Introduction: 

Sanskrit language has scripts or alphabets for writing, and grammatical rules for
sentence formation, just like any other language (English for example). In this chapter we will
get an overview of this. The details with their grammatical rules will be covered in subsequent
chapters.

Alphabets & Their Classification: In Sanskrit language Devanagari Script is the mostly used
script for writing. Most of the Sanskrit literature are in this script. Following is the list of the
alphabets in their correct order.

अ आ इ ई उ ऊ ऋ ॠ ए ऐ ओ औ क ख ग
a aa i ii u uu RRi RRI e ai o au k kh g
घ ङ च छ ज झ ञ ट ठ ड ढ ण त थ द ध
gh N^ ch chh j jh JN T Th D Dh N t th d dh
न प फ ब भ म य र ल व श ष स ह क्ष ज्ञ
n p ph b bh m y r l v sh Sh s h ksh dny

All these alphabets are classified into three groups i.e., Harasva, Deergha and Pluta

Vowels or स्वरवर्ण (svaravarNa): Alphabets starting from अ (a) till औ (au) are the vowels. These
are further classified into ह्रस्व (hrasva) and दीर्घ (diirgha). The दीर्घ (diirgha) are pronounced
double the length (or time) of ह्रस्व (hrasva). Plutas are pronounced more than two units of
Svaras.

ह्रस्व  अ आ इ उ ए ऐ ओ औ
hrasva a aa i u e ai o au
दीर्घ ई ऊ ऋ ॠ
diirgha ii uu RRi RRI

 Consonants or व्यञ्जनवर्ण (vyaJNjanavarNa): Alphabets starting from क (k) till ज्ञ (dny)

are the consonants. Some of the consonants are further classified into different groups
called वर्ग (varga). Following table has this classification. Some of the gramatical rules
for Euphonic Combination or सन्धि (sandhi) and Compound Words or समास (samaasa)
are based on these वर्ग (varga). 
कवर्ग क ख ग घ ङ
kavarga k kh g gh N^
चवर्ग च छ ज झ ञ
chaavarga ch chh j jh JN
टवर्ग ट ठ ड ढ ण
Taavarga T Th D Dh N
तवर्ग त थ द ध न
tavarga t th d dh n
पवर्ग प फ ब भ म
pavarga p ph b bh m

We will refere these classifications, while covering the Euphonic Combination or सन्धि (sandhi)
and Compound Words or समास (samaasa).

Sentence Formation Overview: In Sanskrit just like any other language (English for example) a
sentence is made of different elements. The elements are "Subject", "Object", and "Verb". A
sentence may or may not have an Object in it. 

Lets study the following English sentence to understand these basic elements better.

The boy is reading a book.

In the sentence "boy" is the "Subject", "reading" is "Verb" and the "book" is the "Object".

The boy is reading a book.

--- ------- -----

| | |

Subject Verb Object

 If we ask the question "who is reading?", the answer that comes is "the boy". So, the
"boy" here is the Subject. It is also called the "Noun".

 The answer that comes in response to question "what is the boy doing?" is "reading".
The "reading" here is the "Verb".
  Similarly the answer to "what is the boy reading?" is "book". The "book" becomes the
"Object".

Now study the following statement.

“The boy is laughing.”

In the sentence "boy" is the "Subject", "laughing" is "Verb". But, there is no "Object" in this
sentence.

The boy is laughing.

--- -------

| |

Subject Verb

 If we ask the question "what is the boy laughing?", no answer comes from this. So,
laughing becomes an "Intranstive Verb".

 However in the first sentence "what is the boy reading?" gives answer "book". In this
case the "reading" becomes a "Transitive Verb".

Now that we have understood the basic elements of a sentence, we will begin with more
details of Sanskrit language. 

In Sanskrit:

 Subject is called -> कर्ता / kartaa

 Object is called  -> कर्म / karma
 Verb is called    -> क्रिया / kriyaa
 Transitive Verb is called   -> सकर्मक / sakarmaka
 Intransitive Verb is called -> अकर्मक / akarmaka
So, in the above statements:

The boy is reading a

book.
--- -------
-----
 | |
|
Subject Verb
Object
| |
|
कर्ता/kartaa क्रिया/kriyaa(सकर्मक /
sakarmaka) कर्म/karma
The boy is laughing.
--- -------
| |
Subject Verb
| |
कर्ता/kartaa क्रिया/kriyaa (अकर्मक /
akarmaka)

Words & Their Classification: In any language a sentence is made up of multiple words
composed in a well defined structure giving a sensible meaning to the sentence. These words
can be categorised into three different types viz.,
 Noun
 Verb
 Indeclinable

