'bandhava' originates from Sanskrit, specifically the word 'bandhava' (बन्धव), where the root 'bandh-' meant 'to bind' (expressing connection or tie). It ultimately traces to the Proto-Indo-European root *bʰendh- meaning 'to bind'.

'bandhava' appears in Vedic and Classical Sanskrit (and related forms such as 'bandhu'), passed into Middle Indo-Aryan (Prakrit/Pali) forms, and influenced modern Indo-Aryan words like Hindi 'bandhu' (बन्धु) meaning 'relative' or 'friend'.

Initially it conveyed the sense 'one who is bound' (by kinship or social ties); over time this developed into the stable meaning 'kinsman, relative' in descendant languages.