Speak IN Samskrit, ABOUT Samskrit

The attempt here is not to be comprehensive but cover the most basic of words that we use on a daily basis. [In fact, I am typing this while I wait for my flight, which will start boarding soon]. It is intentionally kept short so as to make it easier for people to use them as a quick reference (and also because I need to rush).

Samskrita BhArati has many books to make conversation easier. Below is a quick and good introduction from one of the many Samskrita Bhaarati books (not verbatim though).

Samskrita, the Divine Language

By acknowledging that Samskritam (or samskrita or sanskrit) is a soft spoken, magnificent language, divine and superior to others, ancient in origin, embedded in our very culture, people have many a time and oft shown their appreciation for its unique charm. However, Samskritam cannot be promoted by mere appreciation. It is only when we talk in Samskritam, use it in our day-to-day dealings, that Samskritam can make progress and continue to survive.

As long as intellects exist, as long as samskriti (culture) exists, as long as spiritual curiosity / quest exists, samskritam will also exist, because it lives in the hearts and minds of a few who are prepared to do anything to keep it beating. 

In the past, irrespective of class, creed, religion or sects we used to converse in Samskrit, contrary to those who claim that it was the language of the academics or of one particular class.

Samskrit, like any other language, can be learnt and studied by repeatedly hearing and speaking, by aural means alone, by oral practice alonem, i.e. even without reading any book, without grammatical rules. So, one MUST talk in Samskrit.

Hence speak IN Samskrit as much as ABOUT Samskrit.

If one inquires “Where should we speak in Samskrit”, the answer is – in school, in classrooms, at home, with friends, in a factory, on road, in market, everywhere, in whatever capacity one can. You can speak in playgrounds, dining tables, in transit, on phone. Talk in Samskrit with students, with children, with servants, with the vegetable vendor, with the milkman. It can be spoken irrespective of caste, creed, class, religion.

So the best method to learn Samskrit is to speak in Samskrit. Here are a few basic phrases that we use frequently. Samskrit is within you, so the more you use it more it reveals itself from within.

Hence speak IN Samskrit not just ABOUT Samskrit.

The most basic words:

English	Samskrit
Me, I	AhaM
YOU	Tvaṁ bhavaan – men, bhavati – women
He She	aah saa
WE	vayaM
YOU (Plural)	yooyam
THEY	te
WHO	kah – men, kaa – women,
WHEN	kadA
WHERE	kutra
HOW	kathAm
WHY	kimartham
WHAT – will discuss later
MINE	mama
YOUR	tava bhavataH – men, bhavatyaah – women
TRY, ATTEMPT	prayatnam
TELL	vada
Water	jalaM
COME	aagacchatu
Sit	upavishatu
enough	paryaaptam

The basic phrases:

English	Samskrit
Hello	namaste / namaskaarah / hari Om
Good Day	shubha dinam
Good Evening	shubha saayam
Good Night	shubha raatri
Good Luck	Shubham astu
Please	krupayaa
Excuse me / Pardon Me / Sorry	kshamyataam / krupayaa kshamyataam
Thank You	dhanyavaadah
Welcome	swaagatam
Don’t worry	chintaa maastu
All right	saadhu, astu
Good	saadhu / samyak
Very good	utthamam / shobhanam
Excellent	bahu Utthamam
HOW ARE YOU? Are you doing good?	bhavaan (bhavati for women) katham asti? bhavaan khushalam vaa?
I am good	ahaM khushalam asmi
Where are You?	tvaṁ kutra asi ?
Madam	manye / mahodayA
Sir	mahodaya / Sreemaan
Please Come	aagacchatu
Lets go	gacchaamah
See you later / Meet you again / see you soon	punar milaamah
A little	swalpam
Please be seated	upavishatu
Atah kim?	What else?
.. am going to          I am going to office          I am going for lunch          I am going to a shop          I am going to school          I am going to the temple	gacchaami         kaaryaalayam gacchaami         bhojanaartham gacchaami         aapaNam gacchaami         shaalaam gacchaami         dEvaalayam gacchaami
…. you are going to       [you] are going to office	tvaṁ gacchasi Tvaṁ kaaryaalam gacchasi
.. he is going to     He is going to the temple	sah dEvaalayam gacchati (he is going ….)
May you … (order / request)    May you go (or simply ‘go to’) the temple	tvaṁ  …. gaccha  tvaṁ dEvaalayam gacCha
May he …. (order / request)    May he (or let him) go to the temple	sah … gacChatu sah dEvaalayam gacChatu
I do not know	ahaM na jaanaami
You do not know	tvaṁ na jaanasi bhavaan (men) na jaanati bhavaati (women) na jaanati
Have some food	bhOjanam karotu … bhojanam sveekarotu
Have some tea	chaayaM pibatu …
Will you have some tea?	chaayaM pibati kim?
Will you have some water?	jalaM pibati kim? jalaM avashyakaM kim?
Food is very tasty / relishing	bhojanam bahu swaadishtam asti* * aaseet for “was”