Besides the above classifications nouns and verbs can also be part of following categories with
minor derivations like addition of 'ility', 'ily', 'tion', 'ing' etc., as well as based on their usage and
grammatical rules:
 Pronoun
 Adjective
 Adverb
In Sanskrit also words are classified into similar categories. Following is a representation of the
important classifications. We can see the classification is almost same as any other language.
Each classification has been described in the coming chapters.

|--------------- Noun Root (शब्द /

shabda)
| |
| |
|
--------------------------------
 | |
|
| सव
ु न्तपद
तद्धितपद
| suvantapada
taddhitapada
| |
| |
|
-----------------------------------------------
| | |
|
| Masculine Feminine
Neuter
| पलि
ु ङ्ग स्त्रीलिङ्ग
नपुङ्सकलिन्ग
| puliN^ga striiliN^ga
napuN^sakalinga
Word (पद / pada) ----|
|
|--------------- Verb Root (धातु /
dhaatu)
| |
| |
|
--------------------------------------------------------------
| | | |
| | |
| तिङतपद कृदन्तपद णिजन्त
सन्नन्त यङ्न्त नामाधातु
| tiN^atapada kRRidantapada Nijanta
sannanta yaN^nta naamadhaatu
| |
| |
|
------------------------------------------------------------
| | |
|
| परस्मैपदी आत्मनेपदी
उभयपदी
 | parasmaipadii
aatmanepadii ubhayapadii
|
|
|--------------- Indeclinable (अव्यय /
avyaya)
|
|
-----------------------------
-----------
| |
|
अव्यय उपसर्ग
निपात
avyaya upasarga
nipaata

Nouns (शब्द / shabda): Noun is the word that represents someone or something in a sentence.
Noun normally refers to person, place, thing, state or quality etc. A noun is the only word that
can be used as the subject or object for a verb.

Noun in Sanskrit is called शब्द (shabda) or noun-root. It is also called कर्तृपद (kartRRipada). Noun
can be classified into सुवन्तपद (suvantapada) and तद्धितपद (taddhitapada). 

 सुवन्तपद (suvantapada): This classification is based on the gender, number and case of
the noun. The noun-forms are used to express something or someone etc. सुवन्तपद or
suvantapada meaning - words ending with सुप ् (sup) suffix. In this classification: 
o Nouns are categorised into three different "genders" (लिङ्ग / liN^ga) viz.,
"masculine" (पलि
ंु ङ्ग / pu.nliN^ga), "feminine" (स्त्रीलिङ्ग / striiliN^ga) and
"neuter" (नपुंसकलिङ्ग / napu.nsakaliN^ga).
o Each noun also has three "numbers" (वचन / vachana) and 7 "cases" (विभक्ति /
vibhakti).

Each noun has a different derivation based on the "number" and "case". Unlike other
languages, in Sanskrit the noun has its different forms built into itself. The "noun base" is called
शब्द (shabda) and the "derived noun forms" are called शब्दरुप (shabdarupa). So, in the previous
statement बालक is the "base" (शब्द / shabda) of noun "BOY" and बालकः is one of the
derived noun forms (शब्दरुप / shabdarupa). 
 तद्धितपद (taddhitapada): In this classification special suffixes are added to the noun to
get noun forms used as - subject, adjectives, indeclinable etc.

We will start with first 2 cases and all three numbers of सव

ु न्तपद (suvantapada) BOY (बालक /
baalaka) and GIRL (वाला / vaalaa) शब्द / shabda. Once we know how to use noun forms (शब्दरुप
/ shabdarupa) in sentences, we will cover all the cases and their usage rules. 

Boy / बालक / baalaka (Masculine / पंलि

ु ङ्ग / pu.nliN^ga)
Case Singular Dual Plural
विभक्ति / एकवचन / स्विवचन / बहुवचन /
vibhakti ekavachana dvivachana bahuvachana
Nominative बालकाः /
(Subject) बालकः / baalakaH बालकौ / baalakau baalakaaH
प्रथमा /
prathamaa (the boy) (two boys) (the boys)
Accusative बालकम ् / बालकान ् /
(Object) baalakam बालकौ / balakau baalakaan
द्वितीया /
dvitiiyaa (to the boy) (to two boys) (to the boys)

Girl / बाला / baalaa (Femenine / स्त्रीलिङ्ग / striiliN^ga)

Case Singular Dual Plural
विभक्ति / एकवचन / स्विवचन / बहुवचन /
vibhakti ekavachana dvivachana bahuvachana
Nominative
(Subject) बाला / baalaa बाले / baale बालाः / baalaaH
प्रथमा /
prathamaa (the girl) (two girls) (the girls)
Accusative
(Object) बालाम ् / baalaam बाले / balae बालाः / baalaaH
द्वितीया /
dvitiiyaa (to the girl) (to two girls) (to the girls)

