Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach Lesson 1

Glossary 1
Sanskrit in
Transliteration

Sanskrit in
Devanagari

No.

English

You

tvam

only

eva

you only

tvameva

mother

mAtA

and

cha

father

pitA

brother

bandhuH

friend

sakhA

knowledge

vidyA

10

wealth

draviNam

11 all, everything

sarvam

12

of me

mama

13

Oh God

deva

Exercises 1: From the above glossary, prepare the following phrases

No.
Phrase
1 You only mother
2 and Father you only
3 You only brother and
4 friend you only
5 You only knowledge
6 Wealth you only
7 You only everything of me
8 Oh God ! Oh God

Sanskrit in transliteration
Sanskrit in Devanagari
__________ __________
__________ __________
__ _______ ________
__ _______ ________
__________ __________ ___
__________ __________ ___
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________
__________ __________ ________ __________ __________ ________
__________ __________
__________ __________

Now you can write down two phrases in one line. By that it becomes a good four-line verse, a good
prayer !!
I am sure you will like this prayer. Learn it by heart.
Now you have learnt a prayer, of which you also know the meaning.
Say it by yourself whenever and wherever you like. Maybe you can meditate with this prayer.
If someone prays to God, calling Him mother, father, brother, friend, knowledge, wealth, everything,
very earnestly, He will answer!!
You may find this prayer on the internet in Devanagari. You would find one small difference.
OK, let me give that to you here itself. In phrase 3, you will find that is written as

. That difference is simple and logical.

+ (bandhuH + cha = bandhush-cha). Hence,

A vertical line at the end of each line () is really the full stop in Devanagari. Two vertical lines ()
denote the end of a stanza.
Do you really need a key to the exercise 1 ?
Anyway, here it is tvameva mAtA cha pitA tvameva
tvameva bandhush-cha sakhA tvameva
tvameva vidyA draviNam tvameva
tvameva sarvam mama deva deva

( + )
Blissful

shubham

be it

astu

Blissful be it shubhamastu
2

Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach Lesson 2

Glossary 2
Sanskrit in
Transliteration

No.

English

industriousness,
diligence

udyamaH

grit to explore

sAhasam

boldness

dhairyam

intellect

buddhiH

strength

shaktiH

6 capacity to fight and win

Sanskrit in Devanagari

parAkramaH

six

ShaT

these

e-te

these six

ShaDete

10

where

yatra

11

are present, exist

var-tan-te

12

there

tatra

13

God

devaH

14

helpful

sahAyya-kRut

From 7, 8 and 9 we notice that

+ = When two words are in succession of each other,

it becomes natural during pronunciation, that the ending of the first word and the beginning of the
next word will merge. Such merging of sounds is called as conjugation
15 conjugation sandhiH :
There were three conjugations already in Lesson 1.
1. + =

2. + =

3. + =
Conjugations are logical and natural, arent they ?

Word #13 is not new. It was there in glossary 1. There, it was just , because it was in Address case,

to say, Oh God. Here it is in Nominative Case.

Hence :

16

Address

sambodhanam

17

case

vibhaktiH

18

Address case

sambodhanvibhaktiH

19

first

prathamA

20

Nominative or
subjective case

prathamA vibhatiH

Exercises 2: From the words 1 to 14 in the glossary, prepare the following phrases
No
.

Phrase

Sanskrit in transliteration

Industriousness, grit to
explore, boldness
intellect, strength,
2 capacity to fight and
win
3 these six where exist
4 there God helpful
1

Sanskrit in Devanagari

__________ __________ ___________ __________ __________ _________

__________ ___________ ________

__________ __________ ________

__________ __________ _________

__________ __________ _________

__________ __________ ________

__________ __________ ________

Now you can write down two phrases in one line. By that it becomes a good two-line verse, a good
saying !!
21 a good saying

subhAShitam

Here it is how it reads udyamaH sAhasam dhairyam buddhiH shaktiH parAkramaH

ShaDete yatra vartante tatra devaH sahAyya-kRut

I am sure you will like this good saying . Learn it by heart.

In Sanskrit there are thousands of such good sayings. Would it not be charming and impressive, if
you can quote them verbatim? And they are so crisp verses, all pearls of wisdom !! That is one very
good and strong reason, why one should learn Sanskrit.

Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach Lesson 3

Glossary 3
No.

English

Sanskrit in
Transliteration

Sanskrit in
Devanagari

in post-rainy season

sharadi

no, not, does not

na

rains

varShati

thunders

garjati

during rainy season

varShAsu

quiet, noiseless

niH-svanaH

cloud

meghaH

8*

noiseless cloud

niHsvano meghaH

mean-minded, lowly

neechaH

10

talks, prattles

vadati

11*

(the) lowly prattles

neecho vadati

12

does

kurute

13

good person,
gentleman

sujanaH

14

does

karoti

15

only

eva

16*

does only

karotyeva

Here we have three conjugations. The conjugated phrases are marked by *

(6) + (7) = (8) : + =
(9) + (10) = (11) + =
(14) + (15) = (16) + =

In the first two conjugations two words havent really merged into each other. But the visarga (:) at
the ending of the first word has become

