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asurā

asura

masc nom pl of asura (noun); masc instr sg of asura (noun); masc abl sg of asura (noun); masc voc sg of asura (noun); …

1. titan; anti-god; enemy of the devas; lit. antihero
2. of the titans; of the asuras; lit. antihero

Built from

• a- — prefix · not, without
  Plain negation. The asuras are defined as non-divine, lacking the radiance of true gods.
• sura — root · god, bright being
  From √svar 'to shine, be bright'. Related to Latin sol and English sun, all from Indo-European *sweǝl-. The devas are the shining ones; asuras are their opposite.

Etymology. a- (not, without) + sura (god, from √svar 'shine, be bright'). The asuras are the 'non-gods' or 'not-shining ones', celestial beings who rival and war against the devas. The prefix a- negates sura, marking them as inferior or opposed to the radiant devas. Cognate with Sanskrit asura; the root sura is akin to Latin sol 'sun' and English sun (from Indo-European *sweǝl- 'to shine').

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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