sanskrit alphabet book revised

8/8/2019 Sanskrit Alphabet Book Revised

1/16

Handbook for

The Online Audio Course

Part One: Learning to Read Sanskrit

By

Carol Whitfield, Ph.D


2/16

1

Table of Contents

The Sanskrit Alphabet 2

Guide to Pronunciation 3

Vowel and Consonant Recognition 4

Vowel and Consonant Recognition with Transliteration 5

Vowels Following Consonants 6

Examples of Vowels Following Consonants 7

Consonant-Vowel Recognition 8

Exercise 1 Vowels Following Consonants

Exercise 2 Consonant Vowel Recognition

Words without ConjunctsReading Practice without Transliteration 9

Words without Conjunct sReading Practice withTransliteration 10

Conjunct Consonants 11-12

Vedanta Vocabulary List 1Reading Practice 13

Vedanta Vocabulary List 1 with Transliteratiojn 14-15


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2

The Sanskrit Alphabet

Simple Vowels

A Aa # $ % ^ \ a i u

Dipthongs

@ @e Aae AaE Ae ai o au a a

Mutes1

-V-A*2

-V+A3

+V-A4

+V+A NasalsSemi-

Vowels Sibilants

Gutterals kka

okha

gga

"gha

'

hha

Palatals cca

Dcha

jja

Hjha

|a

yya

za

Linguals qa

Qha

fa

Fha

[a

rra

;a

Dentals tta

wtha

dda

xdha

nna

lla

ssa

Labials ppa

)pha

bba

bha

mma

vva

* -V = unvoiced or hard consonant +V = voiced or soft consonant-A = unaspirated +A = aspirated


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3

Guide to Pronunciation

AAAA a o in son

AaAaAaAa a in ma

#### i i in if

$$$$ e in me

%%%% u u in suit

^ oo in boot

\\\\ ri in rig

extend ri in rig

@@@@ e a in gay

@e@e@e@e ai y in my

AaeAaeAaeAae o o in okay

AaEAaEAaEAaE au ow in now

kkkk ka c in comeoooo kha ckh in blockhead

gggg ga g ingive

"""" gha gh in loghut

'''' a n in song

cccc ca ch in chum

DDDD cha ch in chuckjjjj ja j injim

HHHH jha j injob

|||| a n in bunch

QQQQ a t in start

QQQQ ha th in ant-hill

ffff a d in day

FFFF ha dh in god-head

[[[[ a n in under

tttt ta t in time

wwww tha t in tank

dddd da d in didxxxx dha dh in dharma

nnnn na n in never

pppp pa p inpine

)))) pha ph in loop-hole

bbbb ba b in big

bha b in boatmmmm ma m in much

yyyy ya y in young

rrrr ra r in drum

llll la l in luck

vvvv va v in vice

zzzz a sh in shine;;;; a sh in bushel

ssss sa s in save

hhhh ha h in hum


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4

Vowel and Consonant Recognition

Please practice these vowel and consonant symbols with and without the audiosupport until you are able to easily read them.

Vowels

@ Aae Aa # \ A ^ AaE

% $ \ @e A # Aae @

Aa @e % AaE ^ $

Aae # \ ^ Aa @e AaE #

A $ @ AaE % Aa ^

Consonants

g j Q D d ) h

| t " s r ; o m

z b x v p F k H

l ' ) f D [ o F

d m Q ; w t j h

b j [ c q x v

n v l w v k p n

H f z j r s | c

q n p g s l r "


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5

Vowel and Consonant Recognition with Transliteration

Please practice these vowel and consonant symbols with and without the audiosupport until you are able to easily read them.

Vowels

@ e Aae o Aa # i \ A a ^ AaE au

% u $ \ @e ai A a # i Aae o @ e

Aa @e ai % u AaE au ^ $

Aae o # i \ ^ Aa @e ai AaEau # i

A a $ @ e AaE au % u Aa ^

Consonants

g ga bha j ja Q ha D cha d da ) pha h ha

| T ta " gha s sa r ra ; a O kha m ma

z a b ba x dha v va p pa F ha k ka H jhal la ' ) pha f a D cha [ a o kha F ha

d da m ma Q ha ; a w tha t ta j ja H ha

b ba j ja bha [ a C ca q a x dha v va

n na v va l la w tha v va k ka p pa n na

H jha f a z a j ja r ra S sa | a c ca

q a n na p pa g ga S sa l la r ra " gha


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6

Vowels Following Consonants

When a word begins with a vowel and does not follow a consonant in a sentenceor compound, the vowel keeps its primary form:

Simple vowels: A Aa # $ % ^ \ a i u

Diphthongs: @ @e Aae Aae ai o au

But, if the vowel directly follows a consonant, it changes to a secondary form.The table below shows the primary vowel form followed by its secondary form

and in parenthesis an example of the secondary form added to the consonant k

A * (k)a ka

Aa a (ka) k

# i (ik)i ki

$ I (kI) k

% (k)u ku

^ (k) k

\ (k) k

(k) k

** k

@ e (ke)

e ke

@e E(kE)

ai kai

Aae ae(kae)

o ko

AaE aE(kaE)

au kau

* If a consonant is not followed by any other vowel, the vowel A is assumed

unless the consonant has a virma, a diagonal line ( !),below the consonant.

