Introduction: Sanskrit language has scripts or alphabets for writing, and grammatical rules for sentence formation, just like any other language (English for example). In this chapter we will get an overview of this. The details with their grammatical rules will be covered in subsequent chapters.
Alphabets & Their Classification: In Sanskrit language Devanagari Script is the mostly used script for writing. Most of the Sanskrit literature are in this script. Following is the list of the alphabets in their correct order.
अ a आ aa इ i ई ii उ u ऊ uu ऋ RRi ॠ RRI ए e ऐ ai ओ o औ au क k ख kh ग g घ gh ङ N^ च ch छ chh ज j झ jh ञ JN ट T ठ Th ड D ढ Dh ण N त t थ th द d ध dh न n प p फ ph ब b भ bh म m य y र r ल l व v श sh ष Sh स s ह h . ksh / dny
All these alphabets are classified into two major groups i.e.,
• Vowels or 0वरवण10वरवण10वरवण10वरवण1 (svaravarNa): Alphabets starting from अ (a) till औ (au) are the vowels. These are further classified into 20व (hrasva) and द3घ1 (diirgha). The द3घ1 (diirgha) are pronounced double the length (or time) of 20व (hrasva).
20व hrasva अ a आ aa इ i उ u ए e ऐ ai ओ o औ au द3घ1 diirgha ई ii ऊ uu ऋ RRi ॠ RRI •
• Consonants or 4य5जनवण14य5जनवण14य5जनवण14य5जनवण1 (vyaJNjanavarNa): Alphabets starting from क (k) till / (dny) are the consonants. Some of the consonants are further classified into different groups called वग1 (varga). Following table has this classification. Some of the gramatical rules for Euphonic Combination or सि7ध (sandhi) and
Compound Words or समास (samaasa) are based on these वग1 (varga).
कवग1 kavarga क k ख kh ग g घ gh ङ N^ चवग1 chaavarga च ch छ chh ज j झ jh ञ JN टवग1 Taavarga ट T ठ Th ड D ढ Dh ण N तवग1 त थ द ध न
tavarga t th d dh n पवग1 pavarga प p फ ph ब b भ bh म m
We will refere these classifications, while covering the Euphonic Combination or सि7ध (sandhi) and Compound Words or समास (samaasa).
Sentence Formation Overview: In Sanskrit just like any other language (English for example) a sentence is made of different elements. The elements are "Subject", "Object", and "Verb". A sentence may or may not have an Object in it. Lets study the following English sentence to understand these basic elements better.
The boy is reading a book.
In the sentence "boy" is the "Subject", "reading" is "Verb" and the "book" is the "Object".
The boy is reading a book. --- --- ---
| | | Subject Verb Object
• If we ask the question "who is reading?", the answer that comes is "the boy". So, the "boy" here is the Subject. It is also called the "Noun".
• The answer that comes in response to question "what is the boy doing?" is "reading". The "reading" here is the "Verb".
• Similarly the answer to "what is the boy reading?" is "book". The "book" becomes the "Object".
Now study the following statement.
The boy is laughing.
In the sentence "boy" is the "Subject", "laughing" is "Verb". But, there is no "Object" in this sentence.
The boy is laughing. --- ---
| | Subject Verb
• If we ask the question "what is the boy laughing?", no answer comes from this. So, laughing becomes an "Intranstive Verb".
• However in the first sentence "what is the boy reading?" gives answer "book". In this case the "reading" becomes a "Transitive Verb".
Now that we have understood the basic elements of a sentence, we will begin with more details of Sanskrit language.
• Subject is called -> कता1 / kartaa • Object is called -> कम1 / karma • Verb is called -> 9:या / kriyaa
• Transitive Verb is called -> सकम1क / sakarmaka • Intransitive Verb is called -> अकम1क / akarmaka So, in the above statements:
The boy is reading a book. --- --- ---
| | | Subject Verb Object
| | |
कता1/kartaa 9:या/kriyaa(सकम1क / sakarmaka) कम1/karma
The boy is laughing. --- ---
| | Subject Verb
| |
कता1/kartaa 9:या/kriyaa (अकम1क / akarmaka)
Words & Their Classification: In any language a sentence is madeup of multiple words composed in a well defined structure giving a sensible meaning to the sentence. These words can be categorised into three different types viz.,
• Noun • Verb
• Indeclinable
Besides the above classifications nouns and verbs can also be part of following categories with minor derivations like addition of 'ility', 'ily', 'tion', 'ing' etc., as well as based on their usage and grammatical rules:
• Pronoun • Adjective • Adverb
In Sanskrit also words are classified into similar categories. Following is a representation of the important classifications. We can see the classification is almost same as any other language. Each classification has been described in the coming chapters.
