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).