Ashakta, Aśakta, Āśakta: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Ashakta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit terms Aśakta and Āśakta can be transliterated into English as Asakta or Ashakta, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Ashakt.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Aśākta (अशाक्त) refers to “one who is incompetent”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “Having (mentally) formed (the twenty-four sacred places) beginning with Aṭṭahāsa and ending with Rājagṛha along with the goddesses with (their) weapons and accompanied by the guardians, by attending the sacred fields, primary and secondary, and the meeting places, he becomes pure. O dear one, he who is incompetent [i.e., aśākta] or careless (but nevertheless) gets up in the morning and recites (this hymn) achieves perfect purity by eulogizing the sacred seats. I will tell (you) that so that (the observance of) the Rule may be purified”.
2) Āsakta (आसक्त) refers to “being intent (on the pleasure)” (of divine enjoyment), according to the Kularatnoddyota, one of the earliest Kubjikā Tantras.—Accordingly: “[...] Listen, you who are the first born! Divine empowered one! You who are both supreme and inferior! I will tell you, O beloved, how my incarnation came into being. When I am in the venerable Wheel of Bliss along with you, intent on the pleasure (sukha-āsakta) of divine enjoyment and intent, O Kujā, in the bliss of playful dalliance, a seed is emitted from us. [...]
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation1) Āsakta (आसक्त) refers to “absorption” (i.e., one absorbed in meditation), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.13 (“Śiva-Pārvatī dialogue”).—Accordingly, after Śiva permitted Pārvatī to stay by his side: “[...] O sage, when Śiva, the great Ātman, sank into meditation [i.e., dhyāna-āsakta], no other thought entered His mind. As for Pārvatī, she served Him everyday with great devotion, always thinking on the form of that Great Soul. Śiva who was engrossed in meditation saw her every day in full composure. Forgetting His previous thoughts about her, He did not see her although He saw her. [...]”.
2) Aśakta (अशक्त) refers to “(financial) weakness (of the family)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.17 (“The dialogue between Indra and Kāmadeva”).—Accordingly, as Indra said to Kāma: “[...] Time being accursed, a great irremediable misery has befallen me. None other than you can dispel it. The test of a donor is at the time of famine; the test of a warrior is at the time of battle; the test of a friend is at the time of adversity and the test of a woman is in the financial weakness [i.e., aśakta] of the family. O dear, the test of a real friend is in the time of distress and is also based on what he does behind the back. It is not otherwise. This is truth. [...]”.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchAśakta (अशक्त) refers to “one who is not capable (of Rājayoga)”, according to Vijñānabhikṣu in his sixteenth-century Sāṅkhyasāra verse 6.2-3.—Accordingly: “One who is not capable (aśakta) of Rājayoga, is suitable for Haṭhayoga. In the Yogavāsiṣṭha, Vasiṣṭha was taught thus by Bhusuṇḍa. In Rājayoga, one cultivates gnosis and, in Haṭhayoga, the breathing exercises and postures. [Both of] them are important. Since they are auxiliaries, one [depends on] the other. They should [both] be practised according to one's capacity”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Source: Wikisource: Ashtavakra Gita1) Asakta (असक्त) refers to “unattached” (and is used to describe one’s own self—Ātman), according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Janaka says to Aṣṭavakra]: “[...] My true nature is not contained in objects, nor does any object exist in it, for it is infinite and spotless. So it is unattached (asakta), desireless and at peace, and as such I remain [ityasakto'spṛhaḥ śānta etadevāhamāsthitaḥ]. Truly I am but pure consciousness, and the world is like a conjuror's show, so how could I imagine there is anything there to take up or reject?”.
2) Āsakta (आसक्त) refers to “being attached” (to either ideation/thinking or non-ideation/non-thinking), according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Aṣṭavakra says to Janaka]: “[...] The mind of the fool is always caught in an opinion (āsakta) about becoming or avoiding something [bhāvanā'bhāvanāsaktā dṛṣṭirmūḍhasya sarvadā], but the wise man's nature is to have no opinions about becoming and avoiding. For the seer who behaves like a child, without desire in all actions, there is no attachment for such a pure one even in the work he does. [...]”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāAsakta (असक्त) refers to “not being attached to (one’s train of thought)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then, the Lord went on to speak these verses: ‘(34) Since their nature is originally pure, they give a gift with the purity of awakening. Since they are not attached to (asakta) their train of thoughts (citta-saṃtāna), they give a gift without any discursive thinking (niṣprapañca). [...]’”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryaśakta (अशक्त).—a (S) Weak, feeble, powerless: also incapable or incompetent.