|--- Noun Root (श;द / shabda) | | | --- | | | | सव7तपदु त=>तपद | suvantapada taddhitapada
| |
| ---
| | | |
Word (पद / pada) ----| Masculine Feminine Neuter | प?ल@गु Aी?ल@ग नप@सक?ल7गु | puliN^ga striiliN^ga napuN^sakalinga | |
|--- Verb Root (धातु / dhaatu) | --- | | Cतङतपद कद7तपदृ tiN^atapada kRRidantapada | --- | | | पर0मैपद3 आFमनेपद3 उभयपद3 parasmaipadii aatmanepadii ubhayapadii
Nouns (श;दश;द / shabda): Noun is the word that represents someone or something in a श;दश;द sentence. Noun normally refers to person, place, thing, state or quality etc. A noun is the only word that can be used as the subject or object for a verb. Noun in Sanskrit is called श;द (shabda) or noun-root. It is also called कत1पदृ (kartRRipada). Noun can be classified into सव7तपदु (suvantapada) and त=>तपद (taddhitapada).
• सव7तपदसव7तपदसव7तपदसव7तपदुुुु (suvantapada): This classification is based on the gender, number and case of the noun. The noun-forms are used to express something or someone etc. सव7तपदु or suvantapada meaning - words ending with सपु ् (sup) suffix. In this classification:
o Nouns are categorised into three different "genders" (?ल@ग / liN^ga) viz., "masculine" (पं?ल@गु / pu.nliN^ga), "feminine" (Aी?ल@ग / striiliN^ga) and "neuter" (नपंसक?ल@गु / napu.nsakaliN^ga).
o Each noun also has three "numbers" (वचन / vachana) and 7 "cases" (=वभJK / vibhakti).
Each noun has a different derivation based on the "number" and "case". Unlike other languages, in Sanskrit the noun has its different forms built into itself. The "noun base" is called श;द (shabda) and the "derived noun forms" are called श;दLप (shabdarupa). So, in the previous statement बालक is the "base" (श;द / shabda) of noun "BOY" and बालकः is one of the derived noun
forms (श;दLप / shabdarupa).
• त=>तपदत=>तपदत=>तपदत=>तपद (taddhitapada): In this classification special suffixes are added to the noun to get noun forms used as - subject, adjectives, indeclinable etc.
We will start with first 2 cases and all three numbers of सव7तपदु (suvantapada) BOY (बालक / baalaka) and GIRL (वाला / vaalaa) श;द / shabda. Once we know how to use noun forms (श;दLप / shabdarupa) in sentences, we will cover all the cases and their usage rules.
Boy / बालक / baalaka (Masculine / पं?ल@गु / pu.nliN^ga) Case =वभJK / vibhakti Singular एकवचन / ekavachana Dual ि0ववचन / dvivachana Plural वहवचनु / vahuvachana Nominative (Subject) Nथमा / prathamaa बालकः / baalakaH (the boy) बालकौ / baalakau (two boys) बालकाः / baalakaaH (the boys) Accusative (Object)
PQतीया / dvitiiyaa बालकम ् / baalakam (to the boy)
बालकौ / balakau (to two boys)
बालकान ् / baalakaan (to the boys)
Girl / वाला / vaalaa (Femenine / Aी?ल@ग / striiliN^ga) Case =वभJK / vibhakti Singular एकवचन / ekavachana Dual ि0ववचन / dvivachana Plural वहवचनु / vahuvachana Nominative (Subject) Nथमा / prathamaa वाला / vaalaa (the girl) वाले / vaale (two girls) वालाः / vaalaaH (the girls) Accusative (Object) वालाम ् / vaalaam वाले / valae वालाः / vaalaaH
PQतीया / dvitiiyaa (to the girl) (to two girls) (to the girls)
Examples of noun form (श;दLप / shabdarupa):
• The boy -> बालकः / baalakaH • Many boys -> बालकाः / baalakaaH • To the boy -> बालकम ् / baalakam • To the boys -> बालकान ् / baalakaan • The girl -> वाला / vaalaa • Many girls -> वालाः / vaalaaH • To the girl -> वालाम ् / vaalaam • To the girls -> वालाः / vaalaaH
The complete noun form (श;दLप / shabdarupa) for बालक श;द (baalaka shabda) will have 7 different forms for each number. The singular forms include "the boy", "to the boy", "by the boy", "for/to the boy", "from the boy", "of the boy", and "in the boy". Besides these 7 forms an additional vocative ("O! boy") case is also their. All these we will study in detail in coming chapters. The complete श;दLप (shabdarupa) is listed in Chapter 11.
