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Handbook for
The Online Audio Course
Part One: Learning to Read Sanskrit
By
Carol Whitfield, Ph.D
Table of Contents
The Sanskrit Alphabet
2
Guide to Pronunciation
3
Vowel and Consonant Recognition
4
Vowel and Consonant Recognition with Transliteration
5
Vowels Following Consonants
6
Examples of Vowels Following Consonants
7
Consonant-Vowel Recognition
8
Exercise 1 Vowels Following Consonants
Exercise 2 Consonant Vowel Recognition
Words without Conjuncts—Reading Practice
9
Conjunct Consonants
10-11
Vedanta Vocabulary List 1—Reading Practice
12
Vedanta Vocabulary List 1 with Transliteration
13-14
1
The Sanskrit Alphabet
Simple Vowels
A Aa # $ % ^ \ § ¤
a
Dipthongs
ä
i
é
u
ü
å
è
ÿ
@ @e Aae AaE
e
Mutes
Gutterals
Palatals
Linguals
Dentals
Labials
ai
1
-V-A*
o
A<
au
2
-V+A
A>
aà
3
+V-A
4
+V+A
Nasals
aù
SemiVowels
Sibilants
k
o
g
"
'
h
ka
kha
ga
gha
ì
ha
c
D
j
H
|
y
z
ca
cha
ja
jha
ïa
ya
ça
q
Q
f
F
[
r
;
öa
öha
òa
òha
ëa
ra
ña
t
w
d
x
n
l
s
ta
tha
da
dha
na
la
sa
p
)
b
É
m
v
pa
pha
ba
bha
ma
va
* -V = unvoiced or hard consonant
-A = unaspirated
+V = voiced or soft consonant
+A = aspirated
2
Guide to Pronunciation
A a
o in son
Q öa
t in start
Aa ä
a in ma
Q öha
th in ant-hill
#
i
i in if
f òa
d in day
$
é
e in me
F òha
dh in god-head
% u
u in suit
[ ëa
n in under
^ ü
oo in boot
t ta
t in time
\ å
ri in rig
w tha
t in tank
§ è
extend ri in rig
d da
d in did
x dha
dh in dharma
¤ ÿ
@ e
a in gay
n na
n in never
@e ai
y in my
p pa
p in pine
Aae o
o in okay
) pha
ph in loop-hole
AaE au
ow in now
b ba
b in big
k ka
c in come
É bha
b in boat
o kha
ckh in blockhead
m ma
m in much
g ga
g in give
y ya
y in young
" gha
gh in loghut
r
r in drum
' ìa
n in song
l la
l in luck
c ca
ch in chum
v
va
v in vice
D cha
ch in chuck
z
ça
sh in shine
j ja
j in jim
;
ña
sh in bushel
H jha
j in job
s
sa
s in save
| ïa
n in bunch
h
ha
h in hum
3
ra
Vowel and Consonant Recognition
Please practice these vowel and consonant symbols with and without the audio
support until you are able to easily read them.
Vowels
@
Aae
Aa
#
\
A
^
AaE
%
$
\
@e
A
#
Aae
@
Aa
@e
%
AaE
§
^
$
¤
Aae
#
\
^
Aa
@e
AaE
#
¤
A
$
@
AaE
%
Aa
^
Consonants
g
É
j
Q
D
d
)
h
|
t
"
s
r
;
o
m
z
b
x
v
p
F
k
H
l
'
)
f
D
[
o
F
d
m
Q
;
w
t
j
h
b
j
É
[
c
q
x
v
n
v
l
w
v
k
p
n
H
f
z
j
r
s
|
c
q
n
p
g
s
l
r
"
4
Vowel and Consonant Recognition with Transliteration
Please practice these vowel and consonant symbols with and without the audio
support until you are able to easily read them.
Vowels
@
Aae o
Aa ä
#
% u
$
\ å
@e ai
Aa ä
@e ai
Aae o
#
¤
A a
e
ÿ
é
i
\ å
A a
^ ü
AaE au
A a
# i
Aae o
@
e
% u
AaE au § å
^ ü
$
é
¤
ÿ
\ å
^ ü
Aa ä
@e ai
AaE au
#
i
$
@
AaE au
% u
Aa ä ^ ü
D cha d da
) pha h ha
o kha m ma
é
i
e
Consonants
g ga
É bha j ja
| ï
t ta
" gha s sa
r ra
; ña
z ça
b ba
x dha v va
p pa
F òha k ka
l la
' ìa
) pha f òa
D cha [ ëa
o kha F òha
d da
m ma Q öha
w tha t ta
j ja
b
ba
j ja
c ca
q öa
x dha v va
n
na v va
l la
w tha v va
k ka
p pa
n na
H jha f òa
z ça
j ja
r ra
s sa
| ïa
c ca
q öa
p pa
g ga
s sa
l la
r ra
" gha
n na
Q öha
; ña
É bha [ ëa
5
H jha
H ha
Vowels Following Consonants
When a word begins with a vowel and does not follow a consonant in a sentence
or compound, the vowel keeps its primary form:
Simple vowels:
A Aa # $ % ^ \ § ¤
@ @e Aae Aa
Diphthongs:
But, if the vowel directly follows a consonant, it changes to a secondary form.
