BSEB Inter Sanskrit key terms

Sanskrit prose, any composition not bound by metre, including stories, essays and character sketches. In this exam it covers prescribed prose lessons, their themes, characters and the prose authors' style.

Sanskrit verse, poetry composed in fixed metres such as अनुष्टुभ् or वसन्ततिलका. The exam tests meaning of stanzas, poetic devices and the message of prescribed poems.

Sanskrit drama, a play built from acts, dialogues and stage directions. Candidates study prescribed plays, their plot, characters, dramatic conventions and the playwright's purpose.

Grammar, the systematic rules of Sanskrit sounds, word formation and sentence structure. Questions cover sandhi, declension, conjugation, compounds, cases and derived forms.

Metre, the regulated pattern of syllables in a verse. Candidates identify metres by their syllable scheme and name, and scan lines to check whether the metre is correct.

A figure of speech, a device that beautifies poetic expression. Candidates identify figures such as उपमा, रूपक and अनुप्रास in given lines and explain how each works.

Composition writing: essays, letters, reports and short original paragraphs in Sanskrit. Marks depend on correct grammar, apt vocabulary, coherent order of ideas and clean presentation.

An unseen prose passage, not from the prescribed textbook, followed by comprehension questions. Candidates read it carefully and answer in their own words, using the passage's information.

Sandhi, the phonetic joining of two adjacent sounds at a word boundary. For example, विद्या + आलयः becomes विद्यालयः. Candidates split joined words and combine separate ones correctly.

Splitting a sandhi-bound word back into its original components, as in देवालयः becoming देव + आलयः. This is a standard question type and requires knowing which sandhi rule applied.

A compound, several words fused into one unit with a single case ending, such as राजपुत्रः. Candidates identify the type, for example तत्पुरुष, बहुव्रीहि or द्वन्द्व, and resolve the compound into its parts.

The expanded explanation of a compound, showing its constituent words with their case endings and relation, as राज्ञः पुत्रः for राजपुत्रः. Writing the correct vigraha proves the compound has been understood.

A case, one of the eight inflectional forms of a noun, from nominative to vocative. Candidates decline nouns and pronouns in all three numbers and choose the case a construction requires.

Number in grammar: singular, dual or plural. Sanskrit verbs and nouns agree in number, so a dual subject takes a dual verb form, and errors here cost marks in composition.

A conjugated verb form built from a root with tense, person and number endings, such as भवति, अभवत्, भविष्यति. Candidates produce correct paradigms for the roots in the syllabus.

A tense or mood category of the Sanskrit verb, such as लट् present, लङ् past, लृट् future, विधिलिङ् optative and लोट् imperative. Each has its own personal endings.

A prefix attached to a root that modifies its meaning, as प्र + हारः gives प्रहारः, a blow. Knowing common prefixes helps candidates explain unfamiliar words in prose and verse.

A suffix added to a root or stem to form a new word, such as क्त्वा, ल्यप्, तव्यत् or क्त. Candidates recognise the suffix used and give the word's meaning and grammatical role.

A word formed from a root plus a primary suffix, functioning as a noun or participle, such as कृत्वा, गतः or पठनीयः. These forms appear constantly in prescribed texts.

Simile, a figure in which one thing is compared to another of a different class using words such as इव, यथा or सदृश. Both the comparison and its stated basis must be clear.

Metaphor, a figure in which the subject is identified with the object of comparison without any word of comparison, as in चरणकमलम्, where feet are simply called lotuses.

Alliteration, the deliberate repetition of the same consonant sound in nearby words, which gives verse a musical quality. Candidates point to the repeated sound and explain the effect.

A figure in which the same word, or the same group of sounds, recurs with a different meaning. Recognising it depends on understanding both senses in context.

A figure in which one word or expression carries two or more meanings at once, often producing a double-edged statement. Candidates explain each meaning and how both fit the sentence.

A metrical pattern of a fixed number of syllables arranged in defined groups, with a set rhythm. Candidates name the metre of a verse and check its syllable scheme.

A foot of three syllables in prosody, of which eight combinations exist, named य, र, स, त, भ, ज, म and न. Naming the feet of a line identifies its metre.

The commonest Sanskrit metre, with eight syllables in each of four quarters, used for epic and didactic verse. Candidates scan a line and confirm it fits this pattern.

An act of a play, a major division marked by the entry and exit of characters and the development of the plot. Questions ask what happens in a named act and why it matters.

A character in a drama, whether a leading figure, a companion or a minor role. Candidates describe a character's traits and support each claim with an incident from the play.

The benedictory verse recited at the opening of a Sanskrit play, invoking blessing on the audience. It precedes the prologue and is a standard point of reference in drama questions.

The stage manager or director in Sanskrit drama, who opens the play, introduces the theme and often converses with an actress in the prologue before the action begins.

A prose passage, either from the prescribed textbook or unseen, read for its main idea, supporting details and the meaning of difficult words in context.

A summary, a short restatement of a passage's central idea in the candidate's own words. A good summary keeps the main points, drops examples, and stays within the word limit.

An essay written on a set topic, organised into an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. Marks reward relevant content, grammatical accuracy and orderly presentation.

A letter, formal or personal, written in Sanskrit with sender, addressee, salutation, body and closing. Formal letters follow a set format that candidates must reproduce correctly.

The meaning of a word as used in a particular passage, which may differ from its dictionary sense. Candidates supply a short Sanskrit or Hindi equivalent that fits the context.

Translation between Sanskrit and the language of instruction. The exam tests faithful rendering of meaning, correct grammar in the target language and retention of the original tone.