Lesson 18

18.1. सुभाषितम्

नास्ति कामसमो व्याधिर् नास्ति मोहसमो रिपुः । नास्ति क्रोधसमो वह्निर् नास्ति ज्ञानसमं सुखम् ॥

18.2. Determinative Compounds (तत्पुरुष) with Adverbial First Member

As adverbial (indeclinable) first members, the following can

• adverbs
• prepositions
• particles
• other indeclinables

be used. Such Tatpuruṣa compounds usually belong to the class of Nityasamāsa = नित्यसमास (m. "permanent compound"), i.e., compounds that cannot be resolved at all or not merely by means of the words occurring within the compound itself.

Examples:

अति "in addition, furthermore":

अतिगुरु 3: extremely heavy, of great weight

अतिपुरुष m.: outstanding man, Superman, hero

अतिस्तुति f.: excessive praise

अत्युक्ति f.: excessive speech, exaggeration

The most important adverbial first members are a-/an-, su-, dus-.

अ (before consonants), अन् (before vowels): un-: stands in the compound instead of न "not".

Examples:

अनृत n. = नर्तम् (= न + ऋतम्): untruth, lie

अकृत 3 = न कृत 3: not done, undone

अब्राह्मणी f. = न ब्राह्मणी : a non-Brahmin woman, un-Brahmin

अदेव m. = न देवः : a non-god, ungodly

सु "well, good"; when resolving the compound, commentators replace it with an adjective meaning "good" (e.g., सुष्टु 3, शोभन 3).

Examples:

सुकवि m.: a good poet

सुकृत n.: good deed

सुखादित 3: well-chewed

सुदुःख n.: great suffering

दुस् "evil, bad" (observe Sandhi!).

Examples:

दुर्नय m.: bad conduct, improper behavior

दुष्करण n.: bad deed, difficult deed

The following rule applies:

Sound change of -s in compounds

Contrary to sentence Sandhi, the final sound of the first member of compounds follows this rule:

-s after -i- or -u- before a voiceless guttural or labial becomes » -ṣ

Therefore: दुष्करण

18.2.1. Compounds of the type सुकर / दुष्कर

Compounds of the type सुकर / दुष्कर primarily express the meaning of passive possibility:

Examples:

सुकर 3: easy to do

सुगम 3: easy to go

दुर्गम 3: difficult to go

सुदुर्गम 3: very difficult to go

18.2.2. Meanings of nañ-Tatpuruṣa (a- / an-)

Tatpuruṣa compounds with a- / an- can have the following meanings:

1. Similarity (तत्सादृश्यम्):
   अब्राह्मणः = a Kṣatriya or Vaiśya who wears the sacred thread (यज्ञोपवीत n.) and thus resembles a Brāhmaṇa, without being one
2. Absence, non-existence (तदभावः):
   अज्ञानम् = ignorance (absence of knowledge)
3. Otherness (तदन्यत्वम्):
   अपटम् = something that is not cloth / garment (पट m: fabric, garment)
4. Smallness (तदल्पता):
   अनुदरम् = a small belly (a non-belly)
5. Disapproval (अप्राशास्त्यम्):
   अकालः = untimeliness
6. Hostility (निरोधः):
   असुरः = anti-god (according to the false etymology a-sura)

The following verse summarizes these meanings:

तत्सादृश्यमभावश्च तदन्यत्वं तदल्पता । अप्राशास्त्यं निरोधश्च नजर्थाः षट्प्रकीर्तिताः ॥

Six meanings of nañ (= a-/an-) are called ....

18.3. Verbal Compounds

उपसर्गेण धात्वर्थो बलादन्यत्र नीयते । गङ्गासलिलमाधुर्यं सागरेण यथाम्भसा ॥

चन्द्रकीर्ति : प्रसन्नपदा p. 2 l. 14f.

A prefix forcibly changes the meaning of a root, just as the sweetness of Ganges water is changed by sea water.

In Sanskrit, verbs can be combined with prefixes (उपसर्ग m.). Usually, the sentence sandhi applies. Prefixes can significantly modify the meaning of the root, so that in many cases the meaning of a root with prefix must be learned separately. Verbs with prefixes can have a different mood (P, Ā) than the simple root. Multiple prefixes can be placed before a root simultaneously.

Some important prefixes are:

उप "to, towards, against"

Examples:

उपगम् 1 उपगच्छति : to go towards, to approach

उपदिश् 6 उपदिशति : to point out, to instruct, to advise

उपपद् 4 Ā उपपद्यते : to reach

• PPP उपपन्न 3: equipped with (Instrumental)

उपलभ् 1 Ā उपलभते : to grasp, to attain

प्र "forward, forth"

Examples:

प्राप् (pra-āp) 5 प्राप्नोति : to attain

प्रदिश् 6 प्रदिशति : to show

प्रबुध् 4 Ā प्रबुध्यते : to awaken, to recognize

प्रभू 1 प्रभवति : to emerge, to stand out, to have power over (Gen., Loc. Dat.)

प्रवच् 2 प्रवक्ति PPP प्रोक्त (« pra + ukta) : explain, communicate, pronounce

प्रवद् 1 प्रवदति : pronounce, designate as, declare to be

प्रस्तु 2 प्रस्तौति : praise before, loudly praise, come to speak of something, begin

वि "apart, away, apart-, asunder-"

Examples:

विगम् 1 विगच्छति : go apart, pass away, disappear

विजि 1 Ā (!) विजयते : conquer

विमुच् 6 विमुञ्चति : release, free

विवद् 1 विवदति : dispute, discuss, tell

विस्मृ 1 विस्मरति : forget

विहन् 2 विहन्ति : shatter, destroy, annihilate

सम् "together, with"

Examples:

समास् 2 Ā समास्ते : sit together, stay, live

समि 2 समेति : come together, unite

संगम् 1 Ā (!) संगच्छते : come together, meet (friendly or hostile), have sexual intercourse with (Acc.)

