Lesson 8: Sanskrit for Beginners Course: How to Translate

Summary:

Formula to convert Sanskrit to English and English to Sanskrit.

Source: Introduction to Sanskrit (4th Ed) – Thomas Egenes – Part One


Resources:

  • Textbook PDF file used in class. It is 3rd Ed. (Copyright: Book is by Thomas Egenes. To support his work, consider buying the book.)
  • Template of how to ask about one's health.
  • Template we used in class for conversation practice.

Highlights:

  • HOW TO TRANSLATE: Sanskrit > English. EG: narāḥ mṛgam aśvam vā smaranti
    • Step 1:
      • Do I know English meaning of each word?
        • If yes, go to step 2.
        • If no, memorize it.
          • How to memorize?
            • Write word on paper + draw symbol of it.
            • Say Sanskrit-English word out loud 8x.
            • Sing the Sanskrit-English word.
            • TIP: Anything silly, outrageous, funny, sensual, emotional, nonsensical, weird – is memorized by the brain.
    • Step 2:
      • First translate NOM and VERB.
        • EG: narāḥ  mṛgam aśvam vā  smaranti > Men remember.
    • Step 3:
      • Translate everything between NOM and VERB.
        • EG: narāḥ  mṛgam aśvam vā  smaranti > deer or the horse.
    • Step 4:
      • Merge Step 2/3.
        • EG: narāḥ  mṛgam aśvam vā  smaranti > Men remember the deer or the horse.
  • HOW TO TRANSLATE: English > Sanskrit. EG: The elephant remembers the man and the son.
    • Step 1:
      • Do I know Sanskrit meaning of each word?
        • If yes, go to step 2. If no, memorize it (see above for tips).
    • Step 2:
      • First translate NOM and VERB.
        • EG: The elephant remembers the man and the son. > gajaḥ smarati
    • Step 3:
      • Translate everything else.
        • EG: The elephant remembers the man and the son. > naram putram ca
    • Step 4:
      • Merge Step 2/3. Put in this order: NOM  EVERYTHING-ELSE  VERB
        • EG: The elephant remembers the man and the son. > gajaḥ naram putram ca smarati

Homework:

  1. Complete book Chapter 4 exercises 4, 5, 6, 7 on Page 36-39 by next week. Suggested to spread 10 per day.

Questions:

You'll have more questions throughout the course. How to ask? Leave in comments below, so others can also benefit. We'll respond within 48 hours. Only ask specific to this Lesson.

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Recorded 13 Sept, 2020

5 Comments

  1. Hello Everyone,
    I joined Class 8 just before we were broken up into groups and I missed the instruction on how to print screen the conversation guide while in the break up groups.
    Does anyone have the instructions for this?

    Thanks

    1. Step 1: When there is convo exercise, open up: yesvedanta.com/1.pdf

      Step 2: You or another in your group can do a screen sharing in Zoom. So all in group can be looking at the file.

  2. Namo namah Andre , Could not find the recording of this class in youtube .could you please upload . dhanyavadah.

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