Followings are few more nouns (श;दLप / shabdarupa). We will use these in sentences later in this chapter.
School / =वRालय / vidyaalaya (Masculine / पं?ल@गु / pu.nliN^ga) Case =वभJK / vibhakti Singular एकवचन / ekavachana Dual ि0ववचन / dvivachana Plural वहवचनु / vahuvachana Nominative Nथमा / prathamaa =वRालयः / vidyaalayaH =वRालयौ / vidyaalayau =वRालयाः / vidyaalayaaH Accusative PQतीया / dvitiiyaa vidyaalayam =वRालयम ् / =वRालयौ / vidyaalayau =वRालयान ् / vidyaalayaan
Book / प0तकु / pustaka (Nuter / नपंसक?ल@गु / napu.nsakaliN^ga) Case =वभJK / vibhakti Singular एकवचन / ekavachana Dual ि0ववचन / dvivachana Plural वहवचनु / vahuvachana
Nominative
Nथमा / prathamaa प0तकमु ् / pustakam प0तकेु / pustake प0तकाCनु / pustakaani Accusative
PQतीया / dvitiiyaa प0तकमु ् / pustakam प0तकेु / pustake प0तकाCनु / pustakaani *** In अकारा7त / akaaraanta nuter (नपंसक?ल@गु / napu.nsakaliN^ga), both Nominative
and Accusative cases have the same form.
Me / अ0मS / asmad (All Genders / TU?ल@गक / triliN^gaka) Case =वभJK / vibhakti Singular एकवचन / ekavachana Dual ि0ववचन / dvivachana Plural वहवचनु / vahuvachana Nominative
Nथमा / prathamaa अहम ् / aham आवाम ् / aavaam वयम ् / vayam Accusative PQतीया / dvitiiyaa माम ् / maam मा / maa आवाम ् / aavaam नौ / nau अ0मान ् / asmaan नः / naH
You / य0मSु / yusmad (All Genders / TU?ल@गक / triliN^gaka) Case =वभJK / vibhakti Singular एकवचन / ekavachana Dual ि0ववचन / dvivachana Plural वहवचनु / vahuvachana Nominative
Nथमा / prathamaa Fवम ् / tvam यवामु ् / yuvaam ययमू ् / yuuyam Accusative PQतीया / dvitiiyaa Fवाम ् / tvaam Fवा / tvaa यवामु ् / yuvaam वाम ् / vaam यWमानु ् / yuShmaan वः / vaH
Pronouns (सव1नामसव1नामसव1नामसव1नाम पदपदपदपद / sarvanaama pada): Words like he, she, this, that, these etc., are called pronoun. Pronouns in Sanskrit are called सव1नाम पद (sarvanaama pada). The rules for pronouns are exactly same as the nouns (श;द / shabda).
Verb (धातधातधातधातुुुु / dhaatu): Verb normally refers to action, state, existence or occurrence etc. Verb in Sanskrit is called धातु (dhaatu) or verb root. It is also known as 9:यापद (kriyaapada). It can be classified into Cतङतपद (tiN^atapada) and कद7तपदृ (kRRidantapada).
• CतङतपदCतङतपदCतङतपदCतङतपद (tiN^atapada): This classification is based on the tense and mood of the verb. The verb-forms are used as normal verbs to express some action or state etc. Cतङतपद or tiN^atapada meaning - words ending with Cतप ् (tip) suffix. In this classification:
o Each Verb can have any of the 10 tenses (लकार / lakaara). Howver only 5 are enough to use Sanskrit in daily life.
o Each verb can be of three different numbers, Singular (एकवचन / ekavachana), Dual (Qीवचन / dviivachana) and Plural (वहवचनु / vahuvachana).
o Each verb can be of three persons viz., Third (Nथम / prathama), Second (मXयम / madhyama) and First (उYम / uttama).
o Each verb can belong to categories पर0मैपद3 (parasmaipadii), आFमनेपद3 (aatmanepadii) or उभयपद3 (ubhayapadii). Verbs of पर0मैपद3 (parasmaipadii) category represent 'action whose result is for others'. आFमनेपद3 (aatmanepadii) represents 'action whose result is for self', and उभयपद3 (ubhayapadii) represents 'action whose result is both for others and self'.
