Learning Sanskrit by a Fresh Approach Lessons 1-10
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Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach – Lesson 1 Glossary 1 No.
English
Sanskrit in Transliteration
Sanskrit in Devanagari
1
You
tvam
2
only
eva
3
you only
tvameva
4
mother
mAtA
5
and
cha
6
father
pitA
7
brother
bandhuH
8
friend
sakhA
9
knowledge
vidyA
10
wealth
draviNam
!"# $! %!"& ! "'(' ) *+(' ,-./0 12' 3!4' 56!78 1! "" :&!
11 all, everything
sarvam
12
of me
mama
13
Oh God
deva
Exercises 1: From the above glossary,
No. Phrase 1 You only mother 2 and Father you only 3 You only brother brothe r and 4 friend you only 5 You only knowledge knowled ge 6 Wealth you only 7 You only everything everyth ing of me 8 Oh God ! Oh God
prepare the following phrases –
Sanskrit in transliteration Sanskrit in Devanagari __________ __________ __________ __________ __ _______ ________ __ _______ ________ __________ __________ ___ __________ __________ ___ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ ________ __________ __________ ________ __________ __________ __________ __________
1
Now you can write down two two phrases in one line. By that it becomes becomes a good four-line verse, verse, a good prayer !! I am sure you will like this prayer. Learn it by heart. Now you have learnt a prayer, of which you also know the meaning. meaning. Say it by yourself whenever and wherever you like. Maybe you can meditate with this prayer. If someone prays to God, calling Him mother, father, father, brother, friend, knowledge, knowledge, wealth, everything, very earnestly, He will answer!! You may find this prayer on the internet in Devanagari. You would find one small difference. OK, let me give that to you here itself. In phrase 3, you will find that
&"#' .
!"#$ % is written as
That difference is simple and logical.
( bandhuH + cha = bandhush-cha). Hence, )"#* + % ( ("#$ +
) is really the “full stop” in Devanagari. Two vertical lines ( ! !) A vertical line at the end of of each line ( denote the end of a stanza. Do you really need a “key” to the exercise 1 ? Anyway, here it is tvameva mAtA cha pitA tvameva tvameva bandhush-cha sakhA tvameva tvameva vidyA draviNam tvameva tvameva sarvam mama deva deva
;!"& ! ;!"& ! "'(' "'(' ) ) ?!"& ! ! ,@./ ,@./A 12' 12' B!"& B!"& ! > C!"& ! ! D!E' D!E' FG!78 FG!78 H!"& ! > I!"& ! ! 1!J 1!J "" :& "" :&! :& :&! K ( L/M"# + L/M"N(/ ( OP(/) > Blissful
shubham
be it
astu
Blissful be it shubhamastu 2
L/M"# OQ(/ L/M"R(/
Now you can write down two two phrases in one line. By that it becomes becomes a good four-line verse, verse, a good prayer !! I am sure you will like this prayer. Learn it by heart. Now you have learnt a prayer, of which you also know the meaning. meaning. Say it by yourself whenever and wherever you like. Maybe you can meditate with this prayer. If someone prays to God, calling Him mother, father, father, brother, friend, knowledge, knowledge, wealth, everything, very earnestly, He will answer!! You may find this prayer on the internet in Devanagari. You would find one small difference. OK, let me give that to you here itself. In phrase 3, you will find that
&"#' .
!"#$ % is written as
That difference is simple and logical.
( bandhuH + cha = bandhush-cha). Hence, )"#* + % ( ("#$ +
) is really the “full stop” in Devanagari. Two vertical lines ( ! !) A vertical line at the end of of each line ( denote the end of a stanza. Do you really need a “key” to the exercise 1 ? Anyway, here it is tvameva mAtA cha pitA tvameva tvameva bandhush-cha sakhA tvameva tvameva vidyA draviNam tvameva tvameva sarvam mama deva deva
;!"& ! ;!"& ! "'(' "'(' ) ) ?!"& ! ! ,@./ ,@./A 12' 12' B!"& B!"& ! > C!"& ! ! D!E' D!E' FG!78 FG!78 H!"& ! > I!"& ! ! 1!J 1!J "" :& "" :&! :& :&! K ( L/M"# + L/M"N(/ ( OP(/) > Blissful
shubham
be it
astu
Blissful be it shubhamastu 2
L/M"# OQ(/ L/M"R(/
Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach – Lesson 2 Glossary 2 Sanskrit in Transliteration
No.
