Lesson 23

Simple Sanskrit – Lesson 23

सरलं संस्कृतम् – त्रिविंशतितमः पाठः |

Last among matrices of स्वरसन्धि-s is Matrix 4 for the rows of ए, ऐ, ओ, औ. Although this is the order, in which one learns these vowels, for learning संधि-s, they are better put in the sequence ए, ओ and ऐ, औ. The logic is that although all four are conjoint vowels, ए, ओ are of गुण-character and ऐ, औ are of वृद्धि-character.

The general rule for these संधि-s is by the सूत्रम् एचोऽयवायावः। (६/१/७८).

संधि-s as per this rule are also called as यान्तावान्तादेशसन्धि-s.

However for vowels, ए, ओ of गुण-character there is one more rule, of two specific applications and in those instances supersedes the general rule.

The rule of specific applications is एङः पदान्तादति। (६/१/१०९). संधि-s as per this rule are also called as पूर्वरूपसंधि-s.

Specifics of the applications are -

1. The first word has ending vowel  ए or ओ

2. At the beginning of the second word the vowel is अ.

The procedure is ए, ओ stay and the following अ becomes silent, is not pronounced. But its presence is indicated by a symbol ऽ called as अवग्रहः

In the Matrix 4, these instances are marked with fill color red and are detailed in two special rows for ए and ओ. There being only two specific instances, the examples are given in the Matrix 4 below in rows with fill colors orange and green.

The instances for the general rule would be 54 (4 rows x 14 columns – 2 special instances = 54). It will be appreciated that it is difficult to give examples of all possible 54 संधि-s within the matrix itself. These are compiled here.

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To see the image clearly, right-click on the image and then click “view image”.

There is obviously an order of supersession between the rules

1. एङः पदान्तादति (६।१।१०९)

2. एचोऽयवायावः । (६/१/७८)

By the order

1. एङः पदान्तादति (६।१।१०९) is to be applied, if the case is any of the two specific instances.

2. If not, एचोऽयवायावः । (६/१/७८) applies.

For all the 54 संधि-s as per the general rule, there is an optional way. That option is by the सूत्रम् – लोपः शाकल्यस्य (८।३।१९)

Furthermore, it is to be noted that once संधि is made as per the सूत्रम् लोपः शाकल्यस्य (८।३।१९), one does not make further संधि. For example

(1) कस्मै + अददात्

1.1) = कस्मायददात् as per एचोऽयवायावः । (६/१/७८)

1.2) = कस्मा अददात् as per लोपः शाकल्यस्य (८।३।१९). One does not make it further as कस्माददात् by अकः सवर्णे दीर्घः (6-1-101).

That is the smartness of पाणिनि in sequencing of सूत्र-s. Once you have gone ahead all the way to लोपः शाकल्यस्य (८।३।१९), you do not return to apply 6-1-101 !

Here now examples of all 56 संधि-s

1. as per the general rule एचोऽयवायावः । (६/१/७८)

2. also by the option of सूत्रम् – लोपः शाकल्यस्य (८।३।१९)

3. adding also two specific instances for ए + अ and ओ + अ

Note on 3.1a

In the संधि गो + अन्वयः = गवन्वयः the ओ of गो is not at the end of a word. It is at the end of a component of a compound word गवन्वयः.

Since गवन्वयः is a compound word, संधि of गो + अन्वयः is compulsory.

Since it is at the end of a component of a compound word गवन्वयः, not at the end of a word, एङः पदान्तादति (६।१।१०९) does not apply. The सूत्रम् very clearly specifies पदान्तात्. That is how every part of a सूत्रम् is important. A सूत्रम् is really a specification, a rule.

Since गवन्वयः is a compound word, the संधि of गो + अन्वयः can also not be ग अन्वयः as per लोपः शाकल्यस्य (८।३।१९)

So संधि गो + अन्वयः has to be only as गवन्वयः as per the general rule एचोऽयवायावः । (६/१/७८).

By the way विग्रह meaning

1. गो = cow

2. अन्वयः = going behind

3. Hence गवन्वयः =

   1. going behind a cow

   2. one, who goes behind a cow.

4. By 3a, गवन्वयः means the action of going behind a cow.

5. By 3b गवन्वयः means cowherd himself and in a specific instance गवन्वयः means Lord Krishna !

In the lessons thus far, I have not discussed समास-s. This example is a good suggestion to discuss them soon.

Following table presents a good, at-a-glance view of the rules discussed in the 4 matrices of  स्वरसंधि-s in Lessons 21, 22 and 23.

शुभं भवतु |

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