Just like noun (श;द / shabda), each verb (धातु / dhaatu) also has different derivations based on the "tense", "number' and "person". This is called "verb form" (धातLपु / dhaaturupa). The verb-forms differ based on this category. The "root" of a verb is called धातु (dhaatu). धातु (dhaatu) does not have any "gender".
• कद7तपदकद7तपदकद7तपदकद7तपदृृृृ (kRRidantapada): In this classification special suffixes are added to the verb to get verb-forms used as - subject, pronoun, adjectives, indeclinable etc.
Followings are the Cतङतपद (tiN^atapada) verb-forms (धातLपु / dhaatutupa) of READ (पZ / paTH) धातु (dhaatu) and GO (गम ् / gam) धातु (dhaatu) in present tense (ल[लकार / laTlakaara). Once we are acquainted with the verb usage in a sentence, we will cover all other different forms.
Read / पZ / paTh Person / पLषु /
puruSha Number / वचन / vachana
Singular एकवचन / Dual Qीवचन / dviivachana Plural वहवचनु /
ekavachana vahuvachana Third
Nथम / prathama पठCत / paThati (is reading)
पठतः / paThataH (both are reading)
पठि7त / paThanti (many are reading) Second
मXयम / madhyama (you are reading) पठ?स / paThasi
पठथः / paThathaH (you two are
reading)
पठथ / paThatha (you all reading) First
उYम / uttama पठा?म / paThaami (i am reading) (both of us reading) पठावः / paThaavaH पठामः / paThaamaH (all of us reading)
Go / गम ् / gam Person / पLषु /
puruSha Number / वचन / vachana
Singular एकवचन / ekavachana Dual Qीवचन / dviivachana Plural वहवचनु / vahuvachana Third
Nथम / prathama ग\छCत / gachchhati (is going)
ग\छतः / gachchhataH (both are going)
ग\छि7त / gachchhanti (many are going)
Second
मXयम / madhyama ग\छ?स / gachchhasi (you are going)
ग\छथः / gachchhathaH (you two are going)
ग\छथ / gachchhatha (you all are going) First उYम / uttama ग\छा?म / gachchhaami (i am going) ग\छावः / gachchhaavaH (both of us going) ग\छामः / gachchhaamaH (all of us going) Lets study a sample use of shabdarupa and dhaaturupa using the above. These will help in learning the sentence formation rules.
the boy is reading - बालकः पठCत / baalakaH paThati the boys are reading - बालकाः पठि7त / baalakaaH paThanti the girl is reading - वाला पठCत / vaala paThati
the girls are reading - वालाः पठि7त / vaalaaH paThanti
you are reading - Fवं पठ?स / tvam paThasi you all are reading - ययंु पठथ / yuyam paThata i am reading - अहं पठा?म / aham paThaami
we are reading - वयं पठामः / vayam paThaamaH
All the sentences above have the "Subject" (कता1 / kartaa) and a "Verb" (9:या / kriyaa). In all the sentences, the number (वचन / vachana) and person (पLषु / puruSha) of the "Verb" (9:या / kriyaa) match number (वचन / vachana) and person (पLषु / puruSha) of the "Subject" (कता1 / kartaa). Say in the sentence "the boy is reading" (बालकः पठCत / baalakaH paThati), the "boy" (बालकः / baalakaH) is in third person singular (NथपपLषु एकवचन / prathamapuruSha ekavachana). Similarly the "Verb" (9:या / kriyaa) is also in third person singular
(NथपपLषु एकवचन / prathamapuruSha ekavachana).
However the verb does not change if the gender of the "Subject" change. This can be seen in the sentence "the girl is reading" (वाला पठCत / vaalaa paThati). Rule 1: The verb (धातु / dhaatu) always follows number (वचन / vachana) and person (पLषु / puruSha) of the noun (श;द / shabda). Rule 2: The verb (धातु / dhaatu) remains same irrespective of the gender (?ल@ग / liN^ga) of the "Subject" (कता1 / kartaa). Rule 3: The verb form (धातLपु / dhaaturupa) is always in second person (मXयमपLषु / madhyamapuruSha), if the noun used is अ0मS श;द (asmad shabda). The verb form (धातLपु / dhaaturupa) is always in first person (उYमपLषु / uttamapuruSha), if the noun used is य0मSु श;द (yusmad shabda). All other nouns will always be in third person (NथमपLषु / prathamapuruSha).