English
1
industriousness, diligence
udyamaH
2
grit to explore
sAhasam
3
boldness
dhairyam
4
intellect
buddhiH
5
strength
shaktiH
6 capacity to fight and win
ST"0 1'U1"# .VWX"# ,/YZ0 L[\0 +]'^"0 _` $(& _a&(& Wb !(cd(& (e :&!: 1U'fWgh (#
parAkramaH
7
six
ShaT
8
these
e-te
9
these six
ShaDete
10
where
yatra
11
are present, exist
var-tan-te
12
there
tatra
13
God
devaH
14
helpful
sahAyya-kRut
+ From 7, 8 and 9 we notice that +, +
Sanskrit in Devanagari
= +0/./ -./ =
When two words are in succession of each other,
it becomes natural during pronunciation, that the ending of the first word and the beginning of the next word will merge. Such merging of sounds is called as conjugation 15 conjugation sandhiH There were three conjugations already in Lesson 1.
+ -2 = = 523/2 1234 + + % = = 7"#8 2. 6"#$ + 1.
3
1ij. :
+ ;/2, because it was in Address case, : to say, “Oh God”. Here it is in Nominative Case. ?@3A B2:CD$ Hence >/2 :
16
Address
sambodhanam
17
case
vibhaktiH
1k,l.m"# n!Mop0
18
Address case
sambodhanvibhaktiH
1q,l.m - r!Mst0
19
first
prathamA
uv"'
20
Nominative or subjective case
prathamA vibhatiH
wv"' x!Myz0 wv"' x!Myz0
Exercises 2: From the words 1 to 14 in the glossary, prepare the following phrases – No .
Phrase
Sanskrit in transliteration
Industriousness, grit to explore, boldness intellect, strength, 2 capacity to fight and win 3 these six where exist 4 there God helpful helpfu l 1
Sanskrit in Devanagari
__________ __________ ___________ __________ __________ _________ __________ ___________ ________
__________ __________ ________
__________ __________ _________ __________ __________ _________
__________ __________ ________ __________ __________ ________
Now you can write down two two phrases in one line. By that it becomes becomes a good two-line verse, verse, a good saying !! 21 a good saying
subhAShitam
1/M'{_("#
Here it is how it reads udyamaH sAhasam dhairyam buddhiH shaktiH parAkramaH ShaDete yatra vartante tatra devaH sahAyya-kRut
EF3$ GAHGI "JKL #MN$ 9OP$ QRAS3$ T +U -./ KV 2.WX./ .Y >/2$ GHAZK GH AZK[ [\ .4 ] 4
I am sure you will like this good saying G#:A^+.34 . Learn it by heart. In Sanskrit there are thousands of such “good sayings”. Would it not be charming and impressive, if you can quote them verbatim? And they are so crisp verses, all pearls of wisdom !! That is one very good and strong reason, why one should learn Sanskrit.
9#:3_.#
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Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach – Lesson 3 Glossary 3 No.
English
Sanskrit in Transliteration
Sanskrit in Devanagari
1
in post-rainy season
sharadi
2
no, not, does not
na
3
rains
varShati
4
thunders
garjati
5
during rainy season
varShAsu
6
quiet, noiseless
niH-svanaH
7
cloud
meghaH
8*
noiseless cloud
niHsvano meghaH
9
mean-minded, lowly
neechaH
10
talks, prattles
vadati
11*
(the) lowly prattles
neecho vadati
12
does
kurute
L]|: m !_}i( ~• ! i( !_' 1/ # im : $ !m0 "& % 0 im0 ' !ml "& % 0 m ( )0 !:i( m ( )l !:i( g/ * (&
13
good person, gentleman
sujanaH
1/•m0
14
does
karoti
15
only
eva
16*
does only
karotyeva
g]li( $! g]l , W&!