The table below shows the primary vowel form followed by its secondary form
and in parenthesis an example of the secondary form added to the consonant kœ
A Ø * (k)
Aa a (ka)
% … (k…) ^ ª (kª)
@ e (ke)
@e E (kE)
# i (ik)
« (k«)
\ Aae ae (kae)
$ I
(kI)
§
© (k©)
¤ „ **
AaE aE (kaE)
* If a consonant is not followed by any other vowel, the vowel A is assumed
unless the consonant has a virämaù, a diagonal line ( ! ), below the consonant.
For example kœ + A
=
k.
** The vowel ¤ is rarely used, and is shown here attached to the letter kœ as the
font I am using does not have this vowel form available in its unattached
secondary form.
6
Examples of Vowels Following Consonants
AØ kog"'cDjH|qQfF[twdxnp)bÉmyrlvz;sh
Aa a ka oa ga "a 'a ca Da ja ˆHa |a qa Qa fa Fa [a ta wa da xa na pa )a ba Éa ma ya ra
la va za ;a sa ha
#i
ik io ig i" i' ic iD ij iH i| iq iQ if iF i[ it iw id ix in ip i) ib iÉ im iy ir il
iv iz i; is ih
$ I kI oI gI "I 'I cI DI jI HI |I qI QI fI FI [I tI wI dI xI nI pI )I mI yI rI lI vI
zI ;I sI hI
%
…
k… ou gu "u '… cu Du ju Hu |u qu Qu fu Fu [u tu wu Ê xu nu pu )… bu Éu mu yu é* lu vu zu ;u su ÷
*Notice the placement of the % in é
^
ª
kª oU gU "U 'ª cU DU jU HU |U qª Qª fª Fª [U tU wU Ë xU nU pU )ª bU ÉU mU yU ê* lU vU zU ;U sU ø
*Notice the placement of the ^ in ê
\ « k« o& g& "& '« c& D& j& H& |& q& Q& f& F& [& t& w& †* x& [& p& )« b& É& m& y& l& v& z& ;& s& ù
*Notice that dœ when followed by \ takes a modified form: †
§ © k© o¨ g¨ "¨ '© c¨ D¨ j¨ H¨ |¨ q¨ Q¨ f¨ F¨ [¨ t¨ w¨ d° x¨ n¨ p¨ )© b¨ ɨ m¨ y¨ l¨ v¨ z¨ ;¨ s¨ h°
@ e ke oe ge "e 'e ce De je He |e qe Qe fe Fe [e te we de xe ne pe )e be Ée me ye re le ve ze ;e se he
@e E kE oE gE "E 'E cE DE jE HE |E qE QE fE FE [E tE wE dE xE nE pE )E bE ÉE mE yE rE lE vE zE ;E sE hE
Aae ae kae oae gae "ae 'ae cae Dae jae Hae |ae qae Qae fae Fae [ae tae wae dae xae nae pae )ae bae Éae mae yae rae
lae vae zae ;ae sae hae
AaE aE kaE oaE gaE "aE 'aE caE DaE jaE HaE |aE qaE QaE faE FaE [aE taE waE daE xaE naE paE )aE baE ÉaE maE yaE raE
laE vaE zaE ;aE saE haE
7
Consonant-Vowel Recognition
Exercise 1 Vowels Following Consonants
k
ka
ik
kI
k…
kª
k«
k©
ke
kE
kae
kaE
c
ca
ic
cI
cu
cU
c&
c¨
ce
cE
cae
caE
q
qa
iq
qI
qu
qª
q&
q¨
qe
qE
qae
qaE
t
ta
it
tI
tu
tU
t&
t¨
te
tE
tae
qaE
p
pa
ip
pI
pu
pU
p&
p¨
pe
pE
pae
paE
Exercise 2 Consonant Vowel Recognition
da
cI
zu
kae
ta
nU
s&
ga
zE
"u
mE
Ha
Fa
QI
;I
ta
[a
ih
cE
mU
"I
haE
jI
hE
ou
naE
k«
saE
gI
g
'aE
zae
is
hae
DaE
kaE
ja
faE
gU
cu
|aE
'ae
bE
paE
caE
na
zI
÷
gaE
ma
Q&
dE
ca
daE
ig
zU
la
F
je
z&
Éae
iz
ib
su
jae
ij
ke
tI
Éa
pe
g&
pae
qa
Fe
we
ra
Ée
ø
iy
d°
kI
jE
qe
De
in
bu
la
se
8
Reading Practice
Simple Words without Conjunct Consonants
nm>
c
ih
n
sa
te
va
tu
salutations
and
indeed
not
she
they
or
but
Aip
ikm!
