Asu, Ashu, Āsu, Asū, Āśu, Āśū: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Asu means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Āśu and Āśū can be transliterated into English as Asu or Ashu, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical TermsAsu (असु).—A unit of time equal to four sidereal seconds. Note: Asu is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)
Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval IndiaĀśu (आशु) refers to “swift growing rice” according to the Yajurveda-saṃhita (and brāhmaṇa), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—The discussions on rice can be seen only in post-Ṛgvedic literature. [...] Yajurvedic Saṃhitas and Brāhmaṇas mentions kṛṣṇavrīhi (black rice), śuklavrīhi (white rice), mahāvrīhi (long rice), nīvāra (wild rice), hāyana (red rice growing in a year), āśu (swift growing rice) and māsūsya (a sort of wild rice) as varieties of rice.
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Source: archive.org: The Elephant Lore of the HindusĀśu (आशु) refers to the “quick” (arising) (of serious diseases), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 9, “on kinds of must”]: “19. From the flowing of the must-fluid the bodily humors of the elephant in must constantly waste away, and through wasting of the humors right quickly (āśu) arise multitudes of serious diseases. Because of their previous wasting away he does not attain to the development of must in other years. One shall cause him to appease this must through three months devoted to (development of) the bodily humors”.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsĀśu (आशु):—Fast or rapid.

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryĀśu.—(SII 2), probably, a hilt. Note: āśu is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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Āsu.—(CII 4), name of a coin; cf. āchu and accu. Note: āsu is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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Āsu.—cf. accu. Note: āsu is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryasu : (adj.) such and such. || āsu (ind.), quickly.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryAsu, (pron.) (Sk. asau (m.), adas (nt.); base amu° in oblique cases & derivation, e.g. adv. amutra (q. v.)) pron. dẹmonstr. “that”, that one, usually combd. with yo (yaṃ), e.g. asu yo so puriso M. I, 366; yaṃ aduṃ khettaṃ S. IV, 315. ‹-› Nom. sg. m. asu S. IV, 195; Miln. 242; f. asu J. V, 396 (asū metri causâ); nt. aduṃ M. I, 364, 483; A. I, 250. Of oblique cases e.g. amunā (Instr.) A. I, 250. Cp. also next. (Page 89)
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Āsu, expletive particle = assu3 J. V, 241 (v. l. assu; nipātamattaṃ C. p. 243). (Page 116)
[Pali to Burmese]
Source: Sutta: Tipiṭaka Pāḷi-Myanmar Dictionary (တိပိဋက-ပါဠိမြန်မာ အဘိဓာန်)1) asu—
(Burmese text): ထို(ယောက်ကျား,မိန်းမစသည်)သည်။ အမု-ကြည့်။
(Auto-Translation): That (man, woman, etc.) is. Look.
2) asu—
(Burmese text): အသက်။
(Auto-Translation): Age.
3) āsu—
(Burmese text): လျင်မြန်စွာ၊ လျင်မြန်သော။
(Auto-Translation): Quickly, fast.
4) āsu—
(Burmese text): အသက်။
(Auto-Translation): Age.

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryāsū (आसू).—n (aśru S Through H) A tear.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishāsū (आसू).—n A tear.
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 dictionaryAsu (असु).—[asyate kṣipyate as-un Uṇ 1.1; cf. Nir.; sa hi astaḥ śarīre bhavati tasya tatra nityamavasthānam]
1) Breath; मीनगन्ध्यसु- गन्धेन कुर्वन्ती मार्गदूषणम् (mīnagandhyasu- gandhena kurvantī mārgadūṣaṇam) Bhāgavata 6.13.13; life, spiritual life; Ṛgveda 15.1.1.
2) life of departed spirits.
3) Water.
4) Heat.
5) (pl.) (a) The five vital breaths or lifewinds in the body; असुभिः स्थास्नु यशश्चिचीषितः (asubhiḥ sthāsnu yaśaścicīṣitaḥ) Kirātārjunīya 2.19; परीक्षितं दुर्लभानसून् प्रापितवान् (parīkṣitaṃ durlabhānasūn prāpitavān) K.175; Bhartṛhari 2.11; (b) wisdom (prajñā Nir.).
6) The time taken in pronouncing 1 long syllables.
7) A sixth part of a pala q. v. n. (-su) 1 Reflection, thought.
2) Heart, mind.
3) Grief.
Derivable forms: asuḥ (असुः).
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Asū (असू).—a. Not bringing forth, barren (as a cow).
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Āśu (आशु).—a. [aś-vyāptau uṇ] Fast, quick
-śuḥ Ved.
1) 'The quick one', a horse.
2) Rice (ripening quickly in the rainy season).
-śu ind. Fast, quickly, immediately, directly; Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 2.65; वर्त्म भानोस्त्यजाशु (vartma bhānostyajāśu) Meghadūta 41,22. [cf. L. acu; Gr. okus.]
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Āśū (आशू).—a. Quick, fast (Ved.).
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Āsu (आसु).—5 U.
1) To press out Soma juice, distill (mostly Ved.).
