Course content

During the final two quarters of the program, students will delve into the study of vṛttis, which refer to complex formations in Saṃskṛtam that require explanation. In this particular course, students will focus on samāsa vṛttis, which involve the formation of compound words by combining several words. These compounds are divided into four principal classes, of which students will cover two this quarter: dvandva (copulative) and tatpuruśa (determinative), along with their subclassifications. Students will explore these samāsas through a plethora of examples and learn vigraha vākyani, which provides an in-depth explanation of a samāsa. Additionally, they will apply the rules of sandhi in creating these compounds and learn the rules that govern pūrvapada, uttarapada, and the determination of gender in compound words. Through carefully designed exercises, students will develop the ability to identify these samāsas in Saṃskṛtam texts. By the time this penultimate course of the program concludes, students will be able to communicate fluently in Saṃskṛtam and demonstrate their proficiency through pre-designed exercises.