Examples of noun form (शब्दरुप / shabdarupa):

 The boy     -> बालकः  / baalakaH
 Many boys   -> बालकाः  / baalakaaH
 To the boy  -> बालकम ्  / baalakam
 To the boys -> बालकान ्  / baalakaan
 The girl     -> बाला   / baalaa
 Many girls   -> बालाः  / baalaaH
 To the girl  -> बालाम ्  / baalaam
 To the girls -> बालाः  / baalaaH
The complete noun form (शब्दरुप / shabdarupa) for बालक शब्द (baalaka shabda) will have 7
different forms for each number. The singular forms include "the boy", "to the boy", "bythe
boy", "for/to the boy", "from the boy", "of the boy", and "in the boy". Besides these 7 forms an
additional vocative ("O! boy") case is also their. 

All these we will study in detail in coming chapters. The complete शब्दरुप (shabdarupa) is listed
in Chapter 13.
Followings are few more nouns (शब्दरुप / shabdarupa). We will use these in sentences later in
this chapter. 

School / विद्यालय / vidyaalaya (Masculine / पुंलिङ्ग / pu.nliN^ga)

Case Singular Dual Plural
विभक्ति / एकवचन / स्विवचन / बहुवचन /
vibhakti ekavachana dvivachana bahuvachana
Nominative
प्रथमा / विद्यालयः / विद्यालयौ / विद्यालयाः /
prathamaa vidyaalayaH vidyaalayau vidyaalayaaH
Accusative
द्वितीया / विद्यालयम ् / विद्यालयौ / विद्यालयान ् /
dvitiiyaa vidyaalayam vidyaalayau vidyaalayaan
Book / पस्
ु तक / pustaka (Nuter / नपंस
ु कलिङ्ग / napu.nsakaliN^ga)
Case Singular Dual Plural
बहुवचन /
विभक्ति / vibhakti एकवचन / ekavachana स्विवचन / dvivachana bahuvachana
पुस्तकानि /
Nominative पुस्तकम ् / pustakam पुस्तके / pustake pustakaani
प्रथमा / prathamaa
पुस्तकानि /
Accusative पुस्तकम ् / pustakam पुस्तके / pustake pustakaani
द्वितीया / dvitiiyaa
*** In अकारान्त / akaaraanta nuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग / napu.nsakaliN^ga), both
Nominative and Accusative cases have the same form.

Me / अस्मद् / asmad (All Genders / त्रिलिङ्गक / triliN^gaka)

Case Singular Dual Plural
बहुवचन /
विभक्ति / vibhakti एकवचन / ekavachana स्विवचन / dvivachana bahuvachana
Nominative अहम ् / aham आवाम ् / aavaam वयम ् / vayam
प्रथमा / prathamaa
अस्मान ् /
Accusative माम ् / maam  आवाम ् / aavaam  asmaan 
द्वितीया /
dvitiiyaa मा / maa नौ / nau नः / naH

You / यस्
ु मद् / yusmad (All Genders / त्रिलिङ्गक / triliN^gaka)
Case Singular Dual Plural
बहुवचन /
विभक्ति / vibhakti एकवचन / ekavachana स्विवचन / dvivachana bahuvachana
Nominative
प्रथमा /
prathamaa त्वम ् / tvam यव
ु ाम ् / yuvaam यय
ू म ् / yuuyam
Accusative युष्मान ् /
द्वितीया / त्वाम ् / tvaam त्वा / यव
ु ाम ् / yuvaam वाम ् / yuShmaan वः
dvitiiyaa tvaa vaam / vaH
Pronouns (सर्वनाम पद / sarvanaama pada): Words like he, she, this, that, these etc., are called
pronoun. Pronouns in Sanskrit are called सर्वनाम पद (sarvanaama pada). The rules for pronouns
are exactly same as the nouns (शब्द / shabda).
Verb (धातु / dhaatu): Verb normally refers to action, state, existence or occurrence etc. Verb in
Sanskrit is called धातु (dhaatu) or verb root. It is also known as क्रियापद (kriyaapada). It can be
classified into तिङतपद (tiN^atapada) and कृदन्तपद (kRRidantapada). 
 तिङतपद (tiN^atapada): This classification is based on the tense and mood of the verb.
The verb-forms are used as normal verbs to express some action or state etc. तिङतपद
or tiN^atapada meaning - words ending with तिप ् (tip) suffix. In this classification: 
o Each Verb can have any of the 10 tenses (लकार / lakaara). Howver only 5 are
enough to use Sanskrit in daily life. 
o Each verb can be of three different numbers, Singular (एकवचन / ekavachana),
Dual (द्वीवचन / dviivachana) and Plural (बहुवचन / bahuvachana). 
o Each verb can be of three persons viz., Third (प्रथम / prathama), Second (मध्यम /
madhyama) and First (उत्तम / uttama). 
o Each verb can belong to categories परस्मैपदी (parasmaipadii), आत्मनेपदी
(aatmanepadii) or उभयपदी (ubhayapadii). Verbs of परस्मैपदी (parasmaipadii)
category represent 'action whose result is for others'. आत्मनेपदी (aatmanepadii)
represents 'action whose result is for self', and उभयपदी (ubhayapadii) represents
'action whose result is both for others and self'.
Just like noun (शब्द / shabda), each verb (धातु / dhaatu) also has different derivations based on
the "tense", "number' and "person". This is called "verb form" (धातुरुप / dhaaturupa). The verb-
forms differ based on this category. The "root" of a verb is called धातु (dhaatu). धातु (dhaatu)
does not have any "gender". 
 कृदन्तपद (kRRidantapada): In this classification special suffixes are added to the verb to
get verb-forms used as - subject, pronoun, adjectives, indeclinable etc.