संजन् 4 Ā संजायते : arise

• PPP संजात 3: born, arisen, become

सम्बुध् 4 Ā सम्बुध्यते : awaken completely (to the truth)

सम्पद् 4 Ā सम्पद्यते : be granted to someone, succeed

• PPP सम्पन्न 3: provided with (Instr.)

The root कृ "to do" shows in connection with the preverbs सम् । उप । अप । परि also the form स्कृ

Example:

sam-kṛ 8 संस्करोति : prepare, prepare for sacrifice, consecrate

• PPP संस्कृत 3: prepared for sacrifice ; संस्कृत n.: Sanskrit: the language suitable for sacrifice ; counterpart प्राकृत 3: ordinary, common ; प्राकृत n.: ordinary language, Prakrit (designation for the vernacular and trade languages related to Sanskrit)

18.3.1. Nominal formations from verbal compounds

Nouns can be formed from roots with prefixes using kṛt suffixes.

Examples:

sam-kṛ + -a = संस्कार m.: consecration, preparation; transitional rituals = designation for the ceremonies that accompany the various stages of life from conception to death (see the excellent summary in Basham, Wonder pp. 160 - 170!)

Fig.: विवाहः
Wedding = विवाह m., an important संस्कारः
(Image source: Details)

upa-nī + -ana = उपनयन n.: the leading near (to the sacrificial fire) = ceremony in which members of the three upper varṇas are given the sacred thread (यज्ञोपवीत n.) and the holy verse सावित्री is whispered into their ear, which they are to recite daily at sunrise and sunset from then on. For the Brāhmaṇas, this is Ṛgveda III.62.10:

"May we receive the excellent radiance of the god 'Driver,' who may set our thoughts in motion."

Through the Upanayana, the second birth occurs; therefore: द्विज । द्विजाति

Abb.: उपनयनम्
"A young boy is seen during upanayana ritual. The yellowed, thin, thread running from left shoulder to the waist is Yagnopaivta. Also note the girdle of munja grass around the waist. The twig in the right hand (usually from peepa treel) siginifies his entry in to Brahmacharya."
(Image source: Details)

18.4. Word List

सुष्टु 3: highly praised, excellent, good

शोभन 3: shining, splendid, magnificent, beautiful, good

सम 3: equal, same, similar (with instrumental)

व्याधि m.: illness, disease

रिपु m. = शत्रु , deceiver, fraudster

वह्नि m. = अग्नि ज्ञान n.: knowledge, cognition

शूर 3: brave, heroic ; m.: hero

शब्द m.: sound, tone, signal: word

उदक n.: water

अन्त m.: end, limit

आदि m.: beginning, start

दण्ड m.: stick, rod, punishment

मात्रा f. मात्र n.: measure, limit

सहित 3: united, provided with

हस्त m.: hand

प्रभृति f.: beginning, start

18.5. Exercise

A) Translate the सुभाषित at the beginning of the lesson.

B) Translate the following Tatpuruṣa compounds:

१. सुकर ३ २ n.

३. सुकृती f.

४. अकरण n.

५. दुरिष्ट n.

६. दुरिष्टि f.

७. सुखादित 3

८. दुष्कर 3

९. दुर्जय 3

१०. सुगत m.

११. सुजन m.

१२. दुरुक्ति f.

१३. दुरुपदेश m.

१४. सुजात 3

१५. सुगुरु 3

१६. अनाप्त 3

१७. अनीति f.

१८. अनीश्वरत्व n.

१९. सुदुःख n.

२०. दुर्जन m.

२१. दुर्दग्ध 3

२२. अतिकृत 3

२३. सुपुत्र m.

२४. सुबुद्धि f.

२५. दुष्पुत्र m.

२६. दुष्प्रणीत 3

२७. सुमति f.

२८. दुर्लभ 3

२९. दुर्वच 3

३०. दुर्वचन n.

३१. अमृत n.

18.6. Review Exercise

Please do not use any aids!

A) Resolve the following compounds into Sanskrit and provide translation suggestions:

१. अन्तगत 3

२. क्षमाकर 3

३. क्षेमेन्द्र m.

४. शस्त्रकोपनिरोध m.

५. सिंहसंहनन n.

६. अरिसिंह m.

७. आहारनिद्राभय n.

८. मृतिसाधनी f.

९. कुलोपदेश m.

Fig.: मृतिसाधनी काली
1770 Print
(Image source: Details)

B) Translate using verbs of the 2nd present class:

1. The Brahmin praises the goddesses.

2. The heroes go on the difficult-to-tread path to the village of the Āryas.

3. The female servant milks the cows.

4. The enemies of the Āryas slay the powerful Kṣatriyas.

5. A ghost eats no fruits.

6. Thus speaks the one who has walked well [the path through rebirths] to the disciple.

Fig.: सुगतः गन्धार 1st/2nd cent. CE
(Image source: Details)

C) Provide the definition of Yoga in Sanskrit in two ways: once using a compound, and once by resolving the compound.

D) Translate:

(धर्मः) सर्वेषामाहिंसा सत्यं शौचमनसूयानृशंस्यं क्षमा च ॥