kāṅkṣā

 Kāṅkṣā (काङ्क्षा) primarily means “desire, wish, or 

inclination” in Sanskrit and is used in literary, 

philosophical, and religious texts with nuanced 

implications including doubt, longing, or attachment.

Linguistic and Grammatical Perspective

Kāṅkṣā is a feminine noun (f.) derived from the root काङ्क्ष 

(kāṅkṣ), meaning “to wish” or “to long for” ( 

Wiktionary+1

). 

In Sanskrit grammar, it can appear in compounds or derived 

forms such as kāṅkṣita (desired, wished-for). Examples in 

classical texts include bhaktakāṅkṣā (devotional desire) 

and usages in epics like Rāmāyaṇa and Nālopākhyāna ( 

Wisdom Library

). 

Kāṅkṣā also has lexical relations to Prakrit words such 

as kaṅkhā, reflecting doubt or questioning ( 

Gandhari.org

).

Meaning in Hinduism and Literature

In classical Sanskrit literary and Hindu religious texts, kāṅkṣā 

denotes:

• Wish or desire: A person’s longing or aspiration for an object, 
• deity, or outcome ( 

  1

  ).
• Inclination or appetite: Natural leaning or preference, e.g., 
• spiritual aspiration (bhaktakāṅkṣā).

Broader Semantic Notes

• Desire for worldly or spiritual objects: Sometimes spiritual 
• texts distinguish between wholesome desires (devotional 
• or aspirational) and material desires that are obstacles.
• Classical dictionary definitions consistently note kāṅkṣā as: 
• wish, desire, inclination, fancy, or even doubt ( 

  3

  ).
• 

  

  3 Sources

Example Usages

रामेण सीतान्वेषण-काङ्क्षया - rāmeṇa sītānveṣaṇa-kāṅkṣayā

indicating Rama’s act of seeking Sita with desire

भक्तकाङ्क्षा - bhaktakāṅkṣā 

devotional longing or aspiration toward a deity

Saddharmapuṇḍarīka usage:

kāṅkṣā alongside śoka (grief) and saṃśaya (doubt) as part of 

internal mental states to be overcome

In summary, kāṅkṣā is a versatile Sanskrit term denoting desire, 

wish, inclination, or doubt, with literary presence in epic narratives 

and classical poetry ( 

Wisdom Library+3

).