ, bhante, kassape sammāsambuddhe brahmacariyaṃ acariṃ.</em></p>
<p>There they knew me as<br />
<em>Tatrapi maṃ evaṃ jānanti:</em></p>
<p>the mendicant Sahaka.<br />
<em>‘sahako bhikkhu, sahako bhikkhū’ti.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>From <a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn50/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 50</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Then it occurred to Māra Dūsī,<br />
<em>Atha kho, pāpima, dūsissa mārassa etadahosi</em></p>
<hr />
<p>after attacking the disciple Vidhura<br />
<em>Vidhuraṃ sāvakamāsajja,</em></p>
<p>along with the brahmin Kakusandha?<br />
<em>kakusandhañca brāhmaṇaṃ.</em></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-21T02:38:38.013Z
very good answer
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-20T06:52:12.777Z
2020-12-20T06:58:26.840Z
2020-12-20T06:58:26.840Z
ruben2020
<p>For example there's Bhikkhu Bodhi and Thanissaro Bhikkhu. What's the distinction?</p>

<pali-language><pali><dharma-name>
Putting "Bhikkhu" before or after name, is there a difference?
# Putting "Bhikkhu" before or after name, is there a difference?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-20)

For example there's Bhikkhu Bodhi and Thanissaro Bhikkhu. What's the distinction?

**Tags:** pali-language, pali, dharma-name


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-12-20. Score: 2

Below you can see some titles and names.

The title is (Sammasam)Buddha and the name is Kassapa, the title is bhikkhu and the name is Sahaka, the title is Mara and the name is Dusi, the title is disciple (*savaka*) and the name is Vidhura, the title is brahmin and the name is Kakusandha.

In all the cases, the title precedes the name in the English translation, just like how we say Doctor Fauci or President Obama in English.

But in all the cases, the title comes after the name in Pali.

So both are the same. One in English and one in Pali.

From [SN 48.57](https://suttacentral.net/sn48.57/en/sujato):

> Once upon a time, sir, I lived the spiritual life under the fully
> awakened Buddha Kassapa.  
> *Bhūtapubbāhaṃ, bhante, kassape sammāsambuddhe brahmacariyaṃ acariṃ.*
>
> There they knew me as  
> *Tatrapi maṃ evaṃ jānanti:*
>
> the mendicant Sahaka.  
> *‘sahako bhikkhu, sahako bhikkhū’ti.*

From [MN 50](https://suttacentral.net/mn50/en/sujato):

> Then it occurred to Māra Dūsī,  
> *Atha kho, pāpima, dūsissa mārassa etadahosi*
>
> ---
>
> after attacking the disciple Vidhura  
> *Vidhuraṃ sāvakamāsajja,*
>
> along with the brahmin Kakusandha?  
> *kakusandhañca brāhmaṇaṃ.*

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: very good answer  

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