Followings are the तिङतपद (tiN^atapada) verb-forms (धातुरुप / dhaatutupa) of READ (पठ् /

paTH) धातु (dhaatu) and GO (गम ् / gam) धातु (dhaatu) in present tense (लट्लकार / laTlakaara).
Once we are acquainted with the verb usage in a sentence, we will cover all other different
forms.

Read / पठ् / paTh

Person / पुरुष /
puruSha Number / वचन / vachana
Singular  Dual  Plural 
एकवचन / द्वीवचन / बहुवचन /
ekavachana dviivachana bahuvachana
Third  पठति / paThati पठतः / paThataH पठन्ति / paThanti
प्रथम / prathama (is reading) (both are reading) (many are reading)
पठथः /
Second  पठसि / paThasi paThathaH पठथ / paThatha
(you two are
मध्यम / madhyama (you are reading) reading) (you all reading)
पठावः / पठामः /
First  पठामि / paThaami paThaavaH paThaamaH
(both of us
उत्तम / uttama (i am reading) reading) (all of us reading)

Go / गम ् / gam
Person / पुरुष /
puruSha Number / वचन / vachana
Singular  Dual  Plural 
एकवचन / द्वीवचन / बहुवचन /
ekavachana dviivachana bahuvachana
गच्छति / गच्छतः / गच्छन्ति /
Third  gachchhati gachchhataH gachchhanti
प्रथम / prathama (is going) (both are going) (many are going)
गच्छसि / गच्छथः / गच्छथ /
Second  gachchhasi gachchhathaH gachchhatha
(you two are
मध्यम / madhyama (you are going) going) (you all are going)
गच्छामि / गच्छावः / गच्छामः /
First  gachchhaami gachchhaavaH gachchhaamaH
उत्तम / uttama (i am going) (both of us going) (all of us going)

Lets study a sample use of shabdarupa and dhaaturupa using the above. These will help in
learning the sentence formation rules. 

the boy is reading - बालकः पठति / baalakaH paThati

the boys are reading - बालकाः पठन्ति / baalakaaH paThanti

the girl is reading - बाला पठति / baala paThati

the girls are reading - बालाः पठन्ति / baalaaH paThanti

you are reading - त्वं पठसि / tvam paThasi

you all are reading - युयं पठथ / yuyam paThata

i am reading - अहं पठामि / aham paThaami

we are reading - वयं पठामः / vayam paThaamaH
All the sentences above have the "Subject" (कर्ता / kartaa) and a "Verb" (क्रिया / kriyaa). In all the
sentences, the number (वचन / vachana) and person (पुरुष / puruSha) of the "Verb" (क्रिया /
kriyaa) match number (वचन / vachana) and person (पुरुष / puruSha) of the "Subject" (कर्ता /
kartaa). 

Say in the sentence "the boy is reading" (बालकः पठति / baalakaH paThati), the "boy" (बालकः /
baalakaH) is in third person singular (प्रथपपुरुष एकवचन / prathamapuruSha ekavachana).
Similarly the "Verb" (क्रिया / kriyaa) is also in third person singular (प्रथपपुरुष एकवचन /
prathamapuruSha ekavachana). 

However the verb does not change if the gender of the "Subject" change. This can be seen in
the sentence "the girl is reading" (बाला पठति / baalaa paThati).

Rule 1: The verb (धातु / dhaatu) always follows number (वचन / vachana) and person (पुरुष /
puruSha) of the noun (शब्द / shabda). 
Rule 2: The verb (धातु / dhaatu) remains same irrespective of the gender (लिङ्ग / liN^ga) of the
"Subject" (कर्ता / kartaa). 