Indeclinable (अ4ययपदअ4ययपद / avyayapada): Indeclinable in Sanskrit is called अ4ययपदअ4ययपद अ4ययपद (avyayapada). Unlike shabdarupa and dhaaturupa अ4ययपद / avyayapada do not change in its form. It remains same irrespective of gender, number, person and tense. Followings are few examples:
kutra / कUु - where atra / कUु - here tatra / तU - there api / अ=प - too
Few sample statements using indeclinable (अव ्ययपद / avyayapada):
where is the boy going - बालकः कUु ग\छCत / baalakaH kutra gachchhati
the boy is going there - बालकः तU ग\छCत / baalakaH tatra gachchhati
where are the boys going - बालकाः कUु ग\छि7त / baalakaaH kutra gachchhanti
the boys are going there - बालकाः तU ग\छि7त / baalakaaH tatra gachchhanti
Note that the अ4ययपद (avyayapada) remains the same irrespective of the number,
and person of the "Subject" (कता1 / kartaa).
Rule 4: Indeclinables (अ4ययपद / avyayapada) never change in form and remain same irrespective of the person and number of the "Subject" (कता1 /kartaa).
Adjective (=वशेषण=वशेषण=वशेषण=वशेषण / visheShaNa): Adjective is the word that expresses an attribute or property of something or someone. Only nouns can be used adjectives. In Sanskrit it is called =वशेषण (visheShaNa). Adjective always follows the gender (?ल@ग / liN^ga) and number (वचन / vachana) of the subject or the word for which it is an adjective. Followings are few examples:
blue sky - Cनलः आकाशः / nilaH aakaashaH white cloud - 0वेतः मेघः / svetaH meghaH
In above sentences the words blue and white represent an attribute of sky and cloud. So, these are adjectives for the words sky and cloud respectively.
Voice (वा\यवा\य / vaachya): In Sanskrit sentence can be in any of the following three voices. वा\यवा\य 'Impersonal Voice' is specific to Sanskrit language only and this sentence formation is normally not seen in other languages like English.
1. Active voice or कत1वा\यृ (kartRRI vaachya). 2. Passive voice or कम1वा\य (karma vaachya). 3. Impersonal voice or भाववा\य (bhava vaachya).
Now that we know the basics of Sanskrit sentence formation, their different elements, classification of alphabets and words, we will study the rules in detail in subsequent chapters.
Active Voice (कत1वा\यकत1वा\यकत1वा\यकत1वा\यृृृृ / kartRRIvaachya): We will study "Active Voice" in this chapter with examples. Other two sentence formations will be covered in chapter 7 and 8 later. All subsequent chapters are in active voices except chapter 7 and 8. Study the following statements.
आ@]लभाषा / English सं0कतृ / Sanskrit Subject (कता1 / kartaa) Verb (9:या / kriyaa) Object (कम1 / karma) 1. the boy is going बालः ग\छCत baalaH gachchhati the boy बालः / baalaH going ग\छCत / gachchhati - 2. i am going अहं ग\छा?म aha.n gachchhami i am अहं / aha.n going ग\छा?म / gachchhami - 3. the boy is reading बालः पठCत baalaH pathati the boy बालः / baalaH reading पठCत / pathati - 4. i am reading अहं पठा?म aha.n pathaami i am अहं / aha.n reading पठा?म / pathaami - 5. the boy is going to school बालः =वRालयम ् ग\छCत baalaH vidyaalayam gachchhati the boy बालः / baalaH going ग\छCत / gachchhati to school =वRालयम ् / vidyaalayam 6. i am going to school अहं =वRालम ् ग\छा?म aha.n vidyaalayam gachchhami i am अहं / aha.n going ग\छा?म / gachchhami to school =वRालयम ् / vidyaalayam 7. the boy is reading the book बालकः प0तकमु ् पठCत baalakaH pustakam paThati the boy बालकः / baalakaH reading पठCत / pathati the book प0तकमु ् / pustakam 8. i am reading the book अहं प0तकमु ् पठा?म aha.n pustakam paThaami i am अहं / aha.n reading पठा?म / pathaami the book प0तकमु ् / pustakam
These are all examples of Active Voice or
कत1वा\य
ृ
(kartRRivaachya).