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āsakta (आसक्त).—p (S) Intent, bent, or set upon; devotedly attached to; diligently prosecuting.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishaśakta (अशक्त).—a Weak, infirm, incapable.
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āsakta (आसक्त).—p Intent upon; devotedly attached to.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAśakta (अशक्त).—a. Unable, incompetent; °tā, -tvam inability.
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Asakta (असक्त).—a. Not excessively attached, not feeling interested in, indifferent (to); असक्तः सुखमन्वभूत् (asaktaḥ sukhamanvabhūt) R.1.21.
2) Not entangled; शाखासु वल्कलमसक्तमपि द्रुमाणाम् (śākhāsu valkalamasaktamapi drumāṇām) Ś.2.13.
3) Not united, detached.
4) Not attached to worldly feelings and connections. असक्तः स विशिष्यते (asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 3.7,19.
-ktam ind.
1) Without being excessively attached or addicted to; असक्तमाराधयतो यथायथम् (asaktamārādhayato yathāyatham) Kirātārjunīya 1.11.
2) Without any hindrance, quickly; Daśakumāracarita 35. तस्य मर्ध्नि शितं खड्गमसक्तं पर्वतेष्वपि (tasya mardhni śitaṃ khaḍgamasaktaṃ parvateṣvapi) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 3.39.52.
3) Incessantly, ceaselessly असक्तमूधांसि पयः क्षरन्त्यम् (asaktamūdhāṃsi payaḥ kṣarantyam) Kirātārjunīya 4.31.
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Āśakta (आशक्त).—a. Able, powerful.
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Āsakta (आसक्त).—p. p.
1) Strongly attached to, intent on, devoted or addicted to, (usually with loc. or in comp.) द्यूत°, मृगया° (dyūta°, mṛgayā°).
2) Absorbed or engaged in, zealously following or pursuing.
3) Fixed on, directed towards, joined or attached to, placed or resting on; मन्मुखासक्त- दृष्टिः (manmukhāsakta- dṛṣṭiḥ) K.158; यदासक्तं सख्यं जने (yadāsaktaṃ sakhyaṃ jane) Mv.5.58 formed; शिखरा- सक्तमेघाः (śikharā- saktameghāḥ) Kumārasambhava 6.4 resting on; °बाहुलतया (bāhulatayā) 8.
4) Surrounded, encircled.
5) Continuous, perpetual, eternal.
6) Trusting to, confiding in.
7) Obstructed, checked; कार्तवीर्यभुजासक्तं तज्जलं प्राप्य निर्मलम् (kārtavīryabhujāsaktaṃ tajjalaṃ prāpya nirmalam) Rām.7.32.5.
-ktam ind. Eternally, perpetually.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAśakta (अशक्त).—mfn.
(-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) Unable, incompetent. E. a neg. śakta able, strong.
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Asakta (असक्त).—mfn.
(-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) 1. Detached, disunited. 2. Not interested in, indifferent to, unattached to. 3. Detached from worldly feelings and passions. E. a neg. sakta united.
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Āśakta (आशक्त).—mfn.
(-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) Able, powerful. E. āṅ before and śakta able.
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Āsakta (आसक्त).—mfn.
(-ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) 1. Zealously following or pursuing, intent or attached strongly to. 2. Trusting to, confinding in. 3. Eternal. adv. n.
(-ktaṃ) Eternally. E. āṅ before ṣañj to embrace, to move, participial affix kta.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAśakta (अशक्त).—[adjective] unable to or incapable of ([infinitive], [locative], or [dative]).
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Asakta (असक्त).—[adjective] not hanging on or entangled in ([locative]); independent, free.
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Āsakta (आसक्त).—[adjective] suspended, hanging on; clinging, attached, or used to; intent on ([locative] or —°).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Aśakta (अशक्त):—[=a-śakta] mfn. unable, incompetent (with [Infinitive mood] or [locative case] or [dative case]), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata etc.]
2) Asakta (असक्त):—[=a-sakta] mfn. not stopped or intercepted by or at ([locative case]; said of arrows and of a sword), [Mahābhārata iii, 1602; xiv, 2189]
3) [v.s. ...] (in the same sense a-saṅga, [Raghuvaṃśa iii, 63])
4) [v.s. ...] free from ties, independent, [Sāṃkhyakārikā]
5) [v.s. ...] detached from worldly feelings or passions, unattached or indifferent to ([locative case]), [Manu-smṛti ii, 13; Raghuvaṃśa] etc.
