Course content

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of Saṃskṛtam, beginning with its significance to India and the world as one of the oldest and most precise languages known to humankind. Students will gain a preliminary understanding of the śikṣāśāstra, one of the six vedāṅgas, which deals with phonetics and its application to Saṃskṛtam.

A detailed exploration of vowel and consonant classification will be undertaken, highlighting the rationale behind their organization and the implications for pronunciation and meaning. Special attention will be given to vowel accentuation, as well as to the rules governing vowel and consonant combinations. Students will learn how letters in the Saṃskṛtam alphabet interact and combine according to precise phonetic rules, laying the foundation for accurate recitation and comprehension. The course also introduces the role and transformations of the visarga (aspirate) and the anusvāra (nasal resonance), which shift in sound depending on their position within a sentence. Through this, students will recognize the dynamic nature of phonetic expression in Saṃskṛtam.

In addition to phonetics, students will be introduced to the foundations of grammar, including an overview of noun declensions, verb conjugations, and how these elements work together to form the structure of a basic sentence in Saṃskṛtam. By examining the mechanics of word formation and sentence construction, students will be equipped to begin engaging with original texts such as the Bhagavad Gītā.