aniṣṭa śaṅkā

 

Aniṣṭa Śaṅkā (अनिष्टशंका) in Sanskrit means the 

fear, apprehension, or anxiety about something 

evil, undesirable, or harmful.

Breakdown of the Term

• Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट): This Sanskrit word refers to anything that is 
• unfavorable, evil, harmful, inauspicious, or undesirable

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• Śaṅkā (शंका): This word signifies doubt, suspicion, fear, or 
• apprehension

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When combined into the compound Aniṣṭa Śaṅkā (अनिष्टशंका), the 

term literally describes the state of being apprehensive of unfavorable 

or harmful outcomes.

Contextual Meaning

• Psychological sense: It conveys a feeling of fear of evil or harm,
• reflecting anxiety about potential misfortune or danger 

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• Usage: In classical texts, Aniṣṭa Śaṅkā may be used to describe 
• a person’s emotional state when anticipating ill results or
• unfortunate events. It is a noun of feminine gender in Sanskrit.
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Related Terms

• Aniṣṭasūcaka (अनिष्टसूचक): Refers to something foreboding or
• ominous, often signaling that harm or misfortune may occur 

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• Baddhāśaṅka (बद्धाशंका): Means filled with anxiety or doubt, 
• similar to being gripped by fear 

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In summary, Aniṣṭa Śaṅkā denotes apprehension or fear regarding 

something potentially harmful or undesirable, often used in spiritual, 

literary, or philosophical contexts to describe anxiety about 

unfortunate outcomes 

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