Rule 3: The verb form (धातुरुप / dhaaturupa) is always in first person (उत्तमपुरुष /
uttamapuruSha), if the noun used is अस्मद् शब्द (asmad shabda). The verb form (धातुरुप /
dhaaturupa) is always in second person (मध्यमपुरुष / madhyamapuruSha), if the noun used is
यस्
ु मद् शब्द (yusmad shabda). All other nouns will always be in third person (प्रथमपरु
ु ष/
prathamapuruSha).

Indeclinable (अव्ययपद / avyayapada): Indeclinable in Sanskrit is called अव्ययपद (avyayapada).

Unlike shabdarupa and dhaaturupa अव्ययपद / avyayapada do not change in its form. It remains
same irrespective of gender, number, person and tense. Followings are few examples: 
kutra / कुत्र - where
atra / कुत्र - here
tatra / तत्र - there
api / अपि - too

Few sample statements using indeclinable (अव्ययपद / avyayapada):

where is the boy going - बालकः कुत्र गच्छति / baalakaH kutra gachchhati
the boy is going there - बालकः तत्र गच्छति / baalakaH tatra gachchhati

where are the boys going - बालकाः कुत्र गच्छन्ति / baalakaaH kutra gachchhanti
the boys are going there - बालकाः तत्र गच्छन्ति / baalakaaH tatra gachchhanti

Note that the अव्ययपद (avyayapada) remains the same irrespective of the number, and person
of the "Subject" (कर्ता / kartaa). 

Rule 4: Indeclinables (अव्ययपद / avyayapada) never change in form and remain same
irrespective of the person and number of the "Subject" (कर्ता /kartaa).
Adjective (विशेषण / visheShaNa): Adjective is the word that expresses an attribute or property
of something or someone. Only nouns can be used adjectives. In Sanskrit it is called विशेषण
(visheShaNa). Adjective always follows the gender (लिङ्ग / liN^ga) and number (वचन /
vachana) of the subject or the word for which it is an adjective. Followings are few examples:
blue sky - निलः आकाशः / nilaH aakaashaH
white cloud - स्वेतः मेघः / svetaH meghaH

In above sentences the words blue and white represent an attribute of sky and cloud. So, these
are adjectives for the words sky and cloud respectively.

Voice (वाच्य / vaachya): In Sanskrit sentence can be in any of the following three voices.
'Impersonal Voice' is specific to Sanskrit language only and this sentence formation is normally
not seen in other languages like English.
1. Active voice or कर्तृवाच्य (kartRRI vaachya).
2. Passive voice or कर्मवाच्य (karma vaachya).
3. Impersonal voice or भाववाच्य (bhava vaachya).

Now that we know the basics of Sanskrit sentence formation, their different elements,
classification of alphabets and words, we will study the rules in detail in subsequent chapters.
Active Voice
Active Voice (कर्तृवाच्य / kartRRIvaachya): We will study "Active Voice" in this chapter with
examples. Other two sentence formations will be covered in chapter 7 and 8 later. All
subsequent chapters are in active voices except chapter 7 and 8. 

Study the following statements. 

आङ्ग्लभाषा /
English संस्कृत / Sanskrit Subject  Verb  Object 
(कर्ता /
kartaa) (क्रिया / kriyaa) (कर्म / karma)
1. The boy is going बालः गच्छति  The boy  going  -
बालः /
baalaH gachchhati baalaH गच्छति / gachchhati
2. I am going अहं गच्छामि  I am  going  -
aha.n gachchhami अहं / aha.n गच्छामि / gachchhami
3. The boy is
reading बालः पठति  The boy  reading  -
बालः /
baalaH pathati baalaH पठति / pathati
4. I am reading अहं पठामि  I am  reading  -
aha.n pathaami अहं / aha.n पठामि / pathaami
बालः विद्यालयम ्
5. The boy is going
to school गच्छति  The boy  going  to school 
baalaH vidyaalayam बालः / गच्छति / विद्यालयम ् /
gachchhati baalaH gachchhati vidyaalayam
अहं विद्यालम ्
6. I am going to
school गच्छामि  I am  going  to school 
aha.n vidyaalayam गच्छामि / विद्यालयम ् /
gachchhami अहं / aha.n gachchhami vidyaalayam
बालकः पस्
ु तकम ्
7. The boy is
reading the book पठति  The boy  reading  the book 
baalakaH pustakam बालकः / पठति / pathati पुस्तकम ् /
paThati
 baalakaH pustakam
8. I am reading the
book अहं पस्
ु तकम ् पठामि  I am  reading  the book 
aha.n pustakam पठामि / पुस्तकम ् /
paThaami अहं / aha.n pathaami pustakam

These are all examples of Active Voice or कर्तृवाच्य (kartRRivaachya). 

