PsychologyAugust 10, 2026

rasa

RUH-suh

Definition

The aesthetic experience or emotional essence evoked in a reader or viewer, considered a fundamental principle of Indian literary and dramatic theory.

Etymology

Derived from the Sanskrit word for 'juice,' 'sap,' or 'taste,' it refers to the essential flavor or emotional extract of a work of art that the audience 'tastes' or experiences.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe how Singh’s poem generates a subtle, contemplative delight in the reader without explicitly naming the emotions involved.

The painter’s vision: Visual poetics in Shamsher Bahadur Singh’s ‘Dawn’

Read the full article ↗

SabrangIndia

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.