aniṣṭa sūcaka

 Aniṣṭasūcaka (अनिष्टसूचक) in Sanskrit means “foreboding evil,” “ominous,” or “prognostic of misfortune.”

Etymology

The word Aniṣṭasūcaka is a compound of two Sanskrit terms:

• aniṣṭa (अनिṣ्ट): meaning evil, misfortune, or undesirable
• sūcaka (सूचक): meaning that which indicates, points out, or signifies

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Thus, Aniṣṭasūcaka literally means “that which indicates or signifies 

evil or misfortune.”

Usage and Definitions

In Sanskrit dictionaries: Aniṣṭasūcaka is an adjective (mfn.) meaning

 foreboding evil, ominous, or indicating a bad omen

In Marathi and regional languages: It is used similarly as an adjective

to describe something ill-betokening or prognostic of evil

In Nepali: It carries the sense of informing about evil, misfortune, or peril

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Contextual Significance

• Forewarning: In classical Hindu and Buddhist texts, it refers to signs, 
• events, or portents that indicate impending misfortune 

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• Indicative nature: As sūcaka literally means “one who points out 
• or indicates”, the term retains this sense of communication or
• signification, but specifically for inauspicious or negative outcomes 

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• Related usage in texts: The term Aniṣṭasūcaka may appear in 
• Puranas and other Sanskrit literature to denote omens or events 
• that foretell adverse occurrences 

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Summary

Aniṣṭasūcaka = foreboding, ominous, miserable portent; that which

signifies evil or misfortune. It is a compound adjective frequently 

used in Sanskrit literature to indicate bad omens or ill-signs, 

applicable in religious, astrological, or literary contexts 

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This term is part of a larger tradition where sūcaka indicates any 

marker, signal, or bearer of information, while the prefix aniṣṭa 

specifies that the information is of a negative or undesirable

nature 

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