6) Āśakta (आशक्त):—[=ā-śakta] [from ā-śak] mfn. very powerful or mighty, able, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) Āsakta (आसक्त):—[=ā-sakta] [from ā-sañj] mfn. fixed or fastened to
8) [v.s. ...] attached to, lying on or upon, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Kumāra-sambhava; Rāmāyaṇa; Kathāsaritsāgara] etc.
9) [v.s. ...] attached strongly to, intent on
10) [v.s. ...] zealously following or pursuing, [Mahābhārata; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhajjātaka; Kathāsaritsāgara; Pañcatantra] etc.
11) [v.s. ...] wound round, encircled
12) [v.s. ...] accompanied or furnished with
13) [v.s. ...] following directly, immediately proceeding from ([accusative]), [Mahābhārata]
14) [from ā-sakta > ā-sañj] n. darkness, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Aśakta (अशक्त):—[a-śakta] (ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) a. Unable.
2) Asakta (असक्त):—[a-sakta] (ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) a. Indifferent to.
3) Āśakta (आशक्त):—[ā-śakta] (ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) p. Able.
4) Āsakta (आसक्त):—[ā-sakta] (ktaḥ-ktā-ktaṃ) a. Diligent; attached, confiding; eternal.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Aśakta (अशक्त) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Asakka, Asatta, Āsaṃjia, Āsatta.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Aśakta (अशक्त) [Also spelled ashakt]:—(a) weak, feeble; unable; incompetent; invalid, disabled; ~[tā] disability; infirmity.
2) Āsakta (आसक्त) [Also spelled asakt]:—(a) attached; fond, addict; fascinated, charmed.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAśakta (ಅಶಕ್ತ):—[adjective] not able; lacking the ability, strength or power to do something; weak (physically or mentally); feeble; invalid.
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Aśakta (ಅಶಕ್ತ):—[noun] a man with weak physique.
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Asakta (ಅಸಕ್ತ):—[adjective] not inclined to stick together; not stuck; unattached.
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Asakta (ಅಸಕ್ತ):—[noun] a disinterested, unattached man; a man not inclined to get attached.
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Āsakta (ಆಸಕ್ತ):—
1) [adjective] strongly attached, devoted or dedicated to; interested in.
2) [adjective] continuous; perpetual; eternal.
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Āsakta (ಆಸಕ್ತ):—[noun] a man deeply devoted, strongly attached or entirely dedicated to (something); an interested man.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary1) Aśakta (अशक्त):—adj. 1. powerless; helpless; unable; 2. weak; feeble; invalid;
2) Asakta (असक्त):—adj. 1. unable; inactive; not powerful; 2. invalid;
3) Āsakta (आसक्त):—adj. 1. strongly attached; engrossed; 2. devoted; infatuated;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Ashakta Ni Durjana, Ashaktabhartrika, Ashaktata, Ashaktatana, Ashaktate, Ashaktayana.
Full-text (+37): Vishayasakta, Bhramasakta, Asaktamanas, Asaktacetas, Kamasakta, Phalasakta, Asaktacitta, Samasakta, Manasakta, Vyasakta, Sukhasakta, Ashaktabhartrika, Asaktabuddhi, Asaktabhava, Ashakta Ni Durjana, Asaktamanasa, Ashakt, Asatta, Asaktam, Asakt.
Relevant text
Search found 45 books and stories containing Ashakta, A-śakta, A-sakta, Ā-śakta, Ā-sakta, A-shakta, Aśakta, Asakta, Āsakta, Āśakta; (plurals include: Ashaktas, śaktas, saktas, shaktas, Aśaktas, Asaktas, Āsaktas, Āśaktas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhagavad-gita (with Vaishnava commentaries) (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 9.9 < [Chapter 9 - Rāja-guhya-yoga (Yoga through the most Confidential Knowledge)]
Verse 13.15 < [Chapter 13 - Prakṛti-puruṣa-vibhāga-yoga]
Verse 3.19 < [Chapter 3 - Karma-yoga (Yoga through the Path of Action)]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.6.57 < [Chapter 6 - Priyatama (the most beloved devotees)]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 1.33.3 < [Sukta 33]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikā (by Sarasvati Thkura)