anuśap

  In Sanskrit, "anuśap" (अनुशप्) refers to a curse or the act of cursing, derived from the verbal root "anu-√śap," meaning "to curse."

Definition and Usage

The term anuśap is primarily used in classical Sanskrit texts to denote a 

spoken curse, an imprecation, or the act of invoking misfortune upon 

someone verbally. It appears in Hindu epics such as the Mahābhārata,

where it is employed in contexts involving divine or human 

pronouncements meant to bring harm or retribution

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Etymology

• Root: anu-√śap
• Meaning of Root: "anu" means "after" or "following," and "śap" means 
• "curse" or "to curse"

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  Thus, anu-√śap together conveys the action of issuing a curse or 
• causing harm in continuation or sequence.
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Related Forms

Other related words in Sanskrit based on the same root include:

• anuśabdita – verbally communicated, spoken of
• anuśabdya – having been communicated or pronounced
  These forms emphasize the verbal and communicative nature of 
• anuśap

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Contextual Note

Curses (anuśap) are significant in Vedic and epic literature because 

they often result in moral or supernatural consequences. They can 

be invoked by sages, deities, or righteous characters as part of dharmic

frameworks for justice, retribution, or ethical instruction

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In summary, anuśap is a Sanskrit noun signifying a curse, rooted in 

classical Sanskrit epics and derived from the verbal root anu-√śap, 

indicating the act of cursing or pronouncing a curse 

verbally

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