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Sunday, June 28, 2015

Ten hints to have command over Sanskrit

Ten hints to have command over Sanskrit.
1. Use only  Sanskrit  and nothing but Sanskrit at least while conversing with Sanskritists. Don't overuse the same few nouns and verbs. Try to add more verbs, more nouns on  more  subjects.
2. Write something  in Sanskrit. While writing, as much as possible try to use correct grammar. Always place  Apte's dictionary in front of  you. Even though this dictionary does not give meanings in Sanskrit, it is helpful in having clear picture in   understanding the words of Sanskrit. Amarakosha with any Sanskrit  commentary you must have.
3. Make the habit or  reading Ramayana everyday. It is different matter that Ramayana is in our blood and  in our culture. The advantage you will have by reading Ramayana is, while reading it you will have the experience of talking with Sanskrit. Ramayana's language  is very simple, at the same time very attractive. All the sentence patterns, idioms, important proverbs that are necessary for the practical transactions are interwoven in the diction of Ramayana. While reading it, you are swimming in the Sanskrit-ocean.
4. Read Sanskrit works extensively. In every subject and in every category, the important works you have to read. Don't confine your reading to narrowness by thinking ‘my subject is this, my subject is  that'. This kind of thinking is nothing but stupidity. Only after reading  any thing will be ‘your' subject and not before that. By reading widely, you will be able to understand how the Sanskrit is used differently by different authors. Don't restrict your reading to old writings. Read even modern works of fiction and nonfiction. You have to read even research works written in Sanskrit.
5. Don't neglect the introductions if they are written in Sanskrit. Read Sanskrit commentaries and notes. Don't forget to use indices for quick references.
6. Write in Sanskrit. Write any thing you want. Short stories, poems, articles, dramas and even novels.
7.If you are interested in writing  classical style, try to imitate  any well known poems  by altering the words of  synonyms. Be careful  in metre. As much as possible memorize the definitions of important metres in Vrttaratnakara. Check your verses meticulously to know whether the definition is strictly applicable. Remember that this is for your practice. Don't publish your first effort.  
8. Try to write commentary on Subhaashitas. Here, commentary means word to word meaning, that's all. Split the words of original according to the Sandhi rules. After it is  done, add  a dash or = mark to  every word and write correct synonym . Take help of any classical dictionary like Amarakosha. Try to summarize the verses in simple prose.  
9.Some  poets with wonderful and strange  enthusiasm do create verses rapidly in their mouth without help of paper and pen. This process  is called ‘Aashu-kavitva'. Try it. In the initial stage, it seems difficult. But, be persistent and you will become successful !
10. And lastly, try to present your paper in Sanskrit in the seminars.
N.B.Don't start to quarrel with the  guys who will tell you that Sanskrit is dead. You have to prove Sanskrit's lively status by showing  them  something written afresh in Sanskrit.

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