 + > + =
+ > + =

In the third one + = + + = + + =

Here vowel merges into vowel to become + . Then we have merging of + +

becoming
There is no need to become unduly over-conscientious of this explanation of the third one. Even if you

say , at some speed, you will realize that it does become . So, rules of
conjugation are all logical and natural. Thanks to the sages like PaaNinee that naturally happening
pronunciations also have been refined, structured into rules. The very name of the language Sanskrit
means refined. It is these refinements which have made the language chaste. There is no other
language in the world, which can match the chastity of Sanskrit.
Word #15 is not new. It was there in glossary 1. It is repeated just for the sake of convenience.
Exercises 3: From the words 1 to 16 in the glossary, prepare the following phrases No.
1
2
3
4

Sanskrit in
Transliteration
cloud, in post-rainy season, not, __________ __________
rains, thunders
___________
quiet (noiseless) cloud, during __________ ___________
rainy season, rains
________
the lowly person, prattles, not, __________ __________ _
does
________
__________ __________ _
not, talks, gentleman, does only
________
Phrase

Sanskrit in
Devanagari
__________ __________
_________
__________ __________
________
__________ __________
________
__________ __________
________

In the glossary, you have the word cloud only once. You have to use it both in phrases (1) and (2).
Likewise the word not is to be used at three places.

For the English word does we have in the glossary two Sanskrit words and . They are

interchangeable. Or even any one of the two can be used at both the places. But to keep the matter
simple, in phrase 3, I have put does independently after not. In phrase 4, I have put it together
does only as in the glossary. Use the glossary. So you will know which fits better where.
Now you can write down two-two phrases in one line. By that it becomes a good two-line verse, a good
saying a !!

Here it is, how it reads sharadi na varShati garjati varShati varShAsu niHsvano meghaH
neecho vadati na kurute na vadati sujanaH karotyeva

Say it aloud. You will appreciate what musical rhythm is built in here by the poet, having composed it
with quite some Onamatopoeia. Doesnt that make it so easy to commit it to memory? And there is of
course a message, a moral, explained with an example of a very commonplace experience. To derive
moral out of a commonplace experience is again refinement. Language itself is a refined language.
Poetry shall of course be!

I am sure you will like this good saying . Learn it by heart.

You may think that for every lesson, I advise, Learn it by heart. But this is all poetry, music and easy
knowledge, wisdom, eternal wisdom, saturated and condensed in such short verses. Why not learn it
by heart?
More the wisdom you have within your memory bank, wiser you will be. So learning Sanskrit is not
just learning another language. It is enriching ourselves with all that wisdom you have in the
literature of Sanskrit. That is my basic idea of Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach. How do you
like that?
Also, once you remember the verses, your vocabulary is also automatically building up. You do not have
to make any separate effort to mug up words and their meanings. If the verse is understood along with
its meaning, it is so many birds in one stone!

Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach Lesson 4

Glossary 4
Sanskrit in
Transliteration

Sanskrit in
Devanagari

udyamena

hi

siddhyanti

kAryANi

na

6 mind

manaH

7 by chariots

rathaiH

mano-rathaiH

No.

English

1 by diligence, by industriousness
2 of course, only, thus only
3 are accomplished
4 tasks, missions
5 not

8* by chariots of mind, by dreams

9 (of) sleeping

suptasya

10 lions

sinhasya

11 enter

pravishanti

12 into the mouth

13 deer (plural)

mukhe

mRugAH

We had the word : in Lesson 2. Here it is . Earlier the meaning was diligence,
industriousness. Here the meaning is by indulgence, by industriousness. So the meaning of the

preposition by is included in the meaning of this word here. Both the words : and
are declined forms of the root word . All nouns, pronouns and adjectives have
declensions in different cases. Earlier in the glossaries in Lessons 1 and 2 had declensions of root word
as and : in Address case and Nominative case respectively. Here we have declensions
in Nominative (called as first case) and instrumental (called as third case). Cases are eight, from
first to seventh and the address case. Cases second to seventh do the job of different propositions. The
third case does the job of prepositions by and with.
Words (7) and (8) are also in third (instrumental) case. There also we have the preposition by.
Words (9) and (10) are in sixth (genitive, showing ownership) case which do the job of the preposition
of or of the apostrophe in word (10).
9

Word (12) is in seventh (locative) case, which does the function of prepositions in, into, on,
upon, above, below, under. All these prepositions show a location. So, the seventh case is the
locative case.
Nouns, pronouns and adjectives decline also by number singular, dual, plural. We had cloud rains
(singular), cloud thunders (singular), gentleman does (singular). We had six exist(plural). Here
we have tasks are accomplished (plural) deer enter (plural).
Verbs also have declensions, influenced by number. This is so in grammar of all languages, e.g. in
English, I am, We are.
Verbs also decline due to tense. So far we have all sentences in present tense. Verbs also decline by
person e.g. I am (first person), He is (third person). So far we have all sentences in third person.
We shall get to know various declensions of nouns, pronouns, adjectives and also of verbs, as we
proceed. I have been thoughtfully selective in taking up the verses, so that, we shall have graded
progress. That also merits appreciation, right ?
And all this grammar does not, may not stop us from our learning the verses. It is being mentioned just
for information. Let us get on with usual exercises of composing phrases, which help us to understand
the meaning.
There is only one conjugation in this whole verse. The conjugated phrases are marked by *
(6) + (7) = (8) + =

But here the two words have together become one word, a compound word.
14 together (as prefix)

sam

15 to be, to sit, to put

AsaH

16 put together

samAsaH

17 compound word

samAsaH

Even a word like a compound word, which is a grammatical term has a derivation. Everything
in Sanskrit has a logic and a structure. There is that finesse, the refinement, hence, Sanskrit !
Well, is a prefix. Every prefix has a meaning too ! means together. There is another here

in . It is all interesting. But it will become digressing from our composing the verse and
understanding its meaning.

