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.
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”
|
Namaste Girish.
ReplyDeleteBhavaan khushalam vaa? Yooyam Lek Bahu Utthamam.
Shubha dinam.
Ramesh
गिरीश तव प्रय़त्नं श्लाघनीयं।
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