The 4 Types of Sanskrit errants
23 views
Skip to first unread message
संस्कृत संवादः
May 25, 2024, 11:03:35 AM5/25/24
to Samv...@googlegroups.com, sams...@googlegroups.com
There are mainly 4 types of errants in Sanskrit :-
तुतुरामः – One who consistently employs the प्रथम पुरुषः (third person) form, even when addressing others directly, such as गच्छतु पठतु. Only use third person with derivatives of भवत्. Otherwise simply use the second person forms like गच्छ or पठ. Alternatively, passive forms like गम्यताम् or पठ्यताम् may be used.
वावाकारी – One who erroneously uses वा to ask questions, as in त्वं पठसि वा. Interrogative forms should use words like किम्, कच्चित्, or अपि instead of वा.
समासशत्रुः – One who fails to correctly compound words or use appropriate vibhakti forms, as seen in नरेन्द्र मोदिना उक्तम्. Correct usage would be either नरेन्द्रेण मोदिना or नरेन्द्रमोदिना.
म्लेच्छाचारी – One who interjects words from other languages into Sanskrit sentences, as in सः साइकिलेन याति or सरकारः मुआवजां ददाति. One should exclusively use Sanskrit words or derive new terms using Paninian grammar principles.
linktr.ee/samvadah
तुतुरामः – One who consistently employs the प्रथम पुरुषः (third person) form, even when addressing others directly, such as गच्छतु पठतु. Only use third person with derivatives of भवत्. Otherwise simply use the second person forms like गच्छ or पठ. Alternatively, passive forms like गम्यताम् or पठ्यताम् may be used.
वावाकारी – One who erroneously uses वा to ask questions, as in त्वं पठसि वा. Interrogative forms should use words like किम्, कच्चित्, or अपि instead of वा.
समासशत्रुः – One who fails to correctly compound words or use appropriate vibhakti forms, as seen in नरेन्द्र मोदिना उक्तम्. Correct usage would be either नरेन्द्रेण मोदिना or नरेन्द्रमोदिना.
म्लेच्छाचारी – One who interjects words from other languages into Sanskrit sentences, as in सः साइकिलेन याति or सरकारः मुआवजां ददाति. One should exclusively use Sanskrit words or derive new terms using Paninian grammar principles.
linktr.ee/samvadah
संस्कृत संवादः
Nov 11, 2025, 3:20:25 AMNov 11
to Samv...@googlegroups.com, संस्कृतसन्देशश्रेणिः samskrta-yUthaH
• Explaination of the 4 types of errants.
1. तुतुरामः (Tuturāmaḥ) – The "Third-Person" Mistake
This error-maker is someone who talks to a person but uses the grammar for talking about them.
• Simple Idea: It's like telling your friend, "He should read the book," when you actually mean, "You should read the book."
• The Mistake: Saying "पठतु" (paṭhatu) directly to a person. This literally means "Let him/her/it read."
• How to Fix It:
• The Standard Way (मध्यमपुरुषः / Second Person): Simply say "पठ" (paṭha) or "त्वं पठ" (tvaṁ paṭha). This means "You read!"
• A Very Important Point: Using the second person (मध्यमपुरुषः like त्वं गच्छ) is the normal, standard way to speak to someone. It is not rude or disrespectful, even with elders you are close to or familiar with. It is simply the direct "you," just like in English.
• The Extra-Formal Way (प्रथम पुरुषः / Third Person): You only use the third-person verb form when you are being highly formal and using the special word भवत् (bhavat, meaning "Your Honour" or a very polite "you"). For example: "भवान् पठतु" (bhavān paṭhatu), which means "You, sir, may read." This is for situations like addressing a king, a revered guru, or a total stranger with great deference.
In Short: Use the direct "you" form (मध्यमपुरुषः) when talking to someone. Only use the "he/she/it" form (प्रथम पुरुषः) if you are being extra-formal with the word भवत्.
---
2. वावाकारी (Vāvākārī) – The "Or" Question Mistake
This error-maker uses the word for "or" to ask a yes/no question.
• Simple Idea: It’s like asking in English, "You are studying, or?" It's understandable, but not proper grammar.
• The Mistake: Asking, "त्वं पठसि वा?" (tvaṁ paṭhasi vā?). The word वा (vā) means "or," so the question sounds unfinished.
• How to Fix It: Use a proper question word at the beginning of the sentence.