For example k+ A = k .

** The vowel is rarely used, and is shown here attached to the letter kas thefont I am using does not have this vowel form available in its unattached

secondary form.


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7

Examples of Vowels Following Consonants

A k o g " ' c D j H | q Q f F [ t w d x n p ) b m y r l v z ; s h

Aa a ka oa ga "a 'a ca Da ja Ha |a qa Qa fa Fa [a ta wa da xa na pa )a ba a ma ya rala va za ;a sa ha

# i ik io ig i" i' ic iD ij iH i| iq iQ if iF i[ it iw id ix in ip i) ib i im iy ir iliv iz i; is ih

$ I kI oI gI "I 'I cI DI jI HI |I qI QI fI FI [I tI wI dI xI nI pI )I mI yI rI lI vI

zI ;I sI hI

% k ougu"u' cuDu juHu|uquQufuFu[utuwu xunupu) buumuyu* luvuzu;usu*Notice the placement of the % in

^ koUgU"U'cUDUjUHU|UqQfF[UtUwU xUnUpU)bUUmUyU* lU vUzU;UsU*Notice the placement of the ^ in

\ k o&g&"&' c&D&j&H&|&q&Q&f&F&[&t&w&* x&[&p&) b&&m&y&l&v& z&;&s&*Notice that dwhen followed by\takes a modified form: k og"' cD jH|qQfF[twd xnp) bmylvz;sh

@ e ke oe ge "e 'e ce De je He |e qe Qe fe Fe [e te we de xe ne pe )e be e me ye re le ve ze ;e se he

@e E kE oE gE "E 'E cE DE jE HE |E qE QE fE FE [E tE wE dE xE nE pE )E bE E mEyE rE lE vE zE ;E sE hE

Aae ae kae oae gae "ae 'ae cae Dae jae Hae |ae qae Qae fae Fae [ae tae wae dae xae nae pae )ae bae ae mae yae rae

lae vae zae ;ae sae haeAaE aE kaE oaE gaE "aE 'aE caE DaE jaE HaE |aE qaE QaE faE FaE [aE taE waE daE xaE naE paE )aE baE aE maE yaE raE

laE vaE zaE ;aE saE haE


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8

Consonant-Vowel Recognition

Exercise 1 Vowels Following Consonants

k ka ik kI k k k k ke kE kae kaEc ca ic cI cu cU c& c ce cE cae caE

q qa iq qI qu q q& q qe qE qae qaE

t ta it tI tu tU t& t te tE tae qaE

p pa ip pI pu pU p& p pe pE pae paE

Exercise 2 Consonant Vowel Recognition

da cI zu kae ta nU s& ga

zE "u mE Ha Fa QI ;I ta

[a ih cE mU "I haE jI hE

ou

naE

k

saE

gI

g

'aE

zae

is hae DaE kaE ja faE gU cu

|aE 'ae bE paE caE na zI

gaE ma Q& dE ca daE ig zU

la F je z& ae iz ib su

jae ij ke tI a pe g& paeqa Fe we ra e iy d

kI jE qe De in bu la se


10/16

9

Reading Practice without Transliteration

Simple Words without Conjunct Consonants

nm>salutations

cand

ihindeed

nnot

sashe

tethey

vaor

tubutAip

alsoikm!what

@tt!this

tt!that

ywajust as

twasimilarly

#vlike

cet!if

m&;afalsely

@vindeed

tan!them

tt>therefore

tenby that

yenby which

punragain

bmany

vym!we

prm!other

kwbreath

vad>talking

gtgone

ik


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10

Reading Practice with Transliteration

Simple Words without Conjunct Consonants

nm>namasalutations

ccaand

ihhiindeed

nnanot

sasshe

tetethey

vavor

tutubut

Aipapialso

ikm!kimwhat

@tt!etatthis

tt!tatthat

ywayathjust as

twatathsimilarly

#vivalike

cet!cetif

m&;amfalsely

@vevaindeed

tan!tnthem

tt>tatatherefore

tentenaby that

yenyenaby which

punrpunaragain

bbahumany

vym!vayamwe

prm!paramother

kwasubreath

vad>vdatalking

gtgatagone

ik


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11

Conjunct Consonants

When two consonants come together without an intervening vowel they arecalled conjunct consonants. These are formed in different ways, depending onthe structure of the consonant. Often, the vertical line of the first consonant can

be removed and the remaining part of the consonant conjoined to the latter, sothey become adjacentto each other. In some instances, there is not an easilyremovable vertical and the consonants will stackon top of each other. In almostall cases, if you know the full form of the individual consonants well, you will beable to recognize them in their conjoined form. The exceptions are listed belowas unusual formsand simply need to be memorized.