@tt!
tt!
ywa
twa
#v
cet!
also
what
this
that
just as
similarly
like
if
m&;a
@v
tan!
tt>
ten
yen
punrœ
b÷
falsely
indeed
them
therefore
by that
by which
again
many
vym!
prm!
kw<
Asu>
vad>
gt
ik<
Aah
we
other
how
breath
talking
gone
what
said
jra
"q>
xn<
deh>
jIv>
suo<
zaek>
maeh>
old age
pot
wealth
body
soul
pleasure
sorrow
delusion
xIr>
xIman!
Ast!
st!
zIt
%dkm!
jgt!
maya
brave
wise
nonexistence
existence
cool
water
world
maya
ved
Éav>
AÉav>
zIlm!
pura[>
Aakaz>
ivkar>
ivraex>
Veda
being
nonexistence
dispostion
ancient
space
modification
oppositon
Égvan! kar[<
vcnain
iv;y>
Am&tm!
Apcy>
%pcy>
iv;adm!
Bhagavan
cause
speech
object
immortal
diminution
increase
dejection
ivvek>
%paix>
inêp[<
Avyv> ivnaz>
ÉUtain
zrIrm!
hnnm!
viveka
conditioning
adjunct
ascertaining
limb
beings
body
killing
destruction
Note: The primary purpose of the exercise is to become familiar with the script,
not to learn vocabulary. I have given the basic definitions of these words so that
you don’t have to repeat meaningless sounds.
9
Conjunct Consonants
When two consonants come together without an intervening vowel they are
called conjunct consonants. These are formed in different ways, depending on
the structure of the consonant. Often, the vertical line of the first consonant can
be removed and the remaining part of the consonant conjoined to the latter, so
they become adjacent to each other. In some instances, there is not an easily
removable vertical and the consonants will stack on top of each other. In almost
all cases, if you know the full form of the individual consonants well, you will be
able to recognize them in their conjoined form. The exceptions are listed below
as unusual forms and simply need to be memorized.
Adjacent
kogcjH}|z[twnspbÉmv
Km = kœ m
CD = c! D
Nt = n! t
Bx = b! x
Ky = kœ y
¾ = j! j
Xy =x! y
BÉ = b! É
Oy = o! y
{[ = [! [
Xm = x! m
Vy = v! y
Gl = g! l
Tp = t! p
Py = p! y
Sk = s! k
Gv = g! v
Tm = t! m
Wy =w! y
St = s! t
½ = c! c
TSy = t! s! y
Stacking
d'DqQfFh
» = 'œ k
Ï = dœ x
Ó = dœ b
ò = ;! q
¼ = 'œ g
Ñ = dœ É
” = qœ q
ó = ;! Q
ò+ =;! qœ r
ò( = ;! qœ y
10
Unusual Forms
mR = rœ m
Sà = s! p! r
Î = dœ d
í = z! c
vR = rœ v
Tà = t! p! r
Ó = dœ b
î = z! n
tR = rœ t
q( = qœ y
Ï = dœ x
Zm = z! m
³ = kœ r
Q( = Qœ y
Ñ = dœ É
ï = z! r
¢ = g! r
f( = fœ y
Ò = dœ m
Ÿ = hœ [
à = p! r
Š = kœ k
* = dœ y
û = hœ n
Ç = t! r
´ = kœ t
™ = dœ v! y
ü = hœ m
ö = s! r
Ä = t! t
Õ = dœ rœ y
ý = hœ y
ò+ =;! qœ r
Èy = t! rœ y
} =j! |
] = kœ ;
Examples of Unusual Forms
kmR
ktaR
¢am
tÇ
c³
Éi´
Éae´a
mae]
mui´
}anm!
tÅv
buiÏ
pÒ
iv*a
ïÏa
àî
äün!
hirí
11
Vedanta Vocabulary List 1
These words are commonly used in Vedantic texts. This exercise is meant to
familarize you with the these terms in Sanskrit. The list below it includes the
transliteration.