• "किं त्वं पठसि?" (kim tvaṁ paṭhasi?) - "Are you studying?" (Most common).
• "अपि त्वं पठसि?" (api tvaṁ paṭhasi?) - Also means "Are you studying?"
In Short: To ask a yes/no question, start with a word like किम् (kim), not end with वा (vā).
---
3. समासशत्रुः (Samāsaśatruḥ) – The "Enemy of Compounds" Mistake
This error-maker fails to join words together that should be treated as a single unit, like a person's full name.
• Simple Idea: It’s like saying "By Mister, by Smith it was said" instead of "By Mister Smith it was said." It treats the two parts of one name as separate things.
• The Mistake: Writing "नरेन्द्र मोदिना उक्तम्" (narendra modinā uktam). This is awkward because it separates "Narendra" and "Modi" grammatically.
• How to Fix It:
1. Combine them (Best): "नरेन्द्रमोदिना उक्तम्". Join the words into one compound to show it's one person. This means "By Narendra-Modi, it was said."
2. Match the Endings: "नरेन्द्रेण मोदिना उक्तम्". If you don't combine them, make sure both parts of the name have the same grammatical ending.
In Short: Treat multi-part names as a single unit, either by joining them into one word or by giving each part the same grammatical ending.
---
4. म्लेच्छाचारी (Mlecchācārī) – The "Foreign Word" Mistake
This error-maker mixes words from other languages (like English or Hindi) into a Sanskrit sentence.
• Simple Idea: It's like writing a formal Shakespearean play and having a character say, "Dude, where is my horse?" The word "dude" doesn't belong.
• The Mistake:
• "सः साइकिलेन याति।" (saḥ sāikilena yāti.) - He goes by cycle. ("Cycle" is an English word).
• "सरकारः मुआवजां ददाति।" (sarakāraḥ muāvjāṁ dadāti.) - The government gives compensation. ("Sarkar" and "muavja" are from Hindi/Persian).
• How to Fix It: Use the pure Sanskrit words.
• Instead of "cycle," use "द्विचक्रिका" (dvicakrikā - two-wheeler).
• Instead of "sarkar," use "शासनम्" (śāsanam).
In Short: Stick to pure Sanskrit words. Don't borrow from other languages.
This error-maker is someone who talks to a person but uses the grammar for talking about them.
• Simple Idea: It's like telling your friend, "He should read the book," when you actually mean, "You should read the book."
• The Mistake: Saying "पठतु" (paṭhatu) directly to a person. This literally means "Let him/her/it read."
• How to Fix It:
• The Standard Way (मध्यमपुरुषः / Second Person): Simply say "पठ" (paṭha) or "त्वं पठ" (tvaṁ paṭha). This means "You read!"
• A Very Important Point: Using the second person (मध्यमपुरुषः like त्वं गच्छ) is the normal, standard way to speak to someone. It is not rude or disrespectful, even with elders you are close to or familiar with. It is simply the direct "you," just like in English.
• The Extra-Formal Way (प्रथम पुरुषः / Third Person): You only use the third-person verb form when you are being highly formal and using the special word भवत् (bhavat, meaning "Your Honour" or a very polite "you"). For example: "भवान् पठतु" (bhavān paṭhatu), which means "You, sir, may read." This is for situations like addressing a king, a revered guru, or a total stranger with great deference.
In Short: Use the direct "you" form (मध्यमपुरुषः) when talking to someone. Only use the "he/she/it" form (प्रथम पुरुषः) if you are being extra-formal with the word भवत्.
---
2. वावाकारी (Vāvākārī) – The "Or" Question Mistake
This error-maker uses the word for "or" to ask a yes/no question.
• Simple Idea: It’s like asking in English, "You are studying, or?" It's understandable, but not proper grammar.
• The Mistake: Asking, "त्वं पठसि वा?" (tvaṁ paṭhasi vā?). The word वा (vā) means "or," so the question sounds unfinished.
• How to Fix It: Use a proper question word at the beginning of the sentence.
• "किं त्वं पठसि?" (kim tvaṁ paṭhasi?) - "Are you studying?" (Most common).
• "अपि त्वं पठसि?" (api tvaṁ paṭhasi?) - Also means "Are you studying?"
In Short: To ask a yes/no question, start with a word like किम् (kim), not end with वा (vā).
