AUTHORS' NOTE - 1

We deeply regret to inform you that there will be no updates and posts for the blog "saMskRta" {sktbhasha.blogspot.com} from the date 17/12/2014 up to 17/01/2015. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Please bear along with us. 

EXCEPTIONS OF अयादि-सन्धि

In the following case, this सन्धि is optional:

1. The य् or व् at the end of the word during the occurrence of अयादि-सन्धि in a sentence is optionally dropped.

• हरे + इह = हर इह OR हरयिह।
• तस्मै + अहम् = तस्मा अहम् OR तस्मायहम् । 
• विष्णो + इह = विष्ण इह OR विष्णविह।
• तौ + अतः = ता अतः OR तावतः।   

अयादि-सन्धि - 2

In the following cases, अयादि-सन्धि takes place:

1. ओ or औ when followed by a termination or affix beginning with य् change to अव् or आव् respectively. E.g. Forming word by adding तद्धित affix: गो + यम् = गव्यम्। नौ + यम् = नाव्यम्।This is applicable for roots only when the ओ or औ of the root occurs by change of the ending vowel of the root to गुण or वृद्धि due to the termination that follows. E.g. लू+यम्=लो+यम् = लव्यम्। अवश्यलु+यम्=अवश्यलौ+यम् = अवश्यलाव्यम्। 
2. The ओ of गो is changed to अव् when followed by यूति when it means a particular measure of length. E.g. गव्यूतिः । It is compulsorily changed to अव when followed by इन्द्र or अक्ष - गवेन्द्रः। गवाक्षः। If it is followed by a vowel, it is optionally changed to अव. E.g.गो+अग्रम्=गवाग्रम्, गोऽग्रम् , also गोअग्रम् । गो+उष्ट्रम्=गवोष्ट्रम् or गवुष्ट्रम् ।   
3. The ए of potential participle of roots जि (1 प.) and क्षि (1,5,6 प.) changes to अय् before य when meaning "capable or definitely possible". If it is not definitely possible, the ए remains as it is. E.g. मनः जेयम् (should be conquered but not always possible ); जय्यम् - What can be conquered. पापं क्षेयम् (should be reduced but not always possible) क्षय्यम् - What can be reduced.

अयादि-सन्धि - 1

This सन्धि is the substitution of अय् , आय् , अव् , आव् for ए, ऐ, ओ, औ respectively when followed by any vowel.

• ए + Any vowel = अय्
  E.g.While forming पद - हरे + ए = हरये ।   
• ऐ + Any vowel = आय्
  E.g.In forming word by adding तद्धित (secondary) affix:"अक" - नै + अकः = नायकः ।  
• ओ + Any vowel = अव्
  E.g.While conjugating verb - कृ [8 प.प.] Imperfect past- अकरो + अम् = अकरवम् ।      
• औ + Any vowel = आव्
  E.g.In sentence - भूमौ + आगच्छ = भूमावागच्छ।

पूर्वरूप-सन्धि

When ए or ओ at the end of a word is followed by अ in a sentence, then अ merges with the initial ए or ओ and " ऽ "(अवग्रह) is substituted for अ.

• विष्णो + अव = विष्णोऽव ।
• हरे + अव = हरेऽव ।
• रामः + अवति = रामो + अवति = रामोऽवति ।
  (The change of अः to ओ will be explained later)   

Note : The horizontal stroke is not put over the " ऽ "(अवग्रह). This सन्धि can be said to be an exception of अयादि-सन्धि. 

EXCEPTIONS OF यण्-सन्धि

In the following case, there is an alternative option instead of यण्-सन्धि when NOT in a समास (compounded word).

• When the vowels - इ, ई, उ, ऊ, ऋ, ॠ, लृ occur at the end of a word and are immediately followed by a dissimilar vowel, the यण्-सन्धि is optional. The vowels are kept as they are and if long, are shortened. E.g. नदी + अत्र = नद्यत्र । OR नदि अत्र । मधु + अस्ति = मध्वस्ति । OR मधु अस्ति ।     

EXCEPTIONS OF वृद्धि-सन्धि - 2

In the following cases, instead of the substitution of वृद्धि vowels in place of गुण vowels occurring after अ/आ, गुण vowels are only substituted.