Sentence 1 to 4 do not have any "Object" or
कम1 (karma) in them. So these are
intransitive or
अकम1 कत1वा\य
ृ
(akarmaka kartRRivachya).
Rule 5: In a कत1वा\यृ (kartRRivaachya) the "Subject" or कता1 (kartaa) is always in the "nominative case" or Nथमा =वभJK (prathamaa vibhakti).
Sentence 5 to 8 have "Object" or
कम1 (karma) like =वRालयम ् (vidyaalayam), प0तकम
ु
्
(pustakam) in them. So, these are transitive or सकम1क कत1वा\य
ृ
(sakarmaka
kartRRivachya).
Rule 6: In a कत1वा\यृ (kartRRivaachya) the "Object" or कम1 (karma) is always in the "accusative case" or PQतीया =वभJK (dvitiiyaa vibhakti).
Verb Forms (Cतङ7तपदCतङ7तपदCतङ7तपदCतङ7तपद / tiN^antapada): In chapter 1 we were introduced with verb (9:या / kriyaa) and its use. We learnt that in Sanskrit धातु (dhaatu) is the base or root of all verbs. Each verb is a derivative or धातLपु (dhaaturupa) of it's root. We also learnt that in a sentence the verb (धातु / dhaatu) always follows the person (पLषु / puruSha) and number (वचन / vachana) in which the Subject or कता1 (kartaa) is. Verb normally
refers to action, state, existence or occurrence etc.
In this chapter we will study the 5 mostly used verb-forms or लकार (lakaara) out of 10 verb-forms that a verb can have. The 5 verb-forms covered are enough for
day-to-day use of Sanskrit.
Verb or धातु (dhaatu) has 10 different Cतङ7तपद (tiN^antapada) forms known as लकार (lakaara) and they are listed below.
• ल[लकार / laTlakaara • ल[लकारृ / lRRiTlakaara • ल@लकार / laN^lakaara • आझयांलो[लकार / aajhaayaa.nloTlakaara • =वधै?ल@लकार / vidhailiN^lakaara • ?ल[लकार / liTlakaara • ल[लकारु / lRRiTlakaara • आशी?ल@लकार / aashiiliN^lakaara • ल@लकारु / luN^lakaara • ल@लकारृ / lRRiN^lakaara
We will study the first 5 verb-forms in detail, in coming chapters. Followings are some common features of different लकार (lakaara) in Sanskrit.
Each लकार (lakaara) has verb-forms for three persons (पLषु / puruSha) and three numbers (वचन / vachana). So, in total each लकार (lakaara) has 9 different verb-forms or धातLपु (dhaaturupa) in it.
The persons are third person (NथमपLषु / prathamapuruSha), second person (मXयमपLषु / madhyamapuruSha) and first person (उYमपLषु / uttamapuruSha). धातLपु
(dhaaturupa) in first person (उYमपLषु / uttamapuruSha) are always used with अ0मS (asmad) श;द i.e., 'Me' as the Subject in the sentence. धातLपु (dhaaturupa) in second person (मXयमपLषु / madhyamapuruSha) is always used with य0मSु (yusmad) श;द i.e., 'You' as Subject in the sentence. The third person (NथमपLषु / prathamapuruSha) is used in all other cases.
Similarly each person (पLषु / puruSha) has three numbers (वचन / vachana), which are singlar (एकवचन / ekavachana), dual (Qीवचन / dviivachana) and plural (वहवचनु / vahuvachana).
The number (वचन / vachana) of the धातLपु (dhaaturupa) always follows the number (वचन / vachana) of the Subject or श;दLप (shabdarupa) in the sentence. The gender (?ल@ग / liN^ga) of the Subject does not affect the धातLपु (dhaaturupa).
In coming chapters we will study the different verb-forms (धातLपु / dhaaturupa) in detail. For easier and simpler study while describing the different verb-forms we have used पZ / paTh (read) and गम ् / gam (go) धातु / dhaatu for sentence formation. At the end of each chapter Practice Sentences are given using many commonly used nouns and verbs. Studying the Practice Sentences will help building a good vocabulary for day-to-day conversasion in Sanskrit.