10

Exercises 4: From the words 1 to 13 in the glossary, prepare the following phrases No.
1
2
3
4

Sanskrit in
Transliteration
by diligence, only, are
__________ __________
accomplished, tasks,
___________
__________ ___________ ___
not, by dreams,
_____
not, of course, of sleeping, __________ __________ ____
lions
_____
__________ __________ ____
enter, into mouth, deer
_____
Phrase

Sanskrit in
Devanagari
__________ __________
_______
__________ __________
______
__________ __________
______
__________ __________
______

__
__
__
__

In the glossary, you have the word not only once. Actually we had this word earlier also. It is
repeated here just for convenience. Word (2) has two different meanings and are judiciously put in
phrases (1) and (3).
As usual, now you can write down two-two phrases in one line. By that it becomes a good two-line
verse, a good saying a !!
Here is, how it would read udyamena hi siddhyanti kAryANi na mano-rathaiH
na hi suptasya sinhasya pravishanti mukhe mRugAH

In many a we shall find this style of

a hypothesis and its proof by a commonplace example or
an example and a moral therefrom.
Isnt it all charming how the poets have thought of a right, appropriate example, derived a moral or a
proof and put it all in a short, sweet verse!
I am sure you will like this good saying as well. Learn it by heart.

11

Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach Lesson 5

Glossary 5

No.

English

Sanskrit in
Transliteration

Sanskrit in
Devanagari

sujanaH

na

yAti

good person, gentleman

not

gets into, goes to

enmity

vairam

other

paraH

good

hitam

others good

para-hitam

involved, engrossed

nirataH

para-hita-nirataH

vinAshaH

kAlaH

vinAsha-kAle

api

chhede

chandana

taruH

17* sandalwood tree

chandana-taruH

18 lends fragrance

surabhayati

19 mouth

mukham

20 of axe

kuThArasya

9* engrossed in good of others

10 total loss
11 time
12* in time of total loss
13 also
14 when cut
15 sandalwood
16 tree

Words , and have been there in previous glossaries.

There are three compound words here and

12

(6) and (7) and (8) = (9) : and and =

Let us first look at : and The meaning is explained in the glossary that =
others good. So the relationship between the two words other and good is through the apostrophe.
Or if we write it as good of others, the relationship is through the preposition of. In Sanskrit, the
function of this preposition is served by the sixth, genitive case
connect the two words by sixth case of : which is .

. Hence we have to

So the explanation of = A compound word having this type of explanation or

deciphering is called as a compound of

type.

Then we can look into deciphering considering and as the two parts.

Since means engrossed in good of others the relationship between the two parts good
of others and engrossed is through the preposition in. Function of this preposition is served by
seventh locative case. Hence we have to connect the two parts by a declension of into
seventh case,

which is . So the explanation of becomes

A compound word having this type of explanation or deciphering is called as a

compound of - type.

(10) + (11) = (12) and = > Since means in time of

total loss means time of total loss. Here the two parts total loss and time have the relationship
through the preposition of. The function of this preposition is served by the sixth, genitive case

. Hence we have to connect the two words by sixth case of which is .

So, the explanation of is So, is again a compound

word of

- type. is

of

after its compounding.

Compound words become new words and would have declensions in different cases. This is important.
Before deciphering a compound word, we should get to its simplest form, decipher the simplest form,
which often is of first case singular

was already in

. So, there was no problem to start off

with deciphering straightaway.

(15) + (16) = (17) and = This is again in

The two parts are and Since the meaning of is tree of sandalwood,

relationship between the two words and is through the preposition of. Again we have
13

to connect the two words and by sixth, genitive case of which is

Hence is again a compound word of

- type.

Actually the first word in the glossary is also a compound word. It has two parts and
The first part is a prefix , which stands for meaning good So compounded

from becomes a compound word of - type.

In the above discussion, we have studied of three types

- , -

and - Obviously there are all sub-types of the broader category of -.

You will also appreciate from this discussion how deciphering the helps to get thorough

understanding of the meaning.

Now we can proceed to our usual exercise of composing the phrases.
Exercises 4: From the words 1 to 20 in the glossary, compose the following phrases No.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Sanskrit in
Transliteration
good person, not, gets into,
__________ __________
enmity
___________
__________ ___________
engrossed in good of others
________
__________ __________ _
in times of total loss, also
________
__________ __________ _
when cut, also, tree of sandalwood
________
________ __________ ___
lends fragrance
______
________ __________ ___
in the mouth, of axe
______
Phrase

Sanskrit in
Devanagari
__________ __________
_________
__________ __________
________
__________ __________
________
__________ __________
________
________ __________ __
_______
________ __________ __
_______

The words and can be conjugated as .

Likewise and can be conjugated as . This

pattern of conjugations has been explained earlier.

In phrase (3), you will get the words and . These can be conjugated to make one
word The symbol is called as avagrahaH, standing for in .

14

When you try to utter a word ending in vowel sound followed by the next word starting with ,
you will realize that tends to become silent.