äün!
AaTma
jIv>
jgt!
$ñr>
maya
st!
ict!
AanNd>
sTym!
}anm!
AnNtm!
vedaNt>
%pin;dœ
àma[m!
àkr[m!
mae]>
bNxnm!
iv*a
Aiv*a
}anm!
A}anm!
}ainn!
s<sairn!
àma
àTy]
prae]
Aprae]
v&iÄ>
buiÏ>
SwUl
sUúm
kar[m!
zrIrm!
deh>
%paix>
kmRn!
AkmRn!
kmRyaeg>
s<Nyas>
s<Nyaisn!
mumu]u>
Aixkairn! ivvek>
vEraGym!
zmaid;qœkm! mumu]uTvm!
mns!
zm>
dm>
%prit>
itit]a
smaxanm!
ïÏa
s<sairn!
Aixkairn! ivveikn!
mumu]u>
}ainn!
s<Nyaisn!
AXyas>
AXyaraep>
Apvad>
Aaraep>
vStu
AvStu
kt&RTvm!
Éae´«Tvm!
suioTvm!
Ê>ioTvm!
r¾u>
spR>
maya
àk«it>
sÅv
rjs!
tms!
gu[>
ÉUtain
p&iwvI
Aap>
Ai¶>
vayu>
Aakaz>
zBd>
SpzR>
êpm!
rs>
gNx>
cEtNym!
ïaeÇ>
Tvkœ
c]u>
ijþa
ºa[m!
#iNÔyai[
vakœ
pai[>
pad>
payu>
%pSwa>
Svêp>
12
Vedanta Vocabulary List 1 with Transliteration
äün!
AaTma
jIv>
jgt!
$ñr>
maya
brahman
ätmä
jévaù
jagat
éçvaraù
mäyä
st!
ict!
AanNd>
sTym!
}anm!
AnNtm!
sat
cit
änandaù
satyam
jïänam
anantam
vedaNt>
%pin;dœ
àma[m!
àkr[m!
mae]>
bNxnm!
vedäntaù
upaniñad
pramäëam
prakaraëam
mokñaù
bandhana
iv*a
Aiv*a
}anm!
A}anm!
}ainn!
s<sairn!
vidyä
avidyä
jïänam
ajïänam
jïänin
saàsärin
àma
àTy]
prae]
Aprae]
v&iÄ >
buiÏ>
pramä
pratyakña
parokña
aparokña
våttiù
buddhiù
SwUl
sUúm
kar[m!
zrIrm!
deh>
%paix>
sthüla
sükñma
käraëam
çaréram
dehaù
upädhiù
kmRn!
AkmRn!
kmRyaeg>
s<Nyas>
s<Nyaisn!
mumu]u>
karman
akarman
karmayogaù sannyäsaù
sannyäsin
mumukñuù
Aixkairn! ivvek>
vEraGym!
zmaid;qœkm! mumu]uTvm!
adhikärin
vivekaù
vairägyam
çamädiñaökam mumukñutvam manas
zm>
dm>
%prit>
itit]a
smaxanm!
ïÏa
çamaù
damaù
uparatiù
titikñä
samädhänam
çraddhä
s<sairn!
Aixkairn!
ivveikn!
mumu]u>
}ainn!
s<Nyaisn!
saàsärin
adhikärin
vivekin
mumukñuù
j ïänin
sannyäsin
AXyas>
AXyaraep>
Apvad>
Aaraep>
vStu
AvStu
adhyäsaù
adhyäropaù apavädaù
äropaù
vastu
avastu
13
mns!
kt&RTvm!
Éae´«Tvm!
suioTvm!
Ê>ioTvm!
kartåtvam
bhoktåtvam sukhitvam
duùkhitvam rajjuù
sarpaù
maya
àk«it>
sÅv
rjs!
tms!
gu[>
mäyä
prakåtiù
sattva
rajas
tamas
guëaù
ÉUtain
p&iwvI
Aap>
Ai¶>
vayu>
Aakaz>
bhütäni
påthivé
äpaù
agniù
väyuù
äkäçaù
zBd>
SpzR>
êpm!
rs>
gNx>
cEtNym!
çabdaù
sparçaù
rüpam
rasaù
gandhaù
caitanyam
ïaeÇ>
Tvkœ
c]u>
ijþa
ºa[m!
#iNÔyain
çrotraù
tvak
cakñuù
jihvä
ghräëam
indriyäni
vakœ
pai[>
pad>
payu>
%pSwa>
Svêp>
väk
päëiù
pädaù
päyuù
upasthäù
svarüpaù
14
r¾u>
spR>