---
3. समासशत्रुः (Samāsaśatruḥ) – The "Enemy of Compounds" Mistake
This error-maker fails to join words together that should be treated as a single unit, like a person's full name.
• Simple Idea: It’s like saying "By Mister, by Smith it was said" instead of "By Mister Smith it was said." It treats the two parts of one name as separate things.
• The Mistake: Writing "नरेन्द्र मोदिना उक्तम्" (narendra modinā uktam). This is awkward because it separates "Narendra" and "Modi" grammatically.
• How to Fix It:
1. Combine them (Best): "नरेन्द्रमोदिना उक्तम्". Join the words into one compound to show it's one person. This means "By Narendra-Modi, it was said."
2. Match the Endings: "नरेन्द्रेण मोदिना उक्तम्". If you don't combine them, make sure both parts of the name have the same grammatical ending.
In Short: Treat multi-part names as a single unit, either by joining them into one word or by giving each part the same grammatical ending.
---
4. म्लेच्छाचारी (Mlecchācārī) – The "Foreign Word" Mistake
This error-maker mixes words from other languages (like English or Hindi) into a Sanskrit sentence.
• Simple Idea: It's like writing a formal Shakespearean play and having a character say, "Dude, where is my horse?" The word "dude" doesn't belong.
• The Mistake:
• "सः साइकिलेन याति।" (saḥ sāikilena yāti.) - He goes by cycle. ("Cycle" is an English word).
• "सरकारः मुआवजां ददाति।" (sarakāraḥ muāvjāṁ dadāti.) - The government gives compensation. ("Sarkar" and "muavja" are from Hindi/Persian).
• How to Fix It: Use the pure Sanskrit words.
• Instead of "cycle," use "द्विचक्रिका" (dvicakrikā - two-wheeler).
• Instead of "sarkar," use "शासनम्" (śāsanam).
In Short: Stick to pure Sanskrit words. Don't borrow from other languages.
Gadi Manoj
Nov 11, 2025, 3:43:22 AMNov 11
to संस्कृत संवादः, Samv...@googlegroups.com, संस्कृतसन्देशश्रेणिः samskrta-yUthaH
वावाकारी – One who erroneously uses वा to ask questions, as in त्वं पठसि वा. Interrogative forms should use words like किम्, कच्चित्, or अपि instead of वा.
This is no error in this regard. It is not wrong to use vaa in the end of a sentence to imply a question.
Proof - I have noticed this style in sahitya a lot.
--
आपको यह मैसेज इसलिए मिला है क्योंकि आपने Google Groups के "संस्कृत संवादः" ग्रुप की सदस्यता ली है.
इस समूह की सदस्यता खत्म करने और इससे ईमेल पाना बंद करने के लिए, Samvadah+u...@googlegroups.com को ईमेल भेजें.
यह बातचीत देखने के लिए, https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/Samvadah/CACfXiV7ZRJVCKpmiu9gk%2BvMgotAwnbnajviyY0wB-Af4_Y9L6A%40mail.gmail.com पर जाएं.
संस्कृत संवादः
Nov 11, 2025, 3:54:15 AMNov 11
to Gadi Manoj, Samv...@googlegroups.com, संस्कृतसन्देशश्रेणिः samskrta-yUthaH
Sanskrit Bharati literature isn't Sahitya as such.
G S S Murthy
Nov 11, 2025, 9:35:46 AMNov 11
to sams...@googlegroups.com, Gadi Manoj, Samv...@googlegroups.com
Is the above note of classification from a Sanskrit grammar book?
Regards,
Murthy
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "samskrita" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to samskrita+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/samskrita/CACfXiV5fL-9ztmh_CY9jZzXUz7b_n6fotW0WQW%3DRvEk3gRYntg%40mail.gmail.com.
संस्कृत संवादः
Nov 11, 2025, 9:37:02 AMNov 11
to संस्कृत संवादः
No
मंगलवार, 11 नवंबर 2025 को 8:05:46 pm UTC+5:30 बजे murthygss ने लिखा:
संस्कृत संवादः
Nov 11, 2025, 10:42:43 AMNov 11
to संस्कृत संवादः
No.
मंगलवार, 11 नवंबर 2025 को 8:05:46 pm UTC+5:30 बजे murthygss ने लिखा:
Is the above note of classification from a Sanskrit grammar book?Regards,Murthy
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages