Entering the Gītā through Saṁskṛtam:
Language of the Divine Dialogue
Recent Webinar: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 9 am PT / 12 pm ET / 9:30 pm IST
About the Webinar:
Have you always wanted to read the Bhagavad Gita and understand the shlokas you are reading without reference to any translation?
Join us on this webinar for an introduction to The Samskritam through Bhagavad-Gita (CSBG) – a one of a kind program offered by the Hindu University of America to meet the dual objectives of 1) Offering our students a comprehensive and structured approach to learning the Sanskrit language and 2) Enabling them to learn and understand an important Sanskrit text and literary work, the Bhagavad-Gītā, in its original Sanskrit form.
In this program, the students will gain the ability to read, write, comprehend, and interpret texts, as well as chant it in Sanskrit. The program aims to foster a deep appreciation for both the Bhagavad-Gītā and the highly systematic nature of Saṃskṛtam. Mastering Saṃskṛtam will allow students to directly engage with a wide range of original texts beyond the Bhagavad-Gītā.
The CSBG program serves as a strong foundation for students of all ages, starting from high school. This four-year unique program also prepares students to pursue a Master of Arts in Sanskrit at HUA, opening doors to various fields of interest.
Get to Know panelists
Shri. Haridas Radhakrishnan
Shri. Haridas Radhakrishnan, Sanskrit faculty at HUA’s Community Education Division, holds an MA in Sanskrit from HUA/MITSVS Pune, bringing deep understanding and joyful passion for Saṃskṛtam to his teaching.
Smt. Parvathi Sriram
Smt. Parvathi Sriram serves as the Coordinator of Sanskrit Studies at HUA. A physical therapist by profession, she has over a decade of experience in teaching Samskritam and vedanta.
Course Offered by Panelist at HUA
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Samskritam Through Bhagavad Gita – Proficiency I
SAN1041 – (CSBG – Required Course) The First quarter of the fourth and final year (Proficiency phase) of the Samskritam Through Bhagavad Gita program focuses on the Bhagavad Gītā chapters 6 through 10. At the end of this course students will be able to apply the Saṃskṛtam concepts and grammar learnt so far to perform Anvaya translations and articulate the meanings of the ślokas. This quarter will also entail an analysis of dhyāna and meditation in daily life.
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Samskritam Through Bhagavad Gita – Intermediate II
SAN1022 – (CSBG – Required Course) The Second Quarter of the Intermediate Phase of the Samskritam Through Bhagavad Gita course will continue to enhance understanding of Saṃskṛtam grammar and usage. At the end of this course, students will be able to employ potential mood, complex pronoun forms, ordinal and cardinal forms of numbers and enhanced vocabulary. Students will continue to analyze ślokas from Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gītā and will be able to derive the meanings from the text as well as gain an understanding of the philosophical messages from the ślokas.
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Samskritam Through Bhagavad Gita – Beginner I
SAN1011 – (CSBG – Required Course) The first course of the Beginner-phase of the Samskritam through Bhagavad Gita(CSBG) offers a structured introduction to Saṃskṛtam, highlighting its enduring significance to both India and the world. Students will be introduced to the śikṣāśāstra, one of the six vedāṅgas, which focuses on phonetics as applied to Saṃskṛtam. Core topics include the classification of vowels and consonants and their phonetic implications, vowel accentuation, and the mechanisms of vowel and consonant combinations. The course further explores the visarga(aspirate) and the anusvāra(nasal resonance), examining how they transform within sentences. An overview of noun and verb formations is provided, along with the basic structure of Saṃskṛtam sentences. Together, these foundations prepare students for engaging with the Bhagavad Gītā in its original language.
Talks by Panelists
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