That is how the rule of conjugation is made when is followed by , the latter vowel would
become silent. But its presence must be denoted by an avagrahaH the symbol .
Similarly in phrase (4), and can be conjugated to make one word .

As usual, now you can write down three-three phrases in one line. By that it becomes a good two-line
verse, a good saying a !!
Here is, how it would read -

Although we have been having good enough meaning by the phrases in the above tabulation, it would
be a good idea to paraphrase the complete meaning in chaste English.
I am sure you will like this good saying as well. Learn it by heart.

15

Learning Sanskrit by a Fresh Approach Lesson 6

In previous lessons, the style was to put words from a given glossary into an order. The order in
which to put the words was also planned by me. The idea was to get the verse to emerge almost
naturally or automatically.
We can now try a different approach of developing the capability of exploring meaning of any
new verse.
Let us see how this approach will work. Let us try with this verse -

This method also will have a logical system. It will be step by step. Typically,
1. We shall examine every phrase and every word.
2. If there are any conjugations, we shall break them, so that we can see every word in its
proper understandable form.
3. If there are any compound words, we shall decipher them.
4. Finally we shall put them all into syntax, so that we can write down the full meaning
properly.

= this one

= related to oneself
=

= the other
= or

= like this

= counting, consideration

= : > > >

= small

: = mind, heart, thinking

= whose

= he> (= they)> (= their) >

= of those who have small mind (or heart or thinking)

= > > >

= broad-minded

= heart, thinking, conduct of life

= whose

= he> (= they)> (= their) >

16

 = of those who have broad mind

= however
=

= earth
= itself

Actually there is a concept why earth is called as . It is explained by an aphorism :

: = by Vasus

= is taken care of, is protected

= hence

: = (the entity that) Is taken care of, protected by Vasus, hence,

This will raise a curiosity, Who are Vasus ?

: = a God of lower cadre, who follows orders of Indra.

They are eight. Their primary job is to be the sentinels at eight directions (

:) around the

earth to protect the earth

Four major directions (in clockwise order)

East (), South ( ), West(

), North( )

Four minor directions (in clockwise order)

South-east( ), South-west(), North-west( ), North-east( )

In ShrImad-bhagavad-gItA, bhagavAn krRuShNa proclaims, among Vasus, I am
pAvaka

= :

= Vasus, or among Vasus

: = fire also called as : Hence direction to be protected by this Vasu is Southeast( ). I guess, that the reason for bhagavAn krRuShNa proclaiming, among Vasus, I am
pAvaka

may be because among all Vasus : is one, who has one of

the five great fundamental elements ( ) inherent to it.

= They are

mother earth ( ), which supports all life

water (),

17

light (),

air ( ),

sky or space () which provides the space for the whole universe.

= and

= (I) am

= family
Overall meaning now becomes This one mine or not mine (is) thinking of petty-minded. For
the broad-minded, however, (whole) world (is one) family.
This subhAShitam is really the basic approach of Indian polity, since ages. India has never been
the aggressor. It has yet been the melting pot for cultures from around the world. Would not
the World be a really happier place to live, if all countries adopted such polity ?
Equanimity is of course a challenging thought to make it as ones nature. It seems that we are
all more petty-minded : than broad-minded :.
Here is the verse for learning by heart

Before closing, how about some exercises ?

(1) Among so many words, which we came across in these six lessons, there have been many
which are unchanging, called as indeclinables in grammar. There would be the adverbs,
conjunctions, interjections in this list. It would be a good idea to list them at one place, along
with their meanings. That would make some unique dictionary of the indeclinables !
(2) We have also come across many nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs. All these words have
declensions, as has been explained earlier. Let us make separate lists of nouns, pronouns,
adjectives and the verbs.

18

Learning Sanskrit by a Fresh Approach Lesson 7

This time, I would like to take a longish verse.

Before proceeding with exploring the meaning of this verse, some interesting features of this
verse 1. Of course this verse is an ode to Lord RAma. This verse is from a long enough known
as
2. Looking at the poetry of it,
Every line has 19 syllables exactly 19
Weightages of the 19 syllables in every line are 2-2-2, 1-1-2, 1-2-1, 1-1-2, 2-2-1, 2-2-1, 2
This pattern of weightages makes the verse of a meter called as

This meter is very popular with poets, especially those composing verses to express best wishes to a
couple, when the marriage ceremony is being performed, typically when they would have put garlands
on each other.
3. In this verse there are two distinct sentences in each line. So, to explore the meaning of this
verse, we have to understand just 8 simple sentences. Thats it.
Let us start off by the set methodology of exploring phrase by phrase, word by word.

= :

: = (Lord) RAma

=
= of kings
= jewel

= jewel among kings

= always

= is victorious
19

 = RAma, the jewel among kings is always victorious

= = to Rama
=

= : > >

: = ( - - )

= of RamA is the name of wife of ViShNu

= Lord

= Lord of RamA, hence ViShNu

= I am devoted to, or I do devotion to.