2) (P.) To excite, enliven (Ved.); Ch. Up.5.12.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryĀśu (आशु).—: [ Johnston, notes on Saundarān. vi.9 and Buddhac. vi.64, assumes use as ‘expletive’, ‘to strengthen the force of the verb,’ ‘in epic and Buddhist Sanskrit,’ and suggests relation to the Pali particle assu. He so interprets āśu in Manu 4.171. I disagree on all this; it seems to me that there is no reason to assume any āśu except the adj. and adverb, quick(ly). Tibetan renders quickly at Buddhac. vi.64.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAsu (असु).—m. pl. always, (asavaḥ) The five vital breaths or airs of the body. n. (-su) 1. Reflexion, thought, or the heart as the seat of it. 2. Affliction. E. asa to be, &c. and u Unadi aff.
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Āśu (आशु).—mfn. (-śuḥ-śuḥ-śu) Going quickly, fleet, first. mn. (-śuḥ-śu) Rice ripening in the rainy season. n. adv. (-śu) Quick, quickly. E. aśū to pervade, uṇ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAsu (असु).—i. e. 1. as + u, m. plur. 1. The five vital breaths, or airs of the body (cf. [Vedāntasāra, (in my Chrestomathy.)] in
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Asū (असू).—[a-sū], adj. Sterile,
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Āśu (आशु).—i. e. probably aś (see śo) + u, adv. Quickly. Cf. [Latin] ocius, accipiter = ved. āśupatvan, aquila.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAsu (असु).—[masculine] (later always [plural]) vital spirit, breath, life.
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Asū (असू).—[feminine] not bringing forth, barren.
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Āśu (आशु).—[adjective] swift; [neuter] [adverb]; [masculine] horse.
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Āsu (आसु).—& vi = [Simple] sam & abhisam press out together. — Cf. pra/suta.
Āsu is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ā and su (सु).
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Āsū (आसू).—hurt upon ([dative]), send, bestow, procure.
Āsū is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ā and sū (सू).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Asu (असु):—m. (√1. as), [Vedic or Veda] breath, life, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda] etc.
2) life of the spiritual world or departed spirits, [Ṛg-veda x, 15, 1]
3) (in [astronomy]) ‘respiration’, = four seconds of sidereal time or one minute of arc, [Sūryasiddhānta]
4) = prajñā, [Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska]
5) (in later language only asavas) the vital breaths or airs of the body, animal life, [Atharva-veda; Manu-smṛti iii, 217, etc.]
6) n. grief, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) (= citta) the spirit, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) Asū (असू):—[=a-sū] mfn. (√3. sū), not bringing forth, barren, [Ṛg-veda] and, [Atharva-veda] ([accusative] f. a-svam), [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā] ([accusative] f. asūm).
9) Āśu (आशु):—mfn. (√1. aś, [Uṇādi-sūtra i, 1]), fast, quick, going quickly, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc.
10) m. [Vedic or Veda] the quick one, a horse, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda]
11) mn. rice ripening quickly in the rainy season, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
12) n. Name of a Sāman
13) ind. quickly, quick, immediately, directly, [Suśruta; Meghadūta; Pañcatantra etc.]
14) cf. [Greek] ὠκύς, ὤκιστος; [Latin] acu in acupedius, ocissimus: of the same origin may be the [Latin] aquila and accipiter.
15) Āsu (आसु):—[=ā-su] -√3. su [Parasmaipada] -sunoti, ([subjunctive] 2. [plural] -sunotā, [Atharva-veda xx, 127, 7 and] ā-sotā, [Ṛg-veda ix, 108, 7]) to press out (Soma juice);
—to distil, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Chāndogya-upaniṣad]
16) Āsū (आसू):—[=ā-√sū] [Parasmaipada] ā-suvati √1. (p. -suvāna) to excite towards ;
—to throw to, send off towards;
—to assign to, bring quickly, procure;
—to yield, grant, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Asu (असु):—plu. (asavaḥ) 2. m. Life, five vital airs. n. Reflection; affliction.
2) Āśu (आशु):—[(śuḥ-śu)] 2. m. n. Rice ripening in the rainy season. a. Quick.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Asu (असु) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Asava, Asu, Asua, Āsu, Āsuṃ.
[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 dictionaryĀśu (आशु):—(a) prompt, quick, speedy, swift; extempore; impromptu; —[ābhinaya] extempore acting; ~[kavi] an impromptu poet; ~[kāvya] extempore poetic composition; ~[gāmī] fast moving; ~[toṣa] one who is easily pleased; easy to please; Lord Shiv; ~[lipi] short hand, stenography; ~[lipika] a stenographer,
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Asu (असु) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Asu.
2) Āsu (आसु) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Aśru.
3) Āsu (आसु) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Āśu.
Āsu has the following synonyms: Āsuṃ.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAsu (ಅಸು):—[noun] that (money, valuables, etc.) extorted by threat, force or misuse of authority; an exacted thing.
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Asu (ಅಸು):—[noun] an acting or responding quickly; swiftness; quickness.
