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1/30/11

Lesson 11

Beginning Prayers:
  • शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
  • सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
  • गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 
Topic Summary:
  • Expansion of vocabulary via learning a riddle
Home Work:
  • Practice the vocabulary words and use them on a day to day basis.
Topic Details:

A riddle is called a प्रहेलिका (prahelikaa).  A prahelikaa is generally a verse in the form of a couplet.  It gives hints towards the answer.  It is up to the reader to put it together!

In today's lesson, we shall improve our vocabulary, along with trying to solve the puzzle.   The prahelikaa is as follows -

न तस्यादिर्न तस्यान्तं मध्ये यस्तस्य तिष्ठति ।
तवाप्यस्ति ममाप्यस्ति यो जानाति स पण्डितः ॥
na tasyaadirna tasyaantaM madhye yastasya tiShThati |
tavaapyasti mamaapyasti yo jaanaati sa paNDitaH ||

After splitting the composite words (sandhis), it could be read as -
न तस्य अदिः न तस्य अन्तं मध्ये यः तस्य तिष्ठति ।
तव अपि अस्ति मम अपि अस्ति यः जानाति स पण्डितः ॥
na tasya adiH na tasya antaM madhye yaH tasya tiShThati |
tava api asti mama api asti yaH jaanaati sa paNDitaH ||

It means,
It has a 'न' in the beginning, 'न' in the end.  In between sits a 'य'.
You have it too, I have it too, he who know is a wise man (paNDita)!

If the clues are put together, the word comes out to be 'नयन'!  नयन means 'eye'.  It starts with a 'na' and ends with a 'na', has a 'ya' in between.  You have it and I have it too.  That would be an eye!  That is the answer!

Now for a run down of the words occurring in the verse, to improve the vocabulary -

तस्य   -  his/it's 
अदिः   -  beginning
अन्तम्   -  end
मध्य  -  middle
तिष्ठति  -  sits/stays
तव   -  your
अपि   -  also
अस्ति   -  have/be/exist
मम   -  my
यः   -  he who
जानाति   -  knows
सः   -  he
पण्डितः   -  wise/learned
नयन   -  eye

Happy practicing!

Ending prayer:
  •  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam
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1/23/11

Lesson 10

Beginning Prayers:
  • शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
  • सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
  • गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 
Topic Summary:
  • Parts of the body in song form
Home Work:
  • Learn body parts along with singing the song
Topic Details:

We have made little words, little sentences and little conversations.  Now, how about a little rhyme!  

We all know the song 'Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes....'. I have translated the same into Sanskrit.  It is sung in the same tune.  The fun and challenge is to sing it faster and faster while acting it out. Kids love this game. Watch out!  By the end of it, everyone will be doubling over with laughter :).

The vocabulary we need for this one are -
शिरः  -  head
स्कन्धौ  -  2 shoulders
जानू  -  2 knees
अङ्गुल्यः  -  toes
नेत्रे  -  2 eyes
कर्णौ  -  2 ears
मुखम्  -  mouth
नासिका  -  nose

In English, there are singular and plural words.  In Sanskrit, there are the same singular and plural numbers.  But then, there is a special number case for two of anything!  It is called dual!

In Sanskrit,
singular is called एकवचनम्
dual is called द्विवचनम्
plural is called बहुवचनम्

The words for the respective body parts have been given accordingly for the song.

Now the song itself... Sing along everyone :).


शिरः, स्कन्धौ, जानू, अङ्गुल्यः
जानू, अङ्गुल्यः


शिरः, स्कन्धौ, जानू, अङ्गुल्यः
जानू, अङ्गुल्यः


नेत्रे, कर्णौ, मुखम्, नासिका


शिरः, स्कन्धौ, जानू, अङ्गुल्यः
जानू, अङ्गुल्यः

Keep singing :)

Ending prayer:
  •  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam
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1/9/11

Lesson 9

Beginning Prayers:
  • शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुम् - shuklaambaradharaM viShNum
  • सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यम् - saraswati namastubhyam 
  • गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः - gururbrahmaa gururviShNuH 
Topic Summary:
  • Simple sentences used in day to day conversations.
Home Work:
  • Practice using the sentence while making conversations.
Topic Details:

We have so far learnt question words and verbs in first, second, third persons.  It is time to strike a conversation now!  How would one greet a person?  He would say 'hello', 'good morning', etc.  Let us see the a few such sentences.

हरि ॐ
Hello

सुप्रभातम्
Good morning

नमस्ते
Salutations

धन्यवादः
Thanks

चिन्ता मास्तु
No worries

क्षम्यताम्
Excuse me / Sorry

पुनः मिलामः
We shall meet again (as in, 'see you, bye')

आम्
Yes


No

मित्रम्
Friend

Using these words we make conversations thus

हरि ॐ
Hello

सुप्रभातम्
Good morning

कुशलं वा?
How are you?

भवती किं पिबति?
What will you drink? (addressing a female)

अहं क्षीरं पिबामि|
I shall drink milk.

श्रीमन्, भवान् किं पिबति?
Respected sir, what will you drink?

अहम् आम्ररसं पिबामि|
I shall drink mango juice.

तर्हि आनयामि|
Then, I will get it.

धन्यवादः|
Thank you.

चिन्ता मास्तु
No worries / welcome.

Using these little words here and there not only reinforces their meanings and pronunciations, it makes learning Sanskrit more fun.  For building further vocabulary, check the vocabulary words.  Happy practicing and conversing.

Ending prayer:
  •  ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदम् - aum pUrNamadaH pUrNamidam
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