FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH SANSKRIT: LESSON 1
FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH SANSKRIT
LESSON
-1
-1
The idea behind these lessons is to make the reader
familiar with sanskrit in terms of vocabulary, the different forms nouns,
pronouns and adjectives take conforming to the rules of grammar in respect of
familiar with sanskrit in terms of vocabulary, the different forms nouns,
pronouns and adjectives take conforming to the rules of grammar in respect of
person (1st, 2nd and 3rd
persons)
persons)
number (singular, dual and plural)
gender (masculine, feminine and neuter)
and the
conjugation of verbs from a vast store house of roots from which verbs are
formed in the various tenses (present, past, future) and moods (commands,
wishes, blessings etc.) in addition to infinitives, causative and other
forms.
conjugation of verbs from a vast store house of roots from which verbs are
formed in the various tenses (present, past, future) and moods (commands,
wishes, blessings etc.) in addition to infinitives, causative and other
forms.
The lessons may
not enable the reader deveop facility in speaking and writing in sanskrit but,
it is hoped, will enable him to understand and enjoy the vast treasure of
writings in Sanskrit at a reasonable level. For this purpose it is not
necessary that one should be able to reproduce from memory the multiplicity of
forms nouns, pronouns, adjectives and
roots of verbs take, but to recognise the various forms when one sees them in
print. Coupled with a reasonably good
vocabulary it should be possible to read and understand many texts in Sanskrit
without the help of translations. Most
of the modern Indian languages have generously drawn words from Sanskrit, either in their original form or with minor
modifications, especialy in serious works of literature in those languages
(Tamil is an exception in this regard). Therefore such words will be recognised by
those who have ordinary proficiency in one of those languages. With the help of a dictionary of Sanskrit
words one can improve one’s vocabulary.
Reading through these lessons a few times, it is hoped, will familiarise
the reader with the peculiarities of the language which he will be able to
recognise when he sees them used in literary and other works in Sanskrit.
not enable the reader deveop facility in speaking and writing in sanskrit but,
it is hoped, will enable him to understand and enjoy the vast treasure of
writings in Sanskrit at a reasonable level. For this purpose it is not
necessary that one should be able to reproduce from memory the multiplicity of
forms nouns, pronouns, adjectives and
roots of verbs take, but to recognise the various forms when one sees them in
print. Coupled with a reasonably good
vocabulary it should be possible to read and understand many texts in Sanskrit
without the help of translations. Most
of the modern Indian languages have generously drawn words from Sanskrit, either in their original form or with minor
modifications, especialy in serious works of literature in those languages
(Tamil is an exception in this regard). Therefore such words will be recognised by
those who have ordinary proficiency in one of those languages. With the help of a dictionary of Sanskrit
words one can improve one’s vocabulary.
Reading through these lessons a few times, it is hoped, will familiarise
the reader with the peculiarities of the language which he will be able to
recognise when he sees them used in literary and other works in Sanskrit.
Familiarity with the
Devanagari script and high school
level knowledge of English are assumed in the following lessons. Knowledge of any of the languages of
India which generously use words from Sanskrit will be helpful as indicated
above.
Devanagari script and high school
level knowledge of English are assumed in the following lessons. Knowledge of any of the languages of
India which generously use words from Sanskrit will be helpful as indicated
above.
प्रार्थना (prayer)
दिक्कालाद्यनवच्छिन्नानन्तचिन्मात्रमूर्तये ।
स्वानुभूत्यैकलभ्याय नमः शान्ताय तेजसे ॥
Prostrations to that supremely calm effulgence which
is beyond the limitations of time and space, which is infinite, which is of the
form of pure consciousness and which can be attained only by one’s own deepest
experience.
is beyond the limitations of time and space, which is infinite, which is of the
form of pure consciousness and which can be attained only by one’s own deepest
experience.
We start the study with pronouns for the first,
second and third persons both singular
and plural. Sanskrit has an additional number, dual to indicate two of a
category. The different forms taken by these personal pronouns are
given below:
second and third persons both singular
and plural. Sanskrit has an additional number, dual to indicate two of a
category. The different forms taken by these personal pronouns are
given below:
First Person (both masculine
& feminine)
& feminine)
Singular
अहं (अहम्) I
अहं (अहम्) I
Dual आवां (आवाम्) We two
Plural
वयं (वयम् ) We
वयं (वयम् ) We
Second Person (both masculine & feminine)
Singular त्वं (त्वम्)
You
You
Dual युवां (युवाम्)
You two
You two
Plural यूयं (यूयम्)
You all
You all
Note:
The forms given within brackets ending with
‘म्’ are used generally at the end of a sentence
or when a vowel follows.