= I do devotion to RAma, (hence) to Ramesha (i.e. to ViShNu)

One may ask, how doing devotion to RAma becomes devotion also to ViShNu. The logic lies in
the mythology of incarnations of ViShNu. Among ten incarnations () of ViShNu,
RAma is regarded as the seventh. So, mythologically, ViShNu is the supreme deity, which
undertook ten incarnations in the order , , , , , , ,

, ,
When I deliberate on this mythology of to me it appeals to be the theory of
evolution of life. When the globe was cooling down, and migratory life form had to emerge, it
could have emerged only in the more congenial environment of water and not on the terrains.
So first incarnation is , the fish. Next is , the turtle, which could move both in water
and on ground; yet more in water than on ground. Third the rhino, who loves watery

surroundings, but moves on ground of shallow waters. Fourth is , half lion ( ), half
human (). Fifth , human, rather diminutive. Sixth , human, but rather savage,
uncultured. Seventh , the ideal human. Eighth , adept at the ways of the world. Ninth

, the exalted, self-realized soul. Tenth where good and evil coexist.

Associated with this mythology of is also the concept of passage of time, the four
Yugas

. Incarnation of RAma is said to belong to - Not much

detail seems to have been mentioned about The incarnation of is said to belong
to . Present times are of , where good and evil coexist, rather times, when
good is always challenged by the evil.

Learning Sanskrit is not just for learning a language. It is also a learning of what can be or what
should be the cultured way of life. The language is a refined language and its literature speaks
20

of refined life, of cultured life. Knowledge of Sanskrit is hence essential, certainly

in . It will be the real beacon to meet the challenges of the evil without compromising
the refined thoughts and conduct.

is also an interesting word. From we have the noun , which has two meanings
(1) a song of devotion (2) to sing a song of devotion.
By this connotation, means not just I do devotion, but I do devotion by singing a song
of devotion.
This word is a declension of the root verb meaning to do devotion. From this verb

there is another noun,

nine ways.
of nine ways

which means devotion. One can do devotion in any of

Doing devotion by singing a song of devotion i.e. by is one

There is a verse summing up all the nine ways of

Maybe, we can discuss that verse sometime later.

Presently on to the next phrase.

= +

= by RAma

= consummately killed, destroyed

A little study on both these words -

= by RAma

It may be noticed that in the first sentence : was the subject. So the root word was in
subjective or nominative case, which is called as first case

In the second sentence, the word was = to RAma in object case or accusative case,
which is called the second case,

Here we have it as = by RAma in instrumental case, which is called as the third case,

I guess, you got a good hint of why this verse is chosen for this lesson! Two sentences in each
line, each sentence presenting cases first, second, third etc. of the root word , all in perfect
order and every line perfectly in

meter !

= consummately killed, destroyed. The meaning consummately comes from the

prefix . There is a large number of prefixes, which can be prefixed to different words to
get a range of shades of meaning of that word. The prefixes or not only
21

help to get a range of shades of meaning, but do it so crisply, just by a prefix. We have that in
most languages also, e.g. eject, reject, inject, project, adject(ive), abject

= :
: = + + :

= Here we have a suffix attached to the word .

The suffix is derived from the verb meaning to move, to move about, to roam. The
suffix such as lends the meaning of capability to do the action of the meaning of the verb.
So suffix means capable of roaming.

= night

= capable of roaming in the night, ghost, nocturnal being.

All : of army of had such capability. They were :.

: = army
: = : A compound of type. Army of nocturnal
beings, capable of roaming in the night.

: = Army of nocturnal beings was consummately destroyed by RAma.

This sentence is in passive voice. The passive voice is rendered by which is a past
passive participle from the verb +
This is another specialty of Sanskrit, that participles derived from verbs can do the function of
verbs, such that a formal verb need not be visible.

= unto RAma. This is declension of in the dative case, the fourth case

= unto that This is declension of a pronoun the indicative pronoun meaning that,
again in the fourth case. Because this pronoun qualifies the noun , both the noun and the
qualifying pronoun (or adjective) have to be in the same case, here the fourth case.

= bowing.

= bowing (I bow) unto that RAma. Here, that hints also to that RAma
who destroyed army of nocturnal beings.

= from RAma, than RAma. This is declension of in the ablative case, the fifth case

22

 = not. An indeclinable used to render negative.

= is
= = A compound of type . In the compounded
word of becomes . Hence from . There are rules for all
such minute variations. We shall not go into all that at this stage. It is mentioned here just for
information. Our focus shall be in understanding the meaning, than understanding all the
grammar.

= the other

= the action of going, destination, recourse

= Adjective of comparative degree from the root adjective . is the suffix
which renders the comparative degree of an adjective. The superlative degree is rendered
by suffix

= There is no better recourse than RAma.

= of RAma is declension of in the sixth i.e. genetive case

= servant
= (I) am
= I
= I am servant of RAma
:
= at RAma. is declension of in the seventh i.e. locative case
: =

: A compound of type

= of mind

: = resting
= always
= may be, may stay
= for me or of me

23

 : = Resting of my mind may always be at RAma or For me, resting

of mind may always be at RAma.

= an interjection to back a call Oh or Eh

= address to RAma to mean Eh RAma as is declension of in address
case -

= to me

= (please) uplift
= = Oh RAma, please uplift me !
RAma, the jewel among kings is
always victorious
Army of nocturnal beings was
destroyed by RAma
There is no better recourse than
RAma
Resting of my mind may always be
at RAma

I do devotion to RAma, (hence) to Ramesha (i.e. to ViShNu)

by singing a song of devotion
I bow unto that RAma
I am servent of RAma
Oh RAma, please uplift me !

