Grammar and Usage (Vyākaraṇa): Sandhi, Samāsa, Declension, Conjugation
Sandhi
Learn sandhi by the second member's initial sound. Vowel with vowel gives savarṇa dīrgha (a + a = ā), guṇa (a + i = e), vṛddhi (a + e = ai), yaṇ (i + a = y) or ayādi (e + a = aya). Consonant contact gives ścutva (t + ś = cch), jaśtva (t + d = d) and rules for anusvāra and visarga. Split first, then name the rule.
Samāsa
Decide by vigraha and by the head word. Tatpuruṣa: the last member is the head and the first stands in a case relation (rājñaḥ putraḥ = rājaputraḥ). Karmadhāraya: both members refer to the same thing (nīlam utpalam = nīlotpalam). Bahuvrīhi: the compound denotes something else possessing the quality (dīrghabāhuḥ = one whose arms are long). Dvandva: members are joined by ca. Avyayībhāva: the first member is an indeclinable.
Declension and conjugation
For nouns, know the eight case forms in three numbers for rāma, nadī, latā and phala, and the pronominal declensions. For verbs, identify gaṇa, pada, tense or mood, person and number. Causatives take ṇic and often the ātmanepada.
Worked example
tatra + eva = tatraiva. The final -a of tatra meets the initial e- of eva; a + e = ai, which is vṛddhi sandhi. The result is not tatraeva. The reasoning is that the rule applies to the vowel