ल[लकार ल[लकार ल[लकार
ल[लकार / laTlakaara (Present Tense): ल[लकार (laTlakaara) represents verb-forms in present tense (वत1मानकाल / vartamaanakaala). So, while forming a sentence which is in present tense, the verb (9:या / kriaa) has to be in ल[लकार (laTlakaara). The complete ल[लकार / laTlakaara of पZ / paTh (read) and गम ् / gam (go) धातु / dhaatu are given at the end of this chapter for reference. Study the following sentences. These are in वत1मानकाल (vartamaanakaala) or present tense.
shabda dhaatu Present Tense - Third Person Singular
वत1मानकाल NथमपLषु एकवचन / vartamaanakaala prathamapuruSha ekavachana 1. The boy is reading. बालकः पठCत baalakaH paThati बालक baalaka पZ paTh - 2. The girl is reading. वा?लका पठCत vaalikaa paThati वा?लका vaalikaa पZ paTh - 3. Rama is reading. रामः पठCत raamaH paThati राम raama पZ paTh - 4. Sita is reading. सीता पठCत siitaa paThati सीता siitaa पZ paTh - 5. The boy is going. बालकः ग_छCत baalakaH gachchhati बालक baalaka गम ् gam - 6. The girl is going. वा?लका ग_छCत vaalikaa gachchhati वा?लका vaalikaa गम ् gam -
Present Tense - Third Person Plural
वत1मानकाल NथमपLषु वहवचनु / vartamaanakaala prathamapuruSha vahuvachana 7. The boys are
reading. बालकाः पठि7त baalakaaH paThanti बालक baalaka पZ paTh -
8. The girls are reading. वा?लकाः पठि7त vaalikaaH paThati वा?लका vaalikaa पZ paTh - 9. Students are reading. \छाUाः पठि7त chchhaatraaH paThati \छाU chchhaatra पZ paTh - 10. Clearks are reading. ?ल=पकाराः पठि7त lipikaaraaH paThanti ?ल=पकार lipikaara पZ paTh -
11. The boys are going. बालकाः ग\छि7त baalakaaH gachchhanti बालक baalaka गम ् gam -
12. The girls are going. वा?लकाः ग\छि7त vaalikaaH gachchhanti वा?लका vaalikaa गम ् gam -
In setences 1 to 6, the Subject (कता1 / kartaa) is in 3rd person singular (NथमपLषु एकवचन / prathamapuruSha ekavachana). As the verb always follows the number and peson, the verb (पठCत / paThati) is also in 3rd person singular (NथमपLषु एकवचन /
prathamapuruSha ekavachana). In case of setences 7 to 12, the Subject (कता1 / kartaa) is in 3rd person plural (NथमपLषु वहवचनु / prathamapuruSha vahuvachana). Similarly the verb (पठि7त / paThanti) is also in NथमपLषु वहवचनु / prathamapuruSha vahuvachana of verb पZ (paTh).
One thing we can note that the gender of Subject does not affect the verb-form in use. Only the number and person are followed by verb. In case sentences 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 the Subject are in musculine (पि@ल7गु / puN^linga) gender. In case of sentences 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 the Subject are in feminine (Aी?ल@ग / striiliN^ga). However in neither case the verb depends upon the gender. All the above sentences were in third person (NथमपLषु / prathamapuruSha). Now let us study the following sentences. These are in second person (मXयमपLषु / madhyamapuruSha) and first person (उYमपLषु / uttamapuruSha).
आ@]लभाषा / English सं0कतृ / Sanskrit Subject श;द / shabda Verb धातु / dhaatu Comments
Present Tense - Second Person Singular
वत1मानकाल मXयमपLुष/ एकवचन / vartamaanakaala madhyamapuruSha ekavachana 13. You are going. Fवं ग\छ?स
tva.n gachchhasi
य0मSु yusmad
गम ्
gam -
14. You are reading. Fवं पठ?स tva.n paThasi
य0मSु yusmad
पZ
paTh -
Present Tense - First Person Singular
वत1मानकाल उYमपLषु एकवचन / vartamaanakaala uttamapuruSha ekavachana 15. I am going. अहं ग\छा?म aha.n gachchhaami अ0मS asmad गम ् gam - 16. I am reading. अहं पठा?म aha.n paThaami अ0मS asmad पZ paTh -
Present Tense - Second Person Plural
वत1मानकाल मXयमपLषु वहवचनु / vartamaanakaala madhyamapuruSha vahuvachana 17. You all are
going. ययंु ग\छथ yua.n gachchhatha य0मSु yusmad गम ् gam -
18. You all are reading. ययंु पठथ yua.n paThatha य0मSु yusmad पZ paTh -
Present Tense - First Person Plural
19. We all are going. वयं ग\छामः vaya.n gachchhaamaH अ0मS asmad गम ् gam - 20. We all are reading. वयं पठामः yua.n paThaamaH अ0मS asmad पZ paTh -
In sentences 13 and 14 the Subject (kartaa) is in second person singular (मXयमपLषु एकवचन / madhyamapuruSha ekavachana) and in case of 17 and 18 the Subject (kartaa) is in second person plural (मXयमपLषु वहवचनु / madhyamapuruSha vahuvachana). We can see that in all these sentences the Subject used is य0मSु (yusmad) श;द (shabda). In case of second person the kartaa is always य0मSु
(yusmad) श;द (shabda).
In sentences 15 and 16 the Subject is in first person singular (उYमपLषु एकवचन / uttamapuruSha ekavachana). In case of 19 and 20 the Subject is in first person plural (उYमपLषु वहवचनु / uttamapuruSha vahuvachana). In all these sentences the Subjects used is अ0मS (asmad) श;द (shabda). In case of first person the kartaa is
always अ0मS (asmad) श;द (shabda).
As we know unlike English or any other language, Sanskrit language has three different numbers viz., singular, plural and dual. This dual number is specific to Sanskrit and must be used accordingly. The followings are the dual number form of above sentences. आ@]लभाषा / English सं0कतृ / Sanskrit Subject श;द / shabda Verb धातु / dhaatu Comments
Present Tense - Dual
वत1मानकाल PQवचन / vartamaanakaala dvivachana 21. Two boys are
reading. बालकौ पठतः baalakau paThataH बालक baalaka पZ paTh -
22. Two girls are reading. वा?लके पठतः vaalike paThataH वा?लका vaalikaa पZ paTh -
23. Two boys are going. बालकौ ग\छतः baalakau gachchhataH बालक baalaka गम ् gam -
24. Two girls are going. वा?लके ग\छतः vaalike gachchhataH वा?लका vaalikaa गम ् gam -
25. Two students are reading. \छाUौ पठतः chchhatrau \छाU chchhaatra पZ paTh -
paThataH 26. Two clearks are
reading. ?ल=पकारौ पठतः lipikaarau paThataH ?ल=पकार lipikaara पZ paTh -
27. Both of you are going. यवांु ग\छथः yuvaa.n gachchhathaH य0मSु yusmad गम ् gam -
28. Both of you are reading. यवांु पठथः yuvaa.n paThathaH य0मSु yusmad पZ paTh - 29. Both of us are going. आवां ग\छावः aavaa.n gachchhaavaH अ0मS asmad गम ् gam - 30. Both of us are reading. आवां पठावः aavaa.n paThaavaH अ0मS asmad पZ paTh -
At the end of this chapter in Verb Forms - Practice Sentences 1 a collection of many Sanskrit sentences using ल[लकार / laTlakaara are given. You will know about many more nouns (श;द / shabda) and verbs (धातु / dhaatu) in those. In the next chapter we will study ल[लकारृ (lRRiTlakaara) or future tense.
Read / पZपZपZपZ / paTh : ल[लकारल[लकारल[लकारल[लकार / laTlakaara
(Present tense / वत1मानकाल / vartamaanakaala) Person / पLषु /
puruSha Number / वचन / vachana
Singular एकवचन / ekavachana Dual Qीवचन / dviivachana Plural वहवचनु / vahuvachana Third
Nथम / prathama पठCत / paThati पठतः / paThataH पठि7त / paThanti Second
मXयम / madhyama पठ?स / paThasi पठथः / paThathaH पठथ / paThatha First
उYम / uttama पठा?म / paThaami पठावः / paThaavaH पठामः / paThaamaH
Go / गमगम ्््् / gam : ल[लकारगमगम ल[लकारल[लकारल[लकार / laTlakaara
Person / पLषु /
puruSha Number / वचन / vachana
Singular एकवचन / ekavachana Dual Qीवचन / dviivachana Plural वहवचनु / vahuvachana Third
Nथम / prathama ग\छCत / gachchhati gachchhataH ग\छतः / ग\छि7त / gachchhanti Second
मXयम / madhyama ग\छ?स / gachchhasi gachchhathaH ग\छथः / ग\छथ / gachchhatha First
उYम / uttama gachchhaami ग\छा?म /
ग\छावः / gachchhaavaH
ग\छामः / gachchhaamaH
