BEGINNERS COURSE

Sanskrit is an ancient Indian language that is still spoken and written today.

Foundation of any language is its grammar.

In this beginners course we focus on grammar, basic sentence formation, adding to your vocabulary.

Our guide to Sanskrit grammar uses clear and simple language, and it does not expect any special background knowledge.

DURATION / TIMINGS

  • 36 hours course
  • 18 weeks
  • 2 hours/week

WHERE / HOW?

  • Weekly online classes
  • YouTube Videos
  • Learn from Home

ELIGIBILITY

  • Anyone can join
  • No prior knowledge about the language needed

COURSE OUTCOME

  • Knowing basics of Sanskrit
  • Student will be able to understand and converse in simple Sanskrit
  • This course will enable the student to read simple shlokas
  • One will have enough vocabulary used in day to day life

Course Curriculum

Varnamala or alphabets is a combination of vowels (स्वराः) and consonants (व्यञ्जनानि). To start with the language we first need to understand its sounds. The script used is the devnagari script
Understanding vowels and consonants and its sounds in detail.
We will learn how to introduce oneself in Sanskrit (स्वःपरिचयः)
Understanding basic pronouns and to use in the sentence formation
Learning basic 7 interrogative questions i.e. What, Why, When, How, Which, Who in Sanskrit.
Learning common verbs Asti-To Be and Nasti–Not there and making simple sentences related to day to day life.
Learning numbers in Sanskrit from 1-20.
Knowing different primary and secondary colours.
Learning Present tense (वर्तमानकालः) and knowing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd person also in all 3 genders i.e. masculine, Feminine and neuter. Present tense are of two kinds Perasmepadi and Atmanepadi.
Explore and learn the days of the week.
Introduction to all 7 cases i.e. Nominative, Accusative, Instrumental, DativeAblative, Genitive and Locative cases and understanding the sentence formation using these cases.
Past tense or भूतकालः tells us about the action happened in past. Knowing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd person also in all 3 genders i.e.masculine, Feminine and neuter. Presenttense are of two kinds Perasmepadi and Atmanepadi.
There are list of words ending in Akaranta, Ikaranta, Ukaranta and Rukaranta. We will be learning their declensions in all 7 vibhaktis.
Prefixes are known as upasargah (उपसर्ग:). The work of prefixes is to modify or change the meaning of root. Roots are the most basic forms of all words in Sanskrit. The small groups of sounds that we add to beginning of something is called Prefixes.
A group of sounds that we add at end of something are called Suffixes, They are also known as Pratyayah
A gerund is an indeclinable verb form (i.e. it has no person or number) that is translated as 'having VERBed' or 'after VERBing'. It always leads up to a main verb and it indicates an action that occurs before the main verb. For example, in the sentence "Having conquered the city, the king went to the palace" the gerund 'having conquered' occurs before and leads up to the main verb 'went'.

A gerund is formed by adding the suffix त्वा/इत्वा or य directly onto the verbal root.
The tva rule is little difficult to understand as the suffix changes from root to root.

. त्वान्त – Root + त्वा suffix / इत्वा (occasionally) E.g. पठ् + त्वा = पठित्वा

भाष् + त्वा = भाषित्वा

नी + त्वा = नीत्वा

कृ + त्वा = कृत्वा
ल्यबन्त = ल्यप् (य) + अन्त =Prefix + root + ल्यप् (य)Note – This suffix ल्यप् (य) cannot be added to root alone.

There must be a prefix to the root. In the presence of a prefix only,

ल्यप् (य) can be added, else त्वा should be used

E.g. सम् + पूज् + ल्यप् (य) = सम्पूज्य (In the absence of prefix, the indeclinable will be पूजयित्वा – त्वा will be added)

आ + गम् + ल्यप् (य) = आगम्य / आगत्य
• Tumanta gerund conveys to senses -1) in order to and 2) for the sake of .तुमन्त (infinitive) + verb अर्ह् = request / wish

E.g. बालकःपाठशालांगन्तुम्अर्हति | The boy can go to school
Another indeclinable verb form is the infinitive. It is translated as 'to VERB'. It is usually connected to another verb indicating:
  • Desire, e.g. "He wants to know"
  • Capability, e.g. "He is able to know"
  • Purpose, e.g. "He asks to know"
Like the gerund, the infinitive is formed by adding the suffix तुम्/इतुम् directly onto the root. Again as a general rule, तुम् is usually added to a root ending in a vowel, while इतुम् is usually added to a root ending in a consonant
Future tense or भविष्यकलः tells about the event which will happen in future.
The Optative mode (also called the Potential) or mood is called लिङ् (liṅ ) by Sanskrit grammarians. Though, the primary use is for expressing a wish, it is used in various other contexts like: light order (less forceful than imperative), invitation, giving permission etc. It is also used in subordinate clauses.
The Imperative mode or mood is called loṭलोट् by Sanskrit grammarians. The primary use of the imperative is a command or injunction. It is also used in many other senses like entreaty, gentle advice, benediction etc.
Revision and an overview of all the concepts covered in brief.