Isnt that a good prayer ? It brings out all the ardent feelings a devotee would have towards
ones object or idol of devotion.
The prayer does so by employing declensions of the word in all eight cases first to
seventh and also the address case !
Actually a noun such as will have declensions not only by cases but also by number. In
Sanskrit, numbers are three singular, dual, plural called as

Since is a masculine noun having vowel ending, it would be good to have a look at the
declensions of - such as meaning boy

24

:
:

You will notice that all the declensions of conform to the patterns of declension of .
We have five other words all vowel ending, masculine nouns - in
this lesson itself.
Can you find them and list them here ? ______ , ________ , ________ , _______ , _______
Pattern of declensions of - neuter nouns are quite similar to those of

- masculine nouns, except in first, second and address cases.

Let us see declensions of - neuter noun meaning a child

We also have some - neuter nouns here in this lesson. Let me give out
one meaning mention, talk, oath.
25

Can you find three more and list them here ? ________ , _________ , _________
Corollary to the masculine and neuter there would be the feminine noun ,
meaning a girl. This is of course having vowel ending So, it is

Let us see declensions of this also !

We also have some feminine nouns in this lesson.

Can you find three more and list them here ? ________ , _________ , _________
We can have an interesting exercise of composing some simple sentences :1. We already have a simple sentence. I am a servant. Can you write that again ?
_____ ______ ______ |
2. In the same manner you can write I am a boy. ______ ______ ______ | I am a girl.
______ ________ _______ |
3. Let us use a simple verb (singular) (dual) (plural) and compose
sentences
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

A boy speaks
Two boys speak
Boys speak
A child speaks
Two children speak
Children speak
A girl speaks
Two girls speak
Girls speak
26

______ ______ |
______ ______ |
______ ______ |
______ ______ |
______ ______ |
______ ______ |
______ ______ |
______ ______ |
______ ______ |

Doesnt it feel great to be able to compose sentences in Sanskrit ?

Before closing,
(a) - masculine nouns in the lesson were - , , , , ,

, , , , , , (adjective), , , ,
(adjective) , , and

(b) - neuter nouns in the lesson were - ,

(adjective), , , (adjective), ,

(c) feminine nouns in this lesson were - , (adjective), ,

Declensions of all the above nouns and adjectives shall follow the given patterns.
Note, adjectives and pronouns will always have gender, case and number matching with gender,
case and number of the noun, which they qualify. Hence they will have declensions accordingly.
This rule is also given by a verse !

An example of this rule is in both the pronoun and noun are in masculine, fourth
case, singular

27

Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach Lesson 8

Here is an interesting very onomatopoetically composed. Also it displays the flight
of imagination of the poet. He leaves it to the reader to draw the moral.

Let us start with our study phrase by phrase, word by word.

= :

: = Night

= will pass

= will be or will become

= good morning

= one who has splendour; sun +

= splendour

A Suffix which helps to make a derived noun, meaning having. Here + becomes a
derived noun, with meaning having splendour One common place example is the word

= will rise

= will smile

=
= mud

= in mud

= = is born; grows
28

 is a suffix which is used to render a meaning born of or born at or is born

= that which grows in mud = lotus
= glory

= , glory of lotus

= thus

= thinking; is masculine, seventh case singular of a present

active participle, derived from the causative of the verb +

: = :,
= into the treasure, into the bosom

: = gone This is masculine first case singular of the past passive participle of root verb
= having gone into the treasure

: = ,

= two

= I struggled with the meaning of One would not find it in a dictionary. It was very kind of
Mr. P. G. Kulkarni and Mr. Krishnanad Mankikar to explain that

means a black bee. Sanskrit

word which can be found in a dictionary is As can be seen, this word has two -s in it.
means this - ! So,

means one, who has two --s n its name ! Ooph ! Poetry even

in coining a new word !

This phrase

merits special attention. Three words

are all in seventh case . This style of composition makes the phrase, a

sub-clause. The meaning of these words is not to be taken by their meaning in seventh case.
This style of composing a clause is called in Sanskrit grammar as . Here

suggests locative case of verbal derivative . . . . (=

) e.g. and

suggests locative case of corresponding subject of that verb, e.g.

Here we have also in because it is the adjective of
29

As a phrase, the meaning becomes, (as) the black bee had gone into the bosom and was
thinking.. or (as) the bee, which had gone into the bosom, was thinking..

= interjection, mostly to express sadness, or meaning alas !
= Second case singular of meaning lotus, rather a full-grown
lotus

= :

: = elephant

= uprooted, This is declension in past tense, third person, singular of root verb
+

meaning to uproot

The overall meaning becomes As the bee, which had gone into the bosom (of a lotus), was thinking
..night will pass and good morning will dawn,
sun will rise and glory of (this) lotus will smile..
Oh God ! an elephant uprooted the lotus !!
Moral ?
Never think that things will work out the way you would like. The bee possibly thought that it
will have all the time of passing of night until sunrise and opening of the petals of the lotus, all
that time, to enjoy the nectar at the bosom of the lotus to its hearts content. But alas, an
elephant came along and uprooted the lotus itself !!
Man proposes, God disposes !!
Never do over-indulgence; always take risk-factors also into account.
Thanks again to Mr. Kulkarni for adding also an explanation, that the bee could have bored its
way out. But it was more thoughtful not to hurt the lotus. Behaviour of the elephant was
rough, not so considerate as of the bee.
However, I also read a comment, that the elephant uprooted the lotus to offer it to Goddess
LakShmee !
Uhmmm ! The poet sets people to start thinking further, right ?
I had another idea also in mind, in taking up this . In these four lines we

have , , , , , , all verb-forms either

declensions or participles. Even the suffix in has a derivation from a verb.
Of these , , , are all declensions in future tense, third
person, singular of different root verbs , , + ,

