Vyakaran (Grammar): Sandhi, Samasa, Karaka
What Vyakaran tests
Vyakaran tests applied grammar: sandhi and sandhi-viccheda, samasa and samasa-vigraha, karaka and vibhakti, shabda-roopa, dhatu-roopa, upasarga, and pratyaya. The exam rewards rule-based answers, not memorised examples alone.
Core rules
- For sandhi, name the type: स्वर, व्यञ्जन, or विसर्ग sandhi, then give the rule.
- For samasa, give vigraha first, then name the samasa: तत्पुरुष, द्वन्द्व, बहुव्रीहि, अव्ययीभाव, or कर्मधारय.
- For karaka, identify the verb first; the karta is normally nominative, karma accusative, karana instrumental, sampradana dative, apadana ablative, and adhikarana locative.
- For shabda-roopa, match linga, vibhakti and vachana; for dhatu-roopa, match purusha, vachana, lakara and pada.
Worked example
Sandhi: सूर्य + उदयः = सूर्योदयः.
- The final -a of सूर्य meets initial u- of उदय.
- Rule: अ/आ + उ/ऊ = ओ (guna).
- Therefore the correct split is सूर्य + उदयः, and the type is स्वर sandhi. Samasa example: राजपुत्रः = राज्ञः पुत्रः. The vigraha uses genitive, so it is a तत्पुरुष samasa, not बहुव्रीहि.
Traps
Writing the joined form without naming the rule; giving a vigraha that does not match the compound; confusing तत्पुरुष and बहुव्रीहि; and labelling a case ending without checking the verb. In roopa questions, one wrong vowel or vachana can cost the whole item.