Lesson 9: Sanskrit for Beginners Course: Sandhi Rules + Chart

Summary:

New verse and how sandhi works.

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 we used in class for conversation practice.
  • Latest Verse: What Burden?
  • Latest Spoken Sanskrit.
  • Software for writing IAST (Romans with diacritics: ñ, ḍ, etc)
  • Convert IAST to Devanāgarī.

Highlights:

  • Sandhi
    • What is it?
      • Optimizes the sound between two words.
        • EG: Pronounce “I eat a apple and an pear” vs. “I eat an apple and a pear“. Which sounds smoother? And which is less straining on your tongue? Hence later is the winner. Small change, yet significant difference in experience.
      • Just like above example, Sanskrit sandhi system is the same.
    • How does it work?
      • Last character of preceding word changes, depending on first letter of next word.
  • Sandhi Rules for: _aḥ + __

    • Examples using above table:
      • __aḥ + voiced (throat vibrating)
        • naraḥ mṛgam vadati        = naro mṛgam vadati        नरो मृगम् वदति
        • bhavathaḥ vasathaḥ vā   = bhavatho vasatho vā     भवथो वसथो वा
        • kaḥ videśaḥ                       = ko videśaḥ                        को विदेशः
        • abhyāsaḥ na hi tyaktavyaḥ abhyāsaḥ hi param balam  = abhyāso na hi tyaktavyo abhyāso hi param balam
      • __aḥ + a__
        • rāmaḥ aśvau gacchati   = rāmo ‘śvau gacchati        रामो ऽश्वौ गच्छति
        • putraḥ aśvān pṛcchati   = putro ‘śvān pṛcchati        पुत्रो ऽश्वान् पृच्छति
        • kaḥ atibhāraḥ                  = ko ‘tibhāraḥ                      को ऽतिभारः
      • __a + a__
        • anyatra ca api tatsthānam kurta syād tatra na asti saḥ  = anyatra cāpi tatsthānam kurta syād tatra nāsti saḥ
        • sarvatra api   = sarvatrāpi
        • atra api           = atrāpi
      • __aḥ + c__
        • bhavathaḥ ca vasathaḥ ca   = bhavathaśca vasathaśca      भवथश्च वसथश्च
        • tiṣṭhāmaḥ gacchāmaḥ ca     = tiṣṭhāmo gacchāmaśca         तिष्ठामो गच्छामश्च

Homework:

  1. Memorize all words on Spoken Sanskrit pg 1-6. Here is pronunciation for latest words on page 6.
  2. At least THREE verses should be memorized by now: Practice, Ornaments, Here there, Blades of Grass, What Burden?
  3. Revise gacchati paradigm. Should see whole table in the mind. Can go backwards, forwards.
  4. Finish off Book Lesson 4 exercises if not complete yet.
  5. Devanagari? By now, every letter on pg44 of book should be familiarized. Write out every letter in IAST and Devanāgarī on paper.

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 20 Sept, 2020

4 Comments

  1. hi Andre sorry to bother you
    THE MEN SPEAK TO THE DEER .
    translation
    NARAH MRGAM VADANTI
    with sandhi
    Naro mrgam vadati ??? (plural changed to singular ) kindly clarify
    thanks Manish

    1. _āḥ changes to ā. EG: narāḥ mṛgam gacchanti = narā mṛgam gacchanti
      _aḥ changes to o. EG: naraḥ mṛgam gacchati = naro mṛgam gacchati

      We haven’t covered “āḥ”, but it’s same rules as “aḥ”.

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