30

 is masculine, seventh case singular of a present active participle, derived

from the causative of the verb +

is masculine, seventh case, singular of past passive participle of root verb

is declension in past tense, third person, singular of root verb +
Verbs in Sanskrit become a subject of interesting, but very comprehensive study. It is possibly
no exaggeration to say that Sanskrit owes much of its charm for how one can play around with
verbs ! Prominently,
1. A root verb is called as
2. Verbs in Sanskrit are often classes called as

3. Some verbs may belong to more than one -s

4. The patterns of declension are of two types, called as and

5. When a has declension of both patterns and it is called

as
6. Declensions of verbs are influenced by tense or mood, person and number
7. There are ten tenses and moods

(For ease of understanding given below for each type is third person singular form of the verb )

the tenses are seven

Present Tense

Three types of Past Tense

called as Aorist by grammarians. This is not in common use. Example is

( ) e.g.

( ) e.g.

Three types of Future Tense

e.g.

e.g.

e.g.

and the moods are three

Imperative Mood Imperative mood is for giving an order, e.g.

Mood typically indicated by should in English

e.g.

Mood of benedictions, benevolent wishes and blessings as indicated by May God bless you in English

e.g.

31

8. There are three persons first person (I, we) second person (you), third person (he-she-it,
they)
9. Numbers are three singular, dual, plural
In the dictionary, one will usually find a verb identified as follows

: . . . .

. . .
.

+
( )

In the above table

. =
. =
. . . . = -
. . . . = -

There are many adjectival and adverbial derivatives obtained from verbs.
1. Past passive participles such as

2. Present active participles such as

3. Adjectives obtained from verbs by using suffixes
4. Infinitive obtained by using suffix
5. Adverbial derivatives obtained by using suffix e.g. means upon going
In Sanskrit, words are formed
1. by declension of nouns, pronouns and adjectives influenced by gender, case and number
2. by declension of verbal roots influenced by tense or mood. voice, causative, person and
number
3. by declension of adjectival derivatives obtained from verbs
32

And there are of course the

4. indeclinables among them adverbs, conjunctions and interjections
5. adverbial derivatives obtained from verbs, which also are indeclinables.
For doing word-by-word study we can use five structures to present a study of words of these
five types.
For example we can see a presentation of words in this in the following manner.
:

night

: :

: .

will go,
will pass

:
In this
manner, thus

: : : :
. . . . +

? :

:
:

=Yes

: :
when
. thinking

In the table for please note . . . . =

Wow! We already have structures for four of the five types of words in Sanskrit !
And what a study !

Do not these structures give a very satisfactory and confidant feeling that well, the
is really thoroughly understood ! ?
As an exercise, you can compile a study of all the other words !

33

Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach Lesson 9

To start practicing our structures for different types of words, let me take a simpler
this time.
This style of understanding words by tabulated structures is yet another style of our learning
the .

So, better to start with a simpler .

We have to of course start with breaking the conjugations.

1.

: :

no, not, (does) not, do not

2. - Here is only a suffix which lends a meaning .ever to different

declensions of the pronoun as detailed below.

: : :

: :
.

who

With this - means who-ever

3.

: :

:
also, even, at all

4.

: : : :

? :

.*

:
:

: : . knows

* The verb is actually Here, the declension is

34

: :

5.

: :

what

6.

: : :

: :

. whose

7.

: :

:
tomorrow

8.

: : : : ? :

:
:

: :

will

: . happen
:

9.

: :

10.

:
hence, therefore

already detailed at (7)

11.

:
:

: : : : ? : :

: :

35

NA

(things)
to do

12.

:
: : : : ? : : : :

8 .*

: .

should
do

* The verb is actually as noted above for . Here, the declension is

13.

: : :

today

14.

: : :

15.

only

: : :

Note, that

. (the) intelligent (one)

is an adjective formed from the noun : by using a suffix . Since

: means intelligence or intellect the suffix lends an adjective meaning having

intellect or intelligent
Let us now put the word-by-word meanings in the same order as they appear in the

No who-ever at all knows what whose tomorrow will happen.

Hence, tomorrow things to do should do today only (the) intelligent (one).

