anna vastra

 

In Sanskrit, anna‑vastra (अन्नवस्त्र) means

“food and clothing,” referring to the basic 

necessities of life.

Core Sanskrit Meaning

• The compound annavastra (anna + vastra) is defined as “food and clothing, 
• the necessaries of life” in multiple Sanskrit dictionaries

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• It is a dvandva (coordinative) compound, combining anna (food) and 
• vastra (clothing).
• Several Sanskrit lexicons explicitly gloss it as “food and raiment; the
• bare necessities of life.”

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  1 Source

Supporting Definitions from the Results

• Monier‑Williams Sanskrit Dictionary: annavastra — food and clothing, 
• the necessaries of life

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• Marathi dictionary (derived from Sanskrit): annavastra — food and 
• clothing; a comprehensive term for the necessaries of life

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• Kannada dictionary: annavastra — food and clothes; the basic essentials 
• for one’s livelihood

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• Nepali dictionary: annavastra — food and clothing

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• 

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Breakdown of the Components

• anna (अन्न) — food, nourishment.
• vastra (वस्त्र) — garment, clothing

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  Together, they denote the two fundamental supports of life: what one
• eats and what one wears.
• 

  

  2 Sources

Usage Context

• The term appears in Sanskrit literature and traditional Indian languages
• to express basic human needs or charitable essentials (e.g., giving
• anna‑vastra to the poor).
• It is not a ritual term but a general expression for essential provisions.