anāsmāka

 

Anāsmāka (अनास्माक) in Sanskrit means 

“not belonging to us” and is attested in the 

Atharva Veda (xix, 57, 5).

Definition and Etymology

The term Anāsmāka is a compound formed from the prefix “an-” 

meaning “not” and “asmāka” meaning “ours” or “belonging to us.”

Thus, the literal meaning of an-āsmāka is “not ours” or

“not belonging to us”

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 . In Sanskrit, it functions

as an adjective (mfn.), describing an object, person, or concept

that does not belong to the speaker or their group.

Usage in Texts

The word is attested in Atharva Veda (xix, 57, 5), indicating its 

historical use in Vedic Sanskrit. Here, it is used in the sense of 

identifying what is external to “us” or outside one’s possession 

or domain

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 . This contrasts with asmāka, 

which specifically denotes “ours” or “belonging to us.”

Distinction from Similar Terms

• Asmāka / Āsmāka: Refers to “ours” or related possessive forms. 
• It is also used as a proper noun in various historical and mythological 
• contexts, such as the name of a warrior tribe or a kingdom in 
• ancient India, but this is different from the adjectival usage
• in anāsmāka

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   .
• Anādhṛṣṭi / Anya forms: Sanskrit often combines the negating 
• prefix an- with nouns or pronouns to indicate the opposite or 
• absence, as seen in anāsmāka meaning “not ours.”
• 

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Summary

Anāsmāka is a classical Sanskrit adjective meaning

“not belonging to us”. It is primarily attested in Vedic literature, 

functioning in opposition to asmāka (ours). The term highlights 

possession or belonging in philosophical or textual contexts 

and helps distinguish in-group versus out-group references in 

early Sanskrit texts 

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.