36

You must have fairly understood what the meaning of this is. Yet, to be able to
paraphrase the meaning, we must put the words in proper syntax. There is a major difference
in the rules of syntax in English and in Sanskrit.
In English, the common syntax is (1) subject (2) verb (3) indirect object (4) direct object (5)
adverbs, etc.
In Sanskrit, the verb comes last. But this is not a very hard and fast rule. The methodology of
using declensions of nouns, pronouns, adjectives and verbs make every word so self-sufficient
and self-standing, that one can relate all words properly to each other, even without putting
them in an ordained syntax.
It is this flexibility and freedom from rigid rules of syntax, which has made so much of poetry
in Sanskrit possible !
To paraphrase the meaning in English, the meaning becomes Nobody at all knows, whose what will happen tomorrow.
Hence the intelligent one should do today only, things to do tomorrow.
One more interesting point !
When detailing the word

, although it is an adjective meaning intelligent, here it is

used as a noun, in fact the subject. Hence when giving the meaning of , I thought it
better to add (the) and (one) in parenthesis, to indicate that the word is used as a noun. This is
another liberty, which in Sanskrit, poets in particular would freely employ !
Similarly, the word is also adjectival. But here it is used as noun, the object of the
verb
Because Sanskrit is a refined language, every student of Sanskrit would imbibe such
refinements of intelligence too !
A hint is enough to the intelligent one ! That seems to be the basic presumption of Sanskrit
poets !
Isnt this really simple ?
1. Seven out of 15 words are indeclinables; words #1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14. So, not much
detailing of grammar. There again is repeated.
2. Three words being declensions of one pronoun
3. Three verbs , and and one verbal derivative

4. Two words and from one verb

Message or moral of this is already well-known. There will be a proverb in almost

every language, I guess. In English, Dont put it off tomorrow, what you can do today ! How
good do we follow it however ?
Anyway, at least do not put off learning this verse by heart !

37

Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach Lesson 10

I would like to take up a couplet, which for grammar of each word is fairly simple. Also, I am

calling it as a couplet and not a . For the present, I shall request you to first read this
lesson through and then say, whether it should be called a or not.

First breaking the conjugations

: : : :
: : : :
Some preliminary observations 1. Four times , twice and one These are all indeclinables.
2. Balance all are nouns, all masculine, singular and in first case.
3. No verb.
4. Does this verse make any sentence at all ? What is this verse then ?
Let us get on with the word-by-word study.

1. : = Indra, said to be the presiding deity of the easterly direction

2. : = wind, one of eight Vasus, one of the five fundamental elements, said to be the
presiding deity of north-westerly direction
3. : = Yama, god of death, god of righteousness,

3.1 Yama blessed Kunti with son YudhiShThira, also known as dharma-rAj in recognition of his
steadfast righteousness
3.2 Yama is considered to be younger brother of deity Saturn, both considered to be sons of Sun God
3.3 Yama is considered to be the presiding deity of Southern direction. Sleeping with ones feet
towards south is supposed to be disrespectful to Yama and hence is supposed to invite scourge of Yama,
which has dreadful consequence of death. Scientifically, it is said sleeping with ones feet towards
south is said to be unhealthy due to adverse effect of earths magnetism.
4. = and, an indeclinable

5. = also, an indeclinable
6. = one of eight Vasus, presiding deity of south-westerly direction
7. : = the middle one

38

8. = so also, an indeclinable, often used also as a conjunction connecting with a subclause starting with

9. : = name of Shiva, one of eight Vasus, presiding deity of North-easterly direction.

The convention may have some correlation with the fact that KailAsh mountain and MAnas sarovar,
which are supposed to be the abodes of Shiva are in north-east of India.
10.

see # 4

11. : = God of wealth, one of eight Vasus, presiding deity of north direction
12. = see # 4
13. : = fire, one of the five fundamental elements, presiding deity of south-easterly
direction, one of eight Vasus
14. : = God of rains, one of eight Vasus, presiding deity of western direction
15.

see # 5

16. see # 4
Since all nouns are masculine, first case, singular, I thought it okay not to put in any
tabulations.
Now let me put in all the names in a 33 tabulation, putting in the names at the direction, of
which the respective name is the presiding deity. Alongside, I shall also put the serial number of
the order, in which the names appear in the shloka.
7 : 6 :

2 :

9 : 5 :
4

3 :

1 :
8 :

Now look just at the numbers. Numbers in all rows, columns and diagonals sum up to 15.
Wow ! This shloka is a solution to a 33 magic square !
This is a solution not just for the numbers from 1 to 9. Take any set of nine successive integers.
Put them at places in the order of this shloka. Let us try numbers from 26 to 34
27 32 31
34 30 26
29 28 33
39

Sums of numbers in all rows, columns and diagonals is now 90, obviously because each number
is more by 25 than the numbers 1 to 9. So, total is more by 325 i.e. by 75.
I guess, this can be extended to a magic square of 99, i.e. for 81 successive integers, first 9
integers to be placed in easterly square of 33 in the order of the shloka, next nine numbers to
be placed in the north-westerly 33 square, not mistaking the order in which the numbers have
to be put.
Since this shloka is a solution for a mathematical puzzle, it should now be acceptable, that
there is no verb, no sentence. Yet it makes a statement, a very, very positive, powerful a
statement !!
If anyone still has doubts of what treasure of knowledge is enshrined in Sanskrit verses, this
verse is just a fleeting glimpse !
By the way, I first came across this verse, maybe some forty-odd years back, in a monthly
Marathi magazine AmRut. I could learn it by heart in just one reading, just because of it being
a solution of a mathematical puzzle ! Different people have different interests and the
memories also work accordingly, right ?
But this verse should appeal to all people alike, irrespective of age, I guess.
Please go ahead and memorize this verse !
This verse is ascribed to, whom else, LeelAvati, daughter of famous mathematician
BhAskarAchArya !
By the way, this verse is a solution to odd-numbered (multiples of 3) magic square ! How I wish
that there is some shloka giving solution to any magic square !

40