Sentence 1 to 4 do not have any "Object" or कर्म (karma) in them. So these are intransitive or
अकर्म कर्तृवाच्य (akarmaka kartRRivachya). 

Rule 5: In a कर्तृवाच्य (kartRRivaachya) the "Subject" or कर्ता (kartaa) is always in the "nominative
case" or प्रथमा विभक्ति (prathamaa vibhakti). 
Sentence 5 to 8 have "Object" or कर्म (karma) like विद्यालयम ् (vidyaalayam), पस्
ु तकम ्
(pustakam) in them. So, these are transitive or सकर्मक कर्तृवाच्य (sakarmaka kartRRivachya). 
Rule 6: In a कर्तृवाच्य (kartRRivaachya) the "Object" or कर्म (karma) is always in the "accusative
case" or द्वितीया विभक्ति (dvitiiyaa vibhakti).
Verb Tenses & Moods / तिङन्तपद / tiN^antapada
Verb Forms (तिङन्तपद / tiN^antapada): In chapter 1 we were introduced with verb (क्रिया /
kriyaa) and its use. We learnt that in Sanskrit धातु (dhaatu) is the base or root of all verbs. Each
verb is a derivative or धातरु
ु प (dhaaturupa) of it's root. We also learnt that in a sentence the
verb (धातु / dhaatu) always follows the person (पुरुष / puruSha) and number (वचन / vachana) in
which the Subject or कर्ता (kartaa) is. Verb normally refers to action, state, existence or
occurrence etc. 

In this chapter we will study the 5 mostly used verb-forms or लकार (lakaara) out of 10 verb-
forms that a verb can have. The 5 verb-forms covered are enough for day-to-day use of
Sanskrit. 

Verb or धातु (dhaatu) has 10 different तिङन्तपद (tiN^antapada) forms known as लकार (lakaara)
and they are listed below.
 लट्लकार / laTlakaara
 लट्
ृ लकार / lRRiTlakaara
 लङ्लकार / laN^lakaara
 आझयांलोट्लकार / aajhaayaa.nloTlakaara
 विधैलिङ्लकार / vidhailiN^lakaara
 लिट्लकार / liTlakaara
 लुट्लकार / lRRiTlakaara
 आशीलिङ्लकार / aashiiliN^lakaara
 लुङ्लकार / luN^lakaara
 लङ्
ृ लकार / lRRiN^lakaara

We will study the first 5 verb-forms in detail, in coming chapters. Followings are some common
features of different लकार (lakaara) in Sanskrit.
Each लकार (lakaara) has verb-forms for three persons (पुरुष / puruSha) and three numbers
(वचन / vachana). So, in total each लकार (lakaara) has 9 different verb-forms or धातरु
ु प
(dhaaturupa) in it. 

The persons are third person (प्रथमपुरुष / prathamapuruSha), second person (मध्यमपुरुष /
madhyamapuruSha) and first person (उत्तमपरु
ु ष / uttamapuruSha). धातरु
ु प (dhaaturupa) in first
person (उत्तमपुरुष / uttamapuruSha) are always used with अस्मद् (asmad) शब्द i.e., 'Me' as the
Subject in the sentence. धातुरुप (dhaaturupa) in second person (मध्यमपुरुष /
madhyamapuruSha) is always used with युस्मद् (yusmad) शब्द i.e., 'You' as Subject in the
sentence. The third person (प्रथमपुरुष / prathamapuruSha) is used in all other cases.

Similarly each person (पुरुष / puruSha) has three numbers (वचन / vachana), which are singlar
(एकवचन / ekavachana), dual (द्वीवचन / dviivachana) and plural (बहुवचन / bahuvachana).

The number (वचन / vachana) of the धातरु

ु प (dhaaturupa) always follows the number (वचन /
vachana) of the Subject or शब्दरुप (shabdarupa) in the sentence. The gender (लिङ्ग / liN^ga) of
the Subject does not affect the धातुरुप (dhaaturupa). 

In coming chapters we will study the different verb-forms (धातुरुप / dhaaturupa) in detail. For
easier and simpler study while describing the different verb-forms we have used पठ् / paTh
(read) and गम ् / gam (go) धातु / dhaatu for sentence formation. At the end of each
chapter Practice Sentences are given using many commonly used nouns and verbs. Studying
the Practice Sentences will help building a good vocabulary for day-to-day conversasion in
Sanskrit.
Present Tense
लट्लकार / laTlakaara (Present Tense): लट्लकार (laTlakaara) represents verb-forms in present
tense (वर्तमानकाल / vartamaanakaala). So, while forming a sentence which is in present tense,
the verb (क्रिया / kriaa) has to be in लट्लकार (laTlakaara). 