The forms given within brackets ending with
‘म्’ are used generally at the end of a sentence
or when a vowel follows.
Third
Person (masculine)
Person (masculine)
Singular सः He
Dual तौ
They two
They two
Plural ते They
Third
Person (feminine)
Person (feminine)
Singular सा
She
She
Dual ते They
two
two
Plural ताः
They
They
Let us now look at the roots of
some common verbs in sanskrit and see what form these verbs take in relation to
singular, dual and plural subjects in the present tense
some common verbs in sanskrit and see what form these verbs take in relation to
singular, dual and plural subjects in the present tense
Root क्रीड् to play
Third person क्रीडति क्रीडतः क्रीडन्ति
Third person क्रीडति क्रीडतः क्रीडन्ति
Second person क्रीडसि क्रीडथः क्रीडथ
First
person क्रीडामि क्रीडावः क्रीडामः
person क्रीडामि क्रीडावः क्रीडामः
सः क्रीडति He plays तौ क्रीडतः They two play ते क्रीडन्ति They play
सा क्रीडति She plays ते क्रीडतः They two play ताः क्रीडन्ति They play
त्वं क्रीडसि You play युवां क्रीडथः You two play यूयं क्रीडथ You
play
play
अहं क्रीडामि I play आवां क्रीडावः We two play वयं क्रीडामः We play
Note
that the form of the verb does not change when the subject is of the feminine
gender as in Hindi and some other Indian languages.
that the form of the verb does not change when the subject is of the feminine
gender as in Hindi and some other Indian languages.
Some
more roots, the present tense forms of
which are obtained in the same manner as given above, are listed below:
more roots, the present tense forms of
which are obtained in the same manner as given above, are listed below:
खाद्
to eat खादति खादतः खादन्ति etc.
to eat खादति खादतः खादन्ति etc.
हस्
to laugh हसति हसतः हसन्ति
etc.
to laugh हसति हसतः हसन्ति
etc.
चल्
to walk चलति चलतः चलन्ति
etc.
to walk चलति चलतः चलन्ति
etc.
भ्रम्
to wander भ्रमति भ्रमतः भ्रमन्ति etc.
to wander भ्रमति भ्रमतः भ्रमन्ति etc.
त्यज्
to abandon त्यजति त्यजतः त्यजन्ति etc.
to abandon त्यजति त्यजतः त्यजन्ति etc.
A few
other roots are पच् to cook, रक्ष् to protect, वस् to
live, reside, भज् to worship or serve, जल्प् to prattle, talk – for these present tense forms are derived in
the same manner.
other roots are पच् to cook, रक्ष् to protect, वस् to
live, reside, भज् to worship or serve, जल्प् to prattle, talk – for these present tense forms are derived in
the same manner.
Exercise:
1. Write out the present tense forms in the third, second and first persons
singular, dual and plural for the
following roots (as given above for the root क्रीड्
to play )
1. Write out the present tense forms in the third, second and first persons
singular, dual and plural for the
following roots (as given above for the root क्रीड्
to play )
निन्द्
to blame, क्रन्द् to cry, पत्
to fall, व्रज्
to go, वह् to carry कूज् to chirp,
to blame, क्रन्द् to cry, पत्
to fall, व्रज्
to go, वह् to carry कूज् to chirp,
चर्
to go, to graze, पठ् to
read, धाव्
to run,
to go, to graze, पठ् to
read, धाव्
to run,
2. Use
the above verbs in present tense sentences with personal pronouns as subjects-
as given above for the verb क्रीडति etc.
the above verbs in present tense sentences with personal pronouns as subjects-
as given above for the verb क्रीडति etc.
3. Make
sentences with the following nouns as subjects and verbs formed of any of the
roots given above.
sentences with the following nouns as subjects and verbs formed of any of the
roots given above.
1 बालक:
boy, बालिका girl, अध्यापकः
teacher, अध्यापिका female
teacher, विद्यार्थी
student, माता mother पिता
father गोपः cowherd छात्रः student
boy, बालिका girl, अध्यापकः
teacher, अध्यापिका female
teacher, विद्यार्थी
student, माता mother पिता
father गोपः cowherd छात्रः student
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