• When अ/आ occurs before एव showing an indefinite sense in a sentence.
  E.g. क्व + एव असि? क्वेव असि? "Where are you now?" (The place is not definitely known)
• The अ/आ occurring before ओम् is dropped.
  E.g. ब्रह्मा + ओम् = ब्रह्मोम् (not ब्रह्मौम्) ।      
• The अ/आ occurring before आ(उपसर्ग) is dropped.
  E.g. ब्रह्मा + एहि = ब्रह्मा + आ + इहि = ब्रह्मेहि ।
• In a समास, when a पद ending in अ/आ occurs before ओतु - a cat , or ओष्ठ - the lower lip, the वृद्धि substitution is optional.
  E.g. स्थूल + ओतुः = स्थूलोतुः or स्थूलौतुः ; and बिम्ब + ओष्ठी = बिम्बोष्ठी or बिम्बौष्ठी ।

EXCEPTIONS OF गुण-सन्धि - 2

In the following cases, instead of the substitution of गुण vowels, वृद्धि vowels are substituted.

• When the word ऋण (from root ऋ -1 प, 3 प. = debt)  occurs immediately after प्र, वत्सतर, कम्बल, वसन, ऋण, दश in a समास.
  E.g. प्रार्णम्, वत्सतरार्णम्, कम्बलार्णम्, वसनार्णम्, ऋणार्णम्, दशार्णः । 
• When a prefix ending in अ/आ is used before a root beginning with ऋ or लृ. However, for the denominative root, this वृद्धि substitution is optional.
  E.g. प्र+ऋच्छति = प्रार्च्छति (from root ऋ -1 प.) ; However, for the denominative root-form प्र+ऋकारीयति= प्रर्कारीयति or प्रार्कारीयति and प्र+लृकारीयति= प्रल्करीयति or प्राल्कारीयति । 

In the following case, the गुण-सन्धि is optional.

• In a समास, when the initial पद ending in अ/आ occurs before a पद beginning with ऋ.
  E.g. ब्रह्मा + ऋषिः = ब्रह्मऋषिः OR ब्रह्मर्षिः ।
  ग्रीष्म + ऋतुः = ग्रीष्मऋतुः OR ग्रीष्मर्तुः ।        

यण्-सन्धि

This सन्धि is the substitution of यण्- semivowels - for the corresponding vowel when they occur immediately before a dissimilar vowel.

• इ/ई + Dissimilar vowel = य् + Dissimilar vowel  
• ऋ/ॠ + Dissimilar vowel = र् + Dissimilar vowel 
• लृ + Dissimilar vowel = ल् + Dissimilar vowel 
• उ/ऊ + Dissimilar vowel = व् + Dissimilar vowel

EXCEPTIONS OF सवर्णदीर्घ-सन्धि

 In the following cases, instead of lengthening of the homogeneous vowels occurring together, the second vowel is substituted for both the adjoining vowels. These are समासs (compounded words) but are shown using '+' for ease of understanding the सन्धि.

• शक + अन्धुः = शकन्धुः । Similarly, कर्क + अन्धुः = कर्कन्धुः ।
• सार + अङ्गः  = सारङ्गः (an antelope with spotted skin OR a kind of bird)।
• मार्त + अण्डः  = मार्तण्डः । 
• कुल + अटा = कुलटा ।

EXCEPTIONS OF वृद्धि-सन्धि - 1

In the following cases, instead of the substitution of वृद्धि vowels in place of गुण vowels occurring after अ/आ, गुण vowels are only substituted.

