anyatarato danta

 

The term Anyataraṭo Danta (अन्यतरतोदन्त, also spelled Anyatarato-danta)

is a compound Sanskrit expression found in Vedic texts such as the

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa. It is formed from:

1. anya (अन्य) — “other,” “one side”
2. tara (तर) — “edge,” “side,” “row”
3. danta (दन्त) — “tooth”

Literal Translation

The compound anyātaraṭo danta literally means:

“having teeth on one side only”
or
“possessing a single row of teeth”.

Contextual Usage

• In Vedic literature, it describes living beings that have teeth arranged 
• only on one side, as opposed to ubhayatodanta, which refers to animals
• with teeth on both sides (dual rows).
• It is a bahuvrīhi compound, meaning the term describes a characteristic 
• of a third-party entity. For example, in taxonomy or descriptive passages
• in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, this term categorizes creatures according to
• their dentition pattern.
• Functionally, it helps distinguish single-rowed dentition (such as certain 
• fish or other organisms) from typical mammals having upper and lower
• rows of teeth.

Summary

Anyātaraṭo Danta = Adjective or descriptive term that denotes “those 

possessing teeth on only one side,” often used in Vedic texts to classify or

describe living beings based on tooth configuration.

This is a technical term in Sanskrit grammar and Vedic taxonomy and is 

relevant in both philological studies and the interpretation of ancient 

Hindu texts.

Reference:

• Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 1.6.3.29
• Wisdom Library, Anyataratodanta: link