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Asu (ಅಸು):—
1) [noun] the state or condition which distinguishes animate beings from dead ones and from inorganic matter; the soul; the life-force.
2) [noun] the mind a) that which thinks, perceives, feels, wills, etc.; seat or subject of consciousness b) the thinking and perceiving part of consciousness; intellect or intelligence.
3) [noun] ಅಸುವಱೆಯಾಗು [asuvareyagu] asuvaṛeyāgu to lose (one’s) strength; to become weak or wane; to become dead-like; ಅಸುವೊಱೆಯಾಗು [asuvoreyagu] asuvoṛeyāgu to cease to exist; to lose life; to depart the current life; to die.
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Asu (ಅಸು):—[noun] a flat stone on which spices are ground.
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Āśu (ಆಶು):—
1) [noun] quickness; fastness; haste.
2) [noun] a variety of quick yielding paddy.
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Āśu (ಆಶು):—
1) [adverb] quickly; without delay; swiftly; immediately.
2) [adverb] without preparation or rehearsal; extemporaneous.
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Āśu (ಆಶು):—[noun] the tree Shorea talura ( = S. robusta or Vatica robusta) of Dipterocarpaceae family; bastard sal.
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Āsu (ಆಸು):—[verb] to let (a thing) fall from a height; to drop down.
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Āsu (ಆಸು):—[noun] the tree Shorea talura ( = S. robusta or Vatica robusta) of Dipterocarpaceae family; bastard sal.
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Āsu (ಆಸು):—[adverb] that much; as much as.
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Āsu (ಆಸು):—[noun] that much quantity; quantity asmuch as.
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Āsu (ಆಸು):—
1) [noun] the fact or quality of being possible; possibility; feasibility.
2) [noun] ಆಸಲ್ಲ [asalla] āsalla not possible' , 'not practical'; 'not feasible'.
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Āsu (ಆಸು):—
1) [noun] quickness; fastness; haste.
2) [noun] a variety of quick yielding paddy.
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Āsu (ಆಸು):—[verb] to be or become able to.
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 DictionaryĀśu (आशु):—adv. swiftly; immediately; promptly;
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)
Partial matches: Amu, A, U, Cu, Aca, Shi, Nu, Shu, Ci, Asha.
Starts with (+21): Acu, Akkhi, Ashubha, Ashubhacintaka, Ashubhakara, Ashubhakrit, Ashubhamsha, Ashubhanupreksha, Ashubhashasin, Ashubhashaya, Ashubhatmaka, Ashubhavin, Ashubhojjhita, Ashuklanta, Ashupattri, Ashupratibhana, Ashurathiya, Ashuraya, Ashuvikrama, Asita.
Full-text (+340): Asuya, Asava, Ashuga, Asum, Anashu, Ashutva, Ashushukshani, Ashutosha, Asuta, Ashukarin, Ashuvrihi, Asumat, Ashubodha, Ashupatri, Ashumga, Asita, Ashupatvan, Ashukriya, Ashushena, Asuratha.
Relevant text
Search found 115 books and stories containing Asu, A-su, Ā-su, Ā-sū, A-sū, Aashu, Amu-si, Asa-nu, Asa-ṇu, Asa-nu, Asa-ṇu, Asa-u, Ashu, Āsu, Āsū, Asū, Āśu, Āśū; (plurals include: Asus, sus, sūs, Aashus, sis, nus, ṇus, us, Ashus, Āsus, Āsūs, Asūs, Āśus, Āśūs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Nighantu (critical study) (by Gopalakrishna N. Bhat)
Part 11 - Ksipranamani (Kshipra Nama) < [Chapter 4 - Second Adhyaya (chapter) of the Nighantu (study)]
Part 14 - Asvanamani (Ashva Nama) < [Chapter 3 - First Adhyaya (chapter) of the Nighantu (study)]
Part 10 - Meghanamani (Megha Nama) < [Chapter 3 - First Adhyaya (chapter) of the Nighantu (study)]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Evaluation of vishaghna mahakashaya of charak samhita < [2023: Volume 12, February issue 3]
A conceptual study of madatyaya with special reference to alcoholism < [2018: Volume 7, April special issue 8]
India's regulatory systems for heavy metals in ASU drugs. < [2021: Volume 10, July issue 8]
Hayanaratna: The Jewel of Annual Astrology (by Martin Gansten)
2. The Three Corrections (tryaikya-ānayana) < [Chapter 8 - Monthly and Daily Revolutions]
9. Calculating and Judging the Houses in the Annual Revolution < [Chapter 1 - Fundamentals of Astrology and the Annual Revolution]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.7.17 < [Chapter 7 - Kidnapping of the Calves and Cowherd Boys]
Verse 4.10.5 < [Chapter 10 - The Story of the Pulindā Women]
Verse 1.7.38 < [Chapter 7 - Description of the Conquest of All Directions]
Sarat Chatterji’s ‘Shesh Prashna’ < [March 1937]
Sarat Chatterji's 'Shesh Prashna' < [April 1937]
Reviews < [February 1937]