Adjacent k o g c j H } | z [ t w n s p b m v

Km = k m (k ma)Ky = k y (k ya)

Oy = o!y (khya)Gl = g!l (g la)

Gv=

g!v(g va)

= c!c (c ca)

CD = c!D (c cha) = j!j (j ja)

{[ = [![ ( a)

Tp = t!p (t pa)

Tm = t!m (t ma)

TSy = t!s!y(t s ya)

Nt = n!t (n ta)Xy =x!y (dh ya)

Xm = x!m (dh ma)

Py = p!y (p ya)

Wy =w!y (th ya)

Bx = b!x (b dha)B = b! (b bha)

Vy = v!y (v ya)

Sk = s!k (s ka)

St = s!t (s ta)

Stacking d ' D q Q f F h = ' k ( ka)

= ' g ( ga)

= d x (d dha)

= d (d bha)

= d b (d ba)

= q q ( a)+=;!q r ( ra)

= ;!q ( a)

= ;!Q ( ha)( = ;!q y ( ya)


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Unusual Forms

mR= r m (r ma)

vR= r v (r va)

tR= r t (r ta)

= k r (k ra)

= g!r (g ra)

= p!r (p ra)

=

t!r (t ra) = s!r (s ra)

+=;!q r ( ra)

S = s!p!r (s p ra)T = t!p!r (t p ra)

q( = q y ( ya)Q( = Q y (h ya)

f( = f y ( ya)

= k k (k ka)

= k t (k ta)

= t!t (t ta)y = t!r y (t r ya)

= d d (d da)

= d b (d ba)

= d x (d dha)

= d (d bha)

= d m (d ma)

* = d y (d ya)

=

d v!y(d v ya)

= d r y (d r ya)} =j!| (j a)

= z!c ( ca)

= z!n ( na)

Zm = z!m ( ma)

= z!r ( ra)

= h [ (h a)

=

h n (h na) = h m (h ma)

= h y (h ya)

] = k ; (k a)

Examples of Unusual FormskmRkarma

ktaRkart

amgrma

ttatra

ccakra

ibhakti

aeabhokt

mae]moka

muimukti

}anm!jnam

tvtattva

buibuddhi

ppadma

iv*avidy

araddh

prana

n!brahman

hirharica


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13

Vedanta Vocabulary List 1

These words are commonly used in Vedantic texts. This exercise is meant tofamilarize you with the these terms in Sanskrit. The list below it includes thetransliteration.

n! AaTma jIv> jgt! $r> mayast! ict! AanNd> sTym! }anm! AnNtm!vedaNt> %pin;d ma[m! kr[m! mae]> bNxnm!

iv*a Aiv*a }anm! A}anm! }ainn! s bui>SwUl sUm kar[m! zrIrm! deh> %paix>

kmRn! AkmRn! kmRyaeg> s sAixkairn! ivvek> vEraGym! zmaid;qkm! mumu]uTvm! mns!zm> dm> %prit> itit]a smaxanm! as }ainn! s AXyaraep> Apvad> Aaraep> vStu AvStukt&RTvm! ae Tvm! suioTvm! >ioTvm! ru> spR>

maya kit> sv rjs! tms! gu[>

Utain p&iwvI Aap> Ai> vayu> Aakaz>zBd> SpzR> pm! rs> gNx> cEtNym!ae> Tvk c]u> ija a[m! #iNyai[vak pai[> pad> payu> %pSwa> Svp>


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Vedanta Vocabulary List 1 with Transliteration

n!brahman

AaTmatm

jIv>jva

jgt!jagat

$r>vara

mayamy

st!sat

ict!cit

AanNd>nanda

sTym!satyam

}anm!jnam

AnNtm!anantam

vedaNt>vednta

%pin;dupaniad

ma[m!pramam

kr[m!prakaraam

mae]>moka

bNxnm!bandhana

iv*avidy

Aiv*aavidy

}anm!jnam

A}anm!ajnam

}ainn!jnin

svtti

bui>buddhi

SwUlsthla

sUmskma

kar[m!kraam

zrIrm!arram

deh>deha

%paix>updhi

kmRn!karman

AkmRn!akarman

kmRyaeg>karmayoga

ssannysa

smumuku

Aixkairn!adhikrin

ivvek>viveka

vEraGym!vairgyam

zmaid;qkm!amdiakam

mumu]uTvm!mumukutvam

mns!manas

zm>ama

dm>dama

%prit>uparati

itit]atitik

smaxanm!samdhnam

araddh

smumuku

}ainn!j nin

sadhysa

AXyaraep>adhyropa

Apvad>apavda

Aaraep>ropa

vStuvastu

AvStuavastu


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15

kt&RTvm!

karttvam

ae Tvm!

bhokttvam

suioTvm!

sukhitvam

>ioTvm!

dukhitvam

ru>

rajju

spR>

sarpamayamy

kit>prakti

svsattva

rjs!rajas

tms!tamas

gu[>gua

Utainbhtni

p&iwvIpthiv

Aap>pa

Ai>agni

vayu>vyu

Aakaz>ka

zBd>abda

SpzR>spara

pm!rpam

rs>rasa

gNx>gandha

cEtNym!caitanyam

ae>rotra

Tvktvak

c]u>caku

ijajihv

a[m!ghram

#iNyainindriyni

vakvk

pai[>pi

pad>pda

payu>pyu

%pSwa>upasth

Svp>svarpa

sanskrit alphabet book revised

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