The complete लट्लकार / laTlakaara of पठ् / paTh (read) and गम ् / gam (go) धातु / dhaatu are
given at the end of this chapter for reference. Study the following sentences. These are in
वर्तमानकाल (vartamaanakaala) or present tense.

आङ्ग्लभाषा / English संस्कृत / Sanskrit Subject  Verb  Comments

शब्द / धातु /
shabda dhaatu
Present Tense - Third Person Singular
वर्तमानकाल प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन / vartamaanakaala prathamapuruSha ekavachana
1. The boy is reading. बालकः पठति  बालक  पठ्  -

baalakaH paThati baalaka paTh

2. The girl is reading. बालिका पठति बालिका पठ्  -

baalikaa paThati baalikaa paTh

3. Rama is reading. रामः पठति राम  पठ्  -

raamaH paThati raama paTh

4. Sita is reading. सीता पठति  सीता पठ्  -

siitaa paThati siitaa paTh

5. The boy is going. बालकः गच्छति  बालक  गम ्  -

baalakaH gachchhati baalaka gam

6. The girl is going. बालिका गच्छति बालिका  गम ्  -

 baalikaa gachchhati baalikaa gam
Present Tense - Third Person Plural
वर्तमानकाल प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन / vartamaanakaala prathamapuruSha bahuvachana
7. The boys are reading. बालकाः पठन्ति बालक  पठ्  -

baalakaaH paThanti baalaka paTh

8. The girls are reading. बालिकाः पठन्ति  बालिका पठ्  -

baalikaaH paThati baalikaa paTh

9. Students are reading. च्छात्राः पठन्ति  च्छात्र  पठ्  -

chchhaatraaH
paThati chchhaatra paTh
10. Clearks are reading. लिपिकाराः पठन्ति लिपिकार पठ्  -

lipikaaraaH paThanti lipikaara paTh

11. The boys are going. बालकाः गच्छन्ति बालक  गम ्  -

baalakaaH
gachchhanti baalaka gam
12. The girls are going. बालिकाः गच्छन्ति  बालिका गम ्  -

baalikaaH
gachchhanti baalikaa gam

In setences 1 to 6, the Subject (कर्ता / kartaa) is in 3rd person singular (प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन /
prathamapuruSha ekavachana). As the verb always follows the number and peson, the verb
(पठति / paThati) is also in 3rd person singular (प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन / prathamapuruSha
ekavachana).
In case of setences 7 to 12, the Subject (कर्ता / kartaa) is in 3rd person plural (प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन
/ prathamapuruSha bahuvachana). Similarly the verb (पठन्ति / paThanti) is also in प्रथमपुरुष
बहुवचन / prathamapuruSha bahuvachana of verb पठ् (paTh).

One thing we can note that the gender of Subject does not affect the verb-form in use. Only the
number and person are followed by verb. In case sentences 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 the Subject
are in musculine (पङ्
ु लिन्ग / puN^linga) gender. In case of sentences 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 the
Subject are in feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग / striiliN^ga). However in neither case the verb depends upon
the gender.

All the above sentences were in third person (प्रथमपुरुष / prathamapuruSha). Now let us study
the following sentences. These are in second person (मध्यमपुरुष / madhyamapuruSha) and first
person (उत्तमपुरुष / uttamapuruSha).

आङ्ग्लभाषा / English संस्कृत / Sanskrit Subject  Verb  Comments

शब्द / धातु /
shabda dhaatu
Present Tense - Second Person Singular
वर्तमानकाल मध्यमपुरुष/ एकवचन / vartamaanakaala madhyamapuruSha ekavachana
13. You are going. त्वं गच्छसि  यस्
ु मद्  गम ्  -
tva.n gachchhasi yusmad gam
14. You are reading. त्वं पठसि  युस्मद्  पठ्  -
tva.n paThasi yusmad paTh
Present Tense - First Person Singular
वर्तमानकाल उत्तमपरु
ु ष एकवचन / vartamaanakaala uttamapuruSha ekavachana
15. I am going. अहं गच्छामि  अस्मद्  गम ्  -
aha.n gachchhaami asmad gam
16. I am reading. अहं पठामि  अस्मद्  पठ्  -
aha.n paThaami asmad paTh
Present Tense - Second Person Plural
वर्तमानकाल मध्यमपरु
ु ष बहुवचन / vartamaanakaala madhyamapuruSha bahuvachana
17. You all are going. यय
ु ं गच्छथ  यस्
ु मद्  गम ्  -
yua.n gachchhatha yusmad gam
18. You all are reading. यय
ु ं पठथ  यस्
ु मद्  पठ्  -
yua.n paThatha yusmad paTh
Present Tense - First Person Plural
वर्तमानकाल उत्तमपुरुष बहुवचन / vartamaanakaala uttamapuruSha bahuvachana
19. We all are going. वयं गच्छामः  अस्मद्  गम ्  -
vaya.n
gachchhaamaH asmad gam
20. We all are reading. वयं पठामः  अस्मद्  पठ्  -
vaya.n paThaamaH asmad paTh

