Pathways on the Journey to Translation

These 3-6 week classes feature a focus on some aspect of Sanskrit Grammar with a strong emphasis on examples to facilitate true understanding.

Prerequisites

Reading and writing Devanāgarī and some experience with reading texts. These classes can be enjoyed by beginners but are also excellent for students who have had some exposure to the material but can greatly benefit from a more in-depth and comprehensive approach to the subject. Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding your prior level of experience.

Past Passive Participles are very common in Sanskrit literature – both independently and as members of rich and expressive compound words.

In this class we will learn how to make a participle from a verbal root, how to recognize some of the most prevalent forms and how to start using these participles in conversational Sanskrit.

We will also look at the nouns that are formed very similarly – some of the most powerful words in the the language, including śaktiḥ, śāntiḥ and muktiḥ.

In each class we will look at participles in the context of translating verses. We will chant and translate verses from varied sources.

Potential Passive Participles are very common in Sanskrit literature, as adjectives, members of compound words, and nouns.

In this class we will learn how to make a potential participle from a verbal root, how to recognize common forms and how to start using these participles in conversational Sanskrit.

In each class we will look at participles in the context of translating verses and making some simple sentences. We will chant and translate verses from varied sources.

Compound words, such as doorknob in English, are very common in Sanskrit and can be made in infinite and sometimes complex combinations. They range from very simple, two word combinations, to multi-word Samāsas with several concepts expressed. Beginning to be more comfortable with reading compound words in texts profoundly increases the students ease of understanding texts, including those read in translation. In this class we will look at Samāsas in multiple contexts with examples from varied texts.