Here we have three conjugations. The conjugated phrases are marked by * 2a$ + (6) + (7) = (8) `a :b
3/c$ = `a$d2ae 3/c$ (9) + (10) = (11) af%$ + 2>`. = af%e 2>`. (14) + (15) = (16) [Re`. + -2 = [RegK/2 In the first two conjugations two words haven’t really merged into each other. But the visarga (:) at the ending of the first word has become h 6
`a$i2a4 + ;$ –> `a$j2a4 + h = `a$k2ae af%4 + ;$ –> af%4 + h = af%e In the third one [Re`. +
-2 = [Re.4 + l + -2 = [Re.4 + K4 + -2 = [RemK/2 Here vowel l merges into vowel - to become K4 + - . Then we have merging of .4 + K4 + - becoming nK/ There is no need to become unduly over-conscientious of this explanation of the third one. Even if you
say[Re`. -2 , [Re`. -2 at some speed, you will realize that it does become [ReoK/2 . So, rules of conjugation are all logical and natural. Thanks to the sages like PaaNinee that naturally happening pronunciations also have been refined, structured into rules. The very name of the language “Sanskrit” means refined. It is these refinements which have made the language chaste. There is no other language in the world, which can match the chastity of Sanskrit. Word #15 -2 is not new. It was there in glossary 1. It is repeated just for the sake of convenience. Exercises 3: From the words 1 to 16 in the glossary, prepare the following phrases -
No.
1 2 3 4
Phrase
cloud, in post-rainy season, not, rains, thunders quiet (noiseless) cloud, during rainy season, rains the lowly person, prattles, not, does not, talks, gentleman, does only
Sanskrit in Transliteration __________ __________ ___________ __________ ___________ ________ __________ __________ _ ________ __________ __________ _ ________
Sanskrit in Devanagari __________ __________ _________ __________ __________ ________ __________ __________ ________ __________ __________ ________
In the glossary, you have the word “cloud” only once. You have to use it both in phrases (1) and (2). Likewise the word “not” is to be used at three places. For the English word “does” we have in the glossary two Sanskrit words [# p./ and [Re`. . They are interchangeable. Or even any one of the two can be used at both the places. But to keep the matter simple, in phrase 3, I have put “does” independently after “not”. In phrase 4, I have put it together “does only” as in the glossary. Use the glossary. So you will know which fits better where. Now you can write down two-two phrases in one line. By that it becomes a good two-line verse, a good saying a G#:Aq+.34 !!
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Here it is, how it reads sharadi na varShati garjati varShati varShAsu niHsvano meghaH neecho vadati na kurute na vadati sujanaH karotyeva
9Rr> a 2+s`. tuv`. 2+w`. 2+Ax G# `a$y2ae 3/c$ T af%e 2>`. a [# z./ a 2>`. G#ua$ [Re{K/2 ] Say it aloud. You will appreciate what musical rhythm is built in here by the poet, having composed it with quite some Onamatopoeia. Doesn’t that make it so easy to commit it to memory? And there is of course a message, a moral, explained with an example of a very commonplace experience. To derive moral out of a commonplace experience is again refinement. Language itself is a refined language. Poetry shall of course be! I am sure you will like this good saying G#:A|+.34 . Learn it by heart. You may think that for every lesson, I advise, “Learn it by heart”. But this is all poetry, music and easy knowledge, wisdom, eternal wisdom, saturated and condensed in such short verses. Why not learn it by heart? More the wisdom you have within your memory bank, wiser you will be. So learning Sanskrit is not just learning another language. It is enriching ourselves with all that wisdom you have in the literature of Sanskrit. That is my basic idea of “Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach”. How do you like that? Also, once you remember the verses, your vocabulary is also automatically building up. You do not have to make any separate effort to mug up words and their meanings. If the verse is understood along with its meaning, it is so many birds in one stone!
9#:3}.#
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Learning Sanskrit by a fresh approach – Lesson 4 Glossary 4 No.
English
Sanskrit in Transliteration
Sanskrit in Devanagari
udyamena
S . "&m U / i1 12 Wi 4 ( g'W' i7 6 m "m0 ]vV0 "ml]vV0 1/ 89 W i18U ; W !Li /2 ” as “ >/2 ” and “ >/2: ” in Address case and Nominative case respectively. Here we have declensions in Nominative (called as “first case”) and instrumental (called as “third case”). Cases are eight, from first to seventh and the address case. Cases second to seventh do the job of different propositions. The third case does the job of prepositions “by” and “with”. Words (7) and (8) are also in third (instrumental) case. There also we have the preposition “by”. Words (9) and (10) are in sixth (genitive, showing ownership) case which do the job of the preposition “of” or of the apostrophe in word (10). 9
Word (12) is in seventh (locative) case, which does the function of prepositions “in”, “into”, “on”, “upon”, “above”, “below”, “under”. All these prepositions show a location. So, the seventh case is the locative case. Nouns, pronouns and adjectives decline also by number – singular, dual, plural. We had “cloud rains” (singular), “cloud thunders” (singular), “gentleman does” (singular). We had “six exist”(plural). Here we have “tasks are accomplished” (plural) “deer enter” (plural). Verbs also have declensions, influenced by number. This is so in grammar of all languages, e.g. in English, “I am”, “We are”. Verbs also decline due to tense. So far we have all sentences in present tense. Verbs also decline by “person” e.g. “I am” (first person), “He is” (third person). So far we have all sentences in third person. We shall get to know various declensions of nouns, pronouns, adjectives and also of verbs, as we proceed. I have been thoughtfully selective in taking up the verses, so that, we shall have graded progress. That also merits appreciation, right ? And all this grammar does not, may not stop us from our learning the verses. It is being mentioned just for information. Let us get on with usual exercises of composing phrases, which help us to understand the meaning. There is only one conjugation in this whole verse. The conjugated phrases are marked by * (6) + (7) = (8) 3a$ +
R@J$ = 3aeR@J$
But here the two words have together become one word, a compound word. 14 together (as prefix)
sam
15 to be, to sit, to put
AsaH
16 put together
samAsaH
17 compound word
samAsaH
1"# @ 10 1"'10 1"'10
Even a word like G3AG$ a compound word, which is a grammatical term has a derivation. Everything in Sanskrit has a logic and a structure. There is that finesse, the refinement, hence, Sanskrit ! Well, G34 is a prefix. Every prefix has a meaning too ! G34 means together. There is another here (
29` , .. It is all interesting. But it will become digressing from our composing the verse and in )* understanding its meaning.
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Exercises 4: From the words 1 to 13 in the glossary, prepare the following phrases -
No.
1 2 3 4
Sanskrit in Transliteration by diligence, only, are __________ __________ accomplished, tasks, ___________ __________ ___________ ___ not, by dreams, _____ not, of course, of sleeping, __________ __________ ____ lion’s _____ __________ __________ ____ enter, into mouth, deer _____ Phrase
Sanskrit in Devanagari __________ __________ _______ __________ __________ ______ __________ __________ ______ __________ __________ ______
__ __ __ __
In the glossary, you have the word “not” only once. Actually we had this word earlier also. It is repeated here just for convenience. Word (2) has two different meanings and are judiciously put in phrases (1) and (3). As usual, now you can write down two-two phrases in one line. By that it becomes a good two-line
+.34 !! verse, a good saying a G#:A . Here is, how it would read udyamena hi siddhyanti kAryANi na mano-rathaiH na hi suptasya sinhasya pravishanti mukhe mRugAH
E 0 3/a 1 H `G 34 K` 6 . [AKA 8` 9 a 3aeR@J$ T a : H G#a. T $ There are three compound words here – QR N 12
H.34 and `aR.$ = (6) and (7) and (8) = (9) QR : and U
QR W H.`aR.$
H.34” The meaning is explained in the glossary that QR Z H.34 = Let us first look at “ QR : and X others’ good. So the relationship between the two words “other” and “good” is through the apostrophe. Or if we write it as “good of others”, the relationship is through the preposition “of”. In Sanskrit, the function of this preposition is served by the sixth, genitive case + \ f ] 2: _` $ . Hence we have to connect the two words by sixth case of QR : which is QR bK .
H.34 = So the explanation of QR d
QR fK g H.34 A compound word having this type of explanation or . kQ #m+ G3AG type. deciphering is called as a compound G3AG of + i f H.`aR.$ considering QR q H.34 and `aR.$ as the two parts. Then we can look into deciphering QR o H.`aR.$ means “engrossed in good of others” the relationship between the two parts “good Since QR s of others” and “engrossed” is through the preposition “in”. Function of this preposition is served by
H.34 into seventh locative case. Hence we have to connect the two parts by a declension of QR u f x 2: z{ $ which is QR } H./. So the explanation of QR • H.`aR.$ becomes seventh case, G w3 `aR.$ A compound word having this type of explanation or deciphering is called as a QR !H./ f - . % Q#'+ G3AG type. compound G3AG of G #3 2aA9$ and [A P $ = ) 2aA9[A P$ –> * 2aA9[A P / Since means “in time of (10) + (11) = (12) (
total loss” means “time of total loss”. Here the two parts “total loss” and “time” have the relationship through the preposition “of”. The function of this preposition is served by the sixth, genitive case + , f - . 2: /0 $. Hence we have to connect the two words by sixth case of 1 2aA9$ which is 2 2aA9 4K
2aA9[A P$ is 6 2aA9 8K 2aA9[A P$ is again a compound [A P$ So, 9 So, the explanation of 5 - . = Q#?+ G3AG type. @ 2aA9[A P / is G B3 f C 2: EF $ of G 2aA9[A P$ word G3AG of + ; f
after its compounding. Compound words become new words and would have declensions in different cases. This is important. Before deciphering a compound word, we should get to its simplest form, decipher the simplest form,
2: KL $ -[2%a34 . which often is of first case singular H @3A I QR NH.`aR.$ 2: RS $ -[2%a34 . was already in O @3A P
So, there was no problem to start off
with deciphering straightaway.
% U>a34 and . W $ = % Y>a. 2: _` $ -[2%a34 . [$ This is again in \ @3A ] h $ is tree of sandalwood, and . d$ Since the meaning of % f>a. The two parts are % b>a34 and . l$ is through the preposition “of”. Again we have relationship between the two words % j>a34 (15) + (16) = (17)
13
and . p$ by sixth, genitive case of % r>a34 which is % t>a vK to connect the two words % n>a34 G3AG type. z$ is again a compound word G3AG of + | f -. ~Q# + Hence % x>a. Actually the first word in the glossary G#ua$ is also a compound word. It has two parts G# and ua$
" meaning “good” So G#ua$ compounded The first part G# is a prefix EQQ> , which stands for G# # from "#$# %&' becomes a compound word "()"' of EQQ> -. $Q #&+ $ G3AG$ type.
-. * Q#,+ $ , G .3 f -. 0Q #2 +$ In the above discussion, we have studied G3AGA$ of three types – + ( f #6+ $ Obviously there are all sub-types of the broader category of . 8 Q#:+ - G3AGA$ . and EQQ> - . 4Q You will also appreciate from this discussion how deciphering the G3AGA$ helps to get thorough understanding of the meaning. Now we can proceed to our usual exercise of composing the phrases. Exercises 4: From the words 1 to 20 in the glossary, compose the following phrases -
No.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Sanskrit in Transliteration good person, not, gets into, __________ __________ enmity ___________ __________ ___________ engrossed in good of others ________ __________ __________ _ in times of total loss, also ________ __________ __________ _ when cut, also, tree of sandalwood ________ ________ __________ ___ lends fragrance ______ ________ __________ ___ in the mouth, of axe ______ Phrase
Sanskrit in Devanagari __________ __________ _________ __________ __________ ________ __________ __________ ________ __________ __________ ________ ________ __________ __ _______ ________ __________ __ _______
The words G#ua$ and a can be conjugated as G#uae a .
H.`aR.$ and = 2aA9[A P / can be conjugated as QR ? H.`aR.e Likewise QR / and ; O Q can be conjugated to make one word M />/ EP Q . Similarly in phrase (4), M As usual, now you can write down three-three phrases in one line. By that it becomes a good two-line
+.34 !! verse, a good saying a G#:A R Here is, how it would read -
G#uae a KA`. 2JR34 QR T H.`aR.e U 2aA9[A P / EV Q T M />/ EW Q % Y >a. [$ G#R:K`. 3#D I [# \ AR ^K ] Although we have been having good enough meaning by the phrases in the above tabulation, it would be a good idea to paraphrase the complete meaning in chaste English.
+.34 as well. Learn it by heart. I am sure you will like this good saying G#:A ` 9#:3 b. #
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Learning Sanskrit by a Fresh Approach – Lesson 6 In previous lessons, the style was to put words from a given glossary into an or der. The order in which to put the words was also planned by me. The idea was to get the verse to emerge almost naturally or automatically. We can now try a different approach of developing the capability of exploring meaning of any new verse. Let us see how this approach will work. Let us try with this verse -
OW8 im•0 +]l !&i( ~7m' G% /)&(1'"# > S:']) X ]('m'8 (/ !1/.V! g/ /Y [ ,g"# > This method also will have a logical system. It will be step by step. Typically, 1. We shall examine every phrase and every word. 2. If there are any conjugations, we shall break them, so that we can see every word in its proper understandable form. 3. If there are any compound words, we shall decipher them. 4. Finally we shall put them all into syntax, so that we can write down the full meaning properly.
OW8 = this one im•0 = related to oneself +]l !&i( = +]0 !' \ i( QR$ = the other 2A = or l`. = like this ~7m' = counting, consideration /)&(1'"# = G% /0 )&(: W ^ W 10 –> (& –> (&_'8 –> G% P c#$ = small %/.: = mind, heart, thinking K dK = whose G$ = he–> ./ (= they)–> ./+AI (= their) –> P c#%/.GA34 /)&(1'"# = of those who have small mind (or heart or thinking) G% S:']) ` ]('m'8 = S:']"# ) b ]("# W d W 10 –> (& –> (&_'8 –> E>AR34 = broad-minded % f R.34 = heart, thinking, conduct of life K hK = whose G$ = he–> ./ (= they)–> ./+AI (= their) –> E>AR% jR.AaA34 16
S:']) f ]('m'"# = of those who have broad mind (/ = however !1/.V! = !1/.' $! 2G#"A = earth -2 = itself Actually there is a concept why earth is called as 2G#"A . It is explained by an aphorism “ 2G#`: : "AK l ./ ;.$ 2G#"A ” 2G#`: : = by Vasu’s "AK n ./ = is taken care of, is protected ;.$ = hence 2G#`: : "AK p ./ ;.$ 2G#"A = ( the entity that) Is taken care of, protected by Vasu’s, hence, 2G#"A This will raise a curiosity, “Who are Vasu’s ?”
2G#:
= a God of lower cadre, who follows orders of Indra.
They are eight. Their primary job is to be the sentinels at eight directions ( ; r
s >9 :) around the
earth to protect the earth – Four major directions (in clockwise order)
t 2A v) , South ( >` x 9 A ) , West( Q` z 3A ) , North( E |R A ) East ( Q Four minor directions (in clockwise order)
South-west( aJ •. f ), North-west( 2AK ! KA ), North-east( " 9A $ KA ) South-east( }~ a/K ), In ShrImad-bhagavad-gItA, bhagavAn krRuShNa proclaims, “among Vasu’s, I am
t aAIQ A2[ &A ` ( 3 “ pAvaka 2G
2G , 3 = 2G . 3 t aAI QA2[ *A ` t aAI QA2[ : % ;` 2G t aAI = Vasus’, or among ‘Vasu’s QA2[ : = fire also called as ;` 0 a : Hence direction to be protected by this Vasu is South /K ). I guess, that the reason for bhagavAn krRuShNa proclaiming, “among Vasu’s, I am east( }2 a t aAI QA2[ 4A ` 6 3 ” may be because among all ‘Vasu’s ;` 8 a : is one, who has ./u one of pAvaka 2G t .A`a ) inherent to it. the five great fundamental elements ( QI%3HA: QI%3HA: t .A`a = They are f ), which supports all life mother earth ( Q\:2 ), water ( }Q 17
light ( ./u ), air ( 2AK#$ ), sky or space ( } [A9 ) which provides the space for the whole universe.
% = and ;` S:']) j ]('m'8 (/ !1/.V! g/ /Y l ,g"# > Before closing, how about some exercises ? (1) Among so many words, which we came across in these six lessons, there have been many which are unchanging, called as “indeclinables” in grammar. There would be the adverbs, conjunctions, interjections in this list. It would be a good idea to list them at one place, along with their meanings. That would make some unique dictionary of the indeclinables ! (2) We have also come across many nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs. All these words have declensions, as has been explained earlier. Let us make separate lists of nouns, pronouns, adjectives and the verbs.
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Learning Sanskrit by a Fresh Approach – Lesson 7 This time, I would like to take a longish verse.
]'"l ]'•"i70 1:' m !•W(& ]'"8 ]"&L8 M•& > ]'"&7'iMU(' imL')])" n ]'"'W ( p "V m"0 K ]'"' r m'i t ( +]'W78 +](]8 ]'" v W :'1l wxy WU"# > ]'"& i) {G W0 1:' M!(/ "& Ml ]'" "'"/ } ] K Before proceeding with exploring the meaning of this verse, some interesting features of this verse -
(l "# known 1. Of course this verse is an ode to Lord RAma. This verse is from a long enough ~ ]'"] # ' % (l ' "# as ! ( 2. Looking at the poetry of it, Every line has 19 syllables – exactly 19 Weightages of the 19 syllables in every line are 2-2-2, 1-1-2, 1-2-1, 1-1-2, 2-2-1, 2-2-1, 2 This pattern of weightages makes the verse of a meter called as 9A> t > P@ 2 BCD 0.34 This meter is very popular with poets, especially those composing verses to express best wishes to a couple, when the marriage ceremony is being performed, typically when they would have put garlands on each other. 3. In this verse there are two distinct sentences in each line. So, to explore the meaning of this verse, we have to understand just 8 simple sentences. That’s it. Let us start off by the set methodology of exploring phrase by phrase, word by word.
]'"l ]'•"i70 = ]'" : ]'•"i70 RA3 : = ( Lord) RAma RAu3` 9 $ = RAuAaA34 3` 9 $ RAuAaA34 = of kings 3` 9 $ = jewel RAuAaA34 3` 9 $ = jewel among kings 1:' = always ( !•W(& = is victorious 19
]'"l ]'•"i70 1:' ) !•W(& = ]'"8 = ]'""# = to Rama
RAma, the jewel among kings is always victorious
]"&L8 = ]"&L"# R3/934 = R3/9 : –> .34 –> R3/934 R3/9 : = R3AKA$ " 9$ ( + F f -. HQ #J+ - G3AG$ ) R3AKA$ = of RamA R3A is the name of wife of ViShNu " 9$ = Lord R3AKA$ " 9$ = Lord of RamA, hence ViShNu M•& = I am devoted to, or I do devotion to. ]'"8 ]"&L8 M•& = I do devotion to RAma, (hence) to Ramesha (i.e. to ViShNu) One may ask, how doing devotion to RAma becomes devotion also to ViShNu. The logic lies in the mythology of incarnations of ViShNu. Among ten incarnations ( :L'!(']'0) of ViShNu, RAma is regarded as the seventh. So, mythologically, ViShNu is the supreme deity, which
+, W , g . , !]'U , mhi18U , !'"m , +]L/]'" , ]'" , n " undertook ten incarnations in the order – "
gh 0 7 , ,/ 2 , gi 4 g When I deliberate on this mythology of :L'!(']'0 to me it appeals to be the theory of evolution of life. When the globe was cooling down, and migratory life form had to emerge, it could have emerged only in the more congenial environment of water and not on the terrains.
67 W , the fish. Next is g 9 , the turtle, which could move both in water n " So first incarnation is " and on ground; yet more in water than on ground. Third !]'U the rhino, who loves watery surroundings, but moves on ground of shallow waters. Fourth is mhi18U , half lion ( i18U ) , half human ( mh) . Fifth !'"m , human, rather diminutive. Sixth +]L/]'" , human, but rather savage, uncultured. Seventh !"# , the ideal human. Eighth gh ; 7 , adept at the ways of the world. Ninth
,/ = , the exalted, self-realized soul. Tenth gi ? g where good and evil coexist. Associated with this mythology of $%"&'"!"( is also the concept of passage of time, the four
&(' A '+'] gi G . Incarnation of RAma is said to belong to gh( - W/~ Not much Yuga’s – gh( @ &('W/~ The incarnation of gh D 7 is said to belong detail seems to have been mentioned about B '+']W/~ . Present times are of gi G W/~ , where good and evil coexist, rather times, when to E good is always challenged by the evil. Learning Sanskrit is not just for learning a language. It is also a learning of what can be or what should be the cultured way of life. The language is a refined language and its literature speaks 20
of refined life, of cultured life. Knowledge of Sanskrit is hence essential, certainly
G W/~ . It will be the real beacon to meet the challenges of the evil without compromising in gi the refined thoughts and conduct.
M•&
is also an interesting word. From M•& we have the noun M•m"# , which has two meanings
– (1) a song of devotion (2) to sing a song of devotion. By this connotation, M•& means not just “I do devotion”, but “I do devotion by singing a song of devotion”. This word M•& is a declension of the root verb M•# meaning “to do devotion”. From this verb
M•# there is another noun, M GH 0 which means “devotion”. One can do devotion in any of !.' M LM 0 Doing devotion by singing a song of devotion i.e. by M•m"# is one nine ways. m! J O !.' M QR 0 There is a verse summing up all the nine ways of m! T !.' of nine ways m! M VW 0 Maybe, we can discuss that verse sometime later. Presently on to the next phrase.
]'"&7'iMU(' = ]'"&7 + OiMU(' ]'"&7 = by RAma OiMU(' = consummately killed, destroyed A little study on both these words -
]'"&7 =
by RAma
It may be noticed that in the first sentence ]'" : was the subject. So the root word ]'" was in
!M [\ 0. subjective or nominative case, which is called as first case X v"' Y to RAma” in object case or accusative case, In the second sentence, the word was “ ]'""# = ( ( W' _ !M ab 0 which is called the second case, ]^ Here we have it as “ ]'"&7 = by RAma” in instrumental case, which is called as the third case,
(h( ( W' c !M ef 0 I guess, you got a good hint of why this verse is chosen for this lesson! Two sentences in each line, each sentence presenting cases first, second, third etc. of the root word ]'" , all in perfect
! lmn a("# m eter ! n h G j order and every line perfectly in L': OiMU(' = consummately killed, destroyed. The meaning “consummately” comes from the prefix OiM . There is a large number of prefixes, which can be prefixed to different words to p 0 or S++:'im not only get a range of shades of meaning of that word. The prefixes S+1~' 21
help to get a range of shades of meaning, but do it so crisply, just by a prefix. We have that in most languages also, e.g. eject, reject, inject, project, adject(ive), abject
imL')])" n ]'"'W = imL')])" n : ]'"'W imL')])" n: = imL' + )] + )" n : imL')] = Here we have a suffix )] attached to the word imL' . The suffix )] is derived from the verb )] meaning “to move, to move about, to roam”. The suffix such as )] lends the meaning of capability to do the action of the meaning of the verb. So suffix )] means capable of roaming. imL' = night imL')] = imL'W'"# )]i( \ i( capable of roaming in the night, ghost, nocturnal being. : of army of !"&) had such capability. They were imL')]' :. All ]' r 1' )" n : = army imL')])" n : A compound of _ t ( ( v +/ x _ type. Army of nocturnal n : = imL')]'7'"# )" beings, capable of roaming in the night.
]'"&7'iMU(' imL')])" n : = Army of nocturnal beings was consummately destroyed by RAma. This sentence is in passive voice. The passive voice is rendered by OiMU(' which is a past passive participle from the verb OiM + Um# This is another specialty of Sanskrit, that participles derived from verbs can do the function of verbs, such that a formal verb need not be visible.
]'"'W ( z "V m"0 ]'"'W = unto RAma. This is declension of ]'" in the dative case, the fourth case )(/v | } !M • ! 0 ( # "V = unto that This is declension of a pronoun ((# the indicative pronoun meaning “that”, again in the fourth case. Because this pronoun qualifies the noun ]'" , both the noun and the qualifying pronoun (or adjective) have to be in the same case, here the fourth case.
m"0 = bowing. ]'"'W ( % "V m"0 =
bowing (I bow) unto that RAma. Here, “that” hints also to that RAma
who destroyed army of nocturnal beings.
]'"' ' m'i ) ( = ]'"'(# m Oi + ( ]'"'(# = from RAma, than RAma. This is declension of ]'" in the ablative case, the fifth case + - )" ( . !M 01 0 22
m = not. An indeclinable used to render negative. Oi 3 ( = is +]'W78 = +]'W7"# = +]"# OWm"# A compound of type g" 5 .']W . In the compounded . There are rules for all word * of OWm"# becomes 7 . Hence +]'W7"# from +]"# OWm"# such minute variations. We shall not go into all that at this stage. It is mentioned here just for information. Our focus shall be in understanding the meaning, than understanding all the grammar.
+]"# = the other OWm"# = the action of going, destination, recourse +](]8 = +](]"# Adjective of comparative degree from the root adjective +] . (] is the suffix which renders the comparative degree of an adjective. The superlative degree is rendered by suffix ("
]'"' 7 m'i 9 ( +]'W7"# +](]"# There is no better recourse than RAma. = ]'" ; W :'1l w \ v v8 w U' U | ( U ~ ( mi G m ( 8 ~• S •U'] K Let us start with our study – phrase by phrase, word by word.
]'i " ~ $ i" & Wi( = ]'i ( : ~i" * Wi( RA` L : = Night t`3 N K`. = will pass M , ! . Wi( 1/ 0 M'("# : P 2 R K`. = will be or will become G#T: A.34 = good morning M' 2 !'m/: 4 & Wi( = M' 6 !'m# S:& 8 Wi( :A V2 Aa4 = one who has splendour; sun :A$ + 2.4 :A$ = splendour 2.4 A Suffix which helps to make a derived noun, meaning “having”. Here :A$ + 2.4 becomes a derived noun, with meaning “having splendour” One common place example is the word :t2Aa4 E>/X K`. = will rise Ui1 : Wi( +8g• O(0 # 0 g]7 ( W'im g/W' % : ' V! ,/ )* "'m# K We have to of course start with breaking the conjugations.
m g0- i)(# O , + •'m'i( - g"# g / W 0 0 M 2 ! 4 Wi( > O(0 5 0 g]7 ( W'im g/W' 7 (# O 9 $! ,/ ;
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