In sentences 13 and 14 the Subject (kartaa) is in second person singular (मध्यमपुरुष एकवचन /
madhyamapuruSha ekavachana)and in case of 17 and 18 the Subject (kartaa) is in second
person plural (मध्यमपुरुष बहुवचन / madhyamapuruSha bahuvachana). We can see that in all
these sentences the Subject used is युस्मद् (yusmad) शब्द (shabda). In case of second person the
kartaa is always युस्मद् (yusmad) शब्द (shabda). 

In sentences 15 and 16 the Subject is in first person singular (उत्तमपुरुष एकवचन /

uttamapuruSha ekavachana). In case of 19 and 20 the Subject is in first person plural (उत्तमपरु
ु ष
बहुवचन / uttamapuruSha bahuvachana). In all these sentences the Subjects used is अस्मद्
(asmad) शब्द (shabda). In case of first person the kartaa is always अस्मद् (asmad) शब्द
(shabda). 

As we know unlike English or any other language, Sanskrit language has three different
numbers viz., singular, plural and dual. This dual number is specific to Sanskrit and must be
used accordingly. The followings are the dual number form of above sentences.

आङ्ग्लभाषा / English संस्कृत / Sanskrit Subject  Verb  Comments

शब्द / धातु /
shabda dhaatu
Present Tense - Dual 
वर्तमानकाल द्विवचन /
vartamaanakaala
dvivachana
21. Two boys are reading. बालकौ पठतः  बालक  पठ्  -
 baalakau paThataH baalaka paTh
22. Two girls are reading. बालिके पठतः बालिका पठ्  -
baalike paThataH baalikaa paTh
23. Two boys are going. बालकौ गच्छतः  बालक  गम ्  -
baalakau
gachchhataH baalaka gam
24. Two girls are going. बालिके गच्छतः बालिका  गम ्  -
baalike gachchhataH baalikaa gam
25. Two students are
reading. च्छात्रौ पठतः  च्छात्र  पठ्  -
chchhatrau
paThataH chchhaatra paTh
26. Two clerks are
reading. लिपिकारौ पठतः लिपिकार पठ्  -
lipikaarau paThataH lipikaara paTh
27. Both of you are going. यव
ु ां गच्छथः  युस्मद्  गम ्  -
yuvaa.n
gachchhathaH yusmad gam
28. Both of you are
reading. यव
ु ां पठथः  यस्
ु मद्  पठ्  -
yuvaa.n paThathaH yusmad paTh
29. Both of us are going. आवां गच्छावः  अस्मद्  गम ्  -
aavaa.n
gachchhaavaH asmad gam
30. Both of us are reading. आवां पठावः  अस्मद्  पठ्  -
aavaa.n paThaavaH asmad paTh

Read / पठ् / paTh : लट्लकार / laTlakaara

(Present tense / वर्तमानकाल / vartamaanakaala)
Person / पुरुष / puruSha Number / वचन / vachana
Singular  एकवचन / Dual  द्वीवचन / Plural  बहुवचन /
ekavachana dviivachana bahuvachana
Third  पठति / paThati पठतः / paThataH पठन्ति / paThanti
प्रथम / prathama
Second  पठसि / paThasi पठथः / paThathaH पठथ / paThatha
मध्यम / madhyama
First  पठामि / paThaami पठावः / paThaavaH पठामः /
 paThaamaH
उत्तम / uttama

Go / गम ् / gam : लट्लकार / laTlakaara

(Present tense / वर्तमानकाल / vartamaanakaala)
Person / परु
ु ष / puruSha Number / वचन / vachana
Singular  Dual  Plural 
एकवचन / द्वीवचन / बहुवचन /
ekavachana dviivachana bahuvachana
गच्छति / गच्छतः / गच्छन्ति /
Third  gachchhati gachchhataH gachchhanti
प्रथम / prathama
गच्छसि / गच्छथः / गच्छथ /
Second  gachchhasi gachchhathaH gachchhatha
मध्यम / madhyama
गच्छामि / गच्छावः / गच्छामः /
First  gachchhaami gachchhaavaH gachchhaamaH
उत्तम / uttama