• When an उपसर्ग ending in अ/आ is used before a root beginning with ए/ओ. However, for the denominative root, this गुण is optional.
  E.g. प्र + एजते = प्रेजते, प्र + ओषति = प्रोषति । However, उप + एडकीयति = उपेडकीयति or उपैडकीयति ; and उप + ओघीयति = उपोघीयति or उपौघीयति ।
  COUNTER EXCEPTION wherein वृद्धि is only substituted:-
  A.When an उपसर्ग ending in अ/आ is used before एति (from root "इ - 2 प.") and एधति (from root "एध् - 1 आ.") where the form of the root has an initial ए. E.g. उप + एति = उपैति, (but अव + एहि = अव + आ + इहि = अवेहि - because here 'इहि' does not have an initial ए by itself) । उप + एधति = उपैधति ।B.When प्र is used before एष, एष्य (from root इष् - 4 प., 6 प. and 9 प.). E.g. प्रैषः , प्रैष्यः (but प्रेषः ; derived from root ईष् and not इष्) ।

EXCEPTIONS OF गुण-सन्धि - 1

In the following cases, instead of the substitution of गुण vowels, वृद्धि vowels are substituted.

• When ऊह (formed from root वाह् - 1 आ. ) occurs immediately after अ/आ.
  E.g. प्रष्ठ+ऊह= प्रष्ठौहः ।   
• When ऊह , ऊढ or ऊढि (from root वह् -1 प.) occur immediately after the prefix प्र.
  E.g. प्रौहः , प्रौढः , प्रौढिः । (But प्रोढवान्, because ऊढवत् is not included here)       
• When अक्ष is compounded with ऊहिनी to form "अक्षौहिणी" - "an army consisting of 21870 chariots and elephants, 65610 horses and 109350 men". (Change of न् to ण् will be explained in detail later)
• When ईर, ईरिन्/ईरिणी (from verb-root ईर् - 1 प., 2 आ., 10 उ.) occur immediately after स्व.
  E.g. स्वैरः , स्वैरी, स्वैरिणी । 
• When ऋत (from root ऋ -1 प, 3 प.) occurs after a पद ending in अ/आ in an Instrumental तत्पुरुष समास.
  E.g. सुखार्तः ।( सुखेन ऋतः । )

वृद्धि-सन्धि

This सन्धि is the substitution of वृद्धि syllables (vowels) in place of the corresponding एच् vowels - diphthongs - when they occur after अ/आ .

• अ/आ + ए/ऐ = ऐ 
• अ/आ + ओ/औ = औ 

 However, there are certain exceptions wherein गुण is only substituted for गुण vowels - ए/ओ.   

गुण-सन्धि

This सन्धि is the substitution of गुण syllables (vowels) in place of इक् vowels when they occur after अ/आ.

• अ/आ + इ/ई = ए  
• अ/आ + उ/ऊ = ओ 
• अ/आ + ऋ/ॠ = अर् 
• अ/आ + लृ = अल् 

However, there are certain exceptions wherein वृद्धि vowels are substituted instead of गुण. 

झर् AFFIX

The following image shows the झर् affixes, also known as the झर् consonants :- 

 

It includes all consonants EXCEPT nasals, semivowels and ह्. It is also a 'प्रत्याहार'. 

SOME GRAMMATICAL TERMS

These terms are commonly known as 'प्रत्याहार' : 

1. अक् = अ, आ, इ, ई, उ, ऊ, ऋ, ॠ, लृ.  
2. अच् = Any vowel.
3. अण् = अ, इ, उ .
4. इक् = इ, ई, उ, ऊ, ऋ, ॠ, लृ.
5. इच् = Any vowel EXCEPT अ.
6. एच् = Dipthongs = ए, ऐ, ओ, औ. 
7. खर् = Any hard consonant.
8. जश् = Any soft-unaspirate consonant.
9. झष् = Any soft-aspirate consonant.  
10. यण् = Any semivowel. 
11. हल् = Any consonant.
12. हश् = Any soft consonant.

सवर्णदीर्घ-सन्धि

It is the lengthening of homogeneous vowels occurring one after another.

• अ/आ + अ/आ = आ 
• इ/ई + इ/ई = ई
• उ/ऊ + उ/ऊ = ऊ
• ऋ/ॠ + ऋ/ॠ = ॠ ( or ऋ ) 
• ऋ/लृ + लृ = ॠ ( or लृ ) - This is because there is no लॄ vowel used in संस्कृत .   

Note: For explaining the occurrence of सन्धि -  '+' sign ;for the सन्धि formed - '=' sign will be used hereafter for all सन्धिs. 

स्वरसन्धि - TYPES

The  स्वरसन्धि can be mainly classified as :-

1. सवर्णदीर्घ-सन्धि 
2. गुण-सन्धि 
3. वृद्धि-सन्धि 
4. यण्-सन्धि
5. पूर्वरूप-सन्धि
6. अयादि-सन्धि
7. प्रगृह्य-सन्धि

सन्धि - TYPES

There are 3 main types of सन्धि :-

1.  स्वरसन्धि - Vowel based सन्धि
2.  व्यञ्जनसन्धि - Consonant based सन्धि
3.  विसर्गसन्धि -  विसर्ग based सन्धि

सन्धि - AN INTRODUCTION

सन्धि- or संहिता -is the coalescence of two अक्षर occurring immediately one after another. सन्धि does not form a single compound word but reduces the number of syllables. It is necessary :

• When prepositions are used for forming verbs.
• While forming -conjugating- verbs and participles.
• When words are joined together to form समास.
• In declension of nouns and पद.

It occurs in sentences and verses as per the wish of the author.     

अनुस्वार - 2

In a sentence, when म् occurs at the end of a word, then :

1. It is shown as म् either when the following word begins with any vowel or when it occurs at the end of the sentence or when followed by ",".
   E.g. - A. त्वम् आगच्छ |
             B. आगच्छामि अहम् |
             C. आम्, आगच्छामि अहम् |
2. It is shown by अनुस्वार( ं) when the following word begins with a consonant.
   E.g. - त्वं गच्छ |

When  ं in a word, does not occur at the end, then :

1. It is written as  ं when followed by any sibilant or sonant-aspirate. सिंह: - सिंह: |
2. It is written as the nasal of the class of the following consonant (not a semivowel). अंगम् - अङ्गम् |
3. When  ं occurs before a semivowel, it is written as  ं . संवदति - संवदति |
   But it usually occurs as a nasal and not  ं. रम्यम् - रम्यम् |

•  ं  never occurs in the beginning of a word but occurs after a vowel or consonant.

         

अनुस्वार - 1

In संस्कृत, अनुस्वार( ं) represents a nasal sound (consonant). The nasal sound is pronounced according to the nasal consonant belonging to the class of the consonant that follows.
Key to pronunciation:

1.  ं+Guttural  = ङ्+Guttural
2.  ं+Palatal  = ञ्+Palatal 
3.  ं+Lingual/Cerebral = ण्+Lingual/Cerebral
4.  ं+Dental  = न्+Dental
5.  ं+Labial = म्+Labial
6.  ं+Vowel = म्+Vowel

If a semivowel follows  ं ,  ं is pronounced as म्. Some, however, pronounce  ं by nasalizing the semivowel (य्, ल्, व्).

Note: This post is only for pronunciation of  ं, not writing. For writing, refer to अनुस्वार - 2. 

झल् AFFIX

The following image shows the झल् affixes also referred as झल् consonants :-

It includes all consonants EXCEPT - nasals and semivowels. It is an important part of संस्कृत grammar. 

संस्कृत NUMERALS

Basic संस्कृत Numerals are - 

१ २ ३ ४ ५ ६ ७ ८ ९ ० 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

They are combined to form numbers and to show years as in English ; e.g. 15 - १५ , 1947 - १९४७.

गुण AND वृद्धि SYLLABLES

Simple Vowels	अ/आ	इ/ई	उ/ऊ	ऋ/ॠ	लृ
गुण	-	ए	ओ	अर्	अल्
वृद्धि	आ	ऐ	औ	आर्	आल्

  

The गुण and वृद्धि are formed when - primary vowel अ is combined with the simple vowels इ/ई, उ/ऊ, ऋ/ॠ, लृ to get गुण vowels, and then अ is combined with the गुण vowels to get वृद्धि vowels.

अ	+	इ/ई	=	ए
अ	+	उ/ऊ	=	ओ
अ	+	ऋ/ॠ	=	अर्
अ	+	लृ	=	अल्
अ	+	ए	=	ऐ
अ	+	ओ	=	औ
अ	+	अर्	=	आर्
अ	+	अल्	=	आल्

Note: This combination also occurs in the formation of स्वरसन्धि as a coalescence when अ/आ precede.  

संस्कृत अक्षर OR SYLLABLE

  In संस्कृत , a syllable or अक्षर is :     

WORD	1ST SYLLABLE	PROSODIALLY (IN POETIC METRE)
1. अहम् |	अ	Short
2. अस्मत् |	अस्	Long
3. संवदति |	सं	Long
4. संस्कृतम् |	संस्	Long
5. युवा |	यु	Short
6. युष्मत् |	युष्	Long

1. A vowel itself ; when not followed by a conjunct consonant ; e.g. - इति - here इ is one syllable.
2. A vowel and the following incomplete consonant(s) which is(are) a part of a conjunct consonant ; e.g. - अस्य - here अस् is one syllable.
3. A vowel and अनुस्वार( ं) or विसर्ग(अः) ; when not followed by a conjunct consonant ; e.g. तं(तम्) - here तं(तम्) is a syllable or सः - here सः is a syllable. 
4. A vowel and अनुस्वार( ं) or विसर्ग(अः) and the following incomplete consonant(s) which is(are) a part of a conjunct consonant ; e.g. संस्कारः - here संस् is one syllable.
5. A consonant with the following vowel ; when not followed by a conjunct consonant ; e.g. - देवी - here दे is one syllable.
6. A consonant with the following vowel and the following incomplete consonant(s) which is(are) a part of a conjunct consonant ; e.g. - तस्य - here तस् is one syllable.

• Note: Long and protracted vowels are always considered to be prosodially (in poetic metre) long (when not shortened due to सन्धि).    

COMPOUND CONSONANTS

When two or more consonants occur one after another without the presence of a vowel in between, it is called as a "Compound Consonant" or a "Conjunct Consonant".

The Compound consonants are pronounced according to the order of the consonants present in it -- 

1. First the upper consonant(s) then the lower.
2. First the consonant(s) to the left and then the consonant(s) towards the right.  

• When र् is above consonant(s) ; e.g. - र्द or र्त ; then र् is pronounced first and then the following consonant(s).
• When र् is after consonant(s) ; e.g. - द्र or त्र ; then र् is pronounced after the preceding consonant(s).
• The vowel is taken by the last consonant.
• When compounding consonants, the consonants generally lose their perpendicular strokes ; e.g. स्+य becomes स्य. 
• क्ष = क्+ष्+अ and ज्ञ = ज्+ञ्+अ 

NOTICE

• The authors of this blog try their best to provide authentic and updated information and knowledge to its readers. Therefore, any mistake is deeply regretted. If any information posted is found to be inaccurate, please do comment the accurate information on that respective post so as to notify us.
• Thank You.

CLASSIFICATION

The 33 consonants of संस्कृत can be classified as follows: 

TRANSLITERATION

Refer the following image for transliteration - 

or refer the following page - http://spokensanskrit.de/training/transliteration.php

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF संस्कृत !

Let's begin with the vowels, semivowels and the consonants of संस्कृत. 
संस्कृत language has :

• 5 short vowels - र्हस्व-  अ , इ , उ , ऋ , ऌ 
• 8 long vowels - दीर्घ- आ , ई , ऊ , ॠ , ए , ऐ , ओ , औ
• 9 protracted vowels - प्लुत- आ३ , ई३ , ऊ३ , ॠ३ , ऌ३ , ए३ , ऐ३ , ओ३ , औ३
• The 2 स्वराश्रित-vowels " ं"- अनुस्वार and " ः"- विसर्ग. They both occur only after a vowel.
• 33 consonants - व्यञ्जन- as shown in the adjoining image.

1. 1st row = 'Gutturals' = क-वर्ग
2. 2nd row = 'Palatals' = च-वर्ग
3. 3rd row = 'Linguals'/'Cerebrals' = ट-वर्ग
4. 4th row = 'Dentals' = त-वर्ग
5. 5th row = 'Labials' = प-वर्ग
6. 6th row = 'Semivowels'
7. 7th row = 'Sibilants'
8. 8th row = 'Sonant-Aspirate'

Note: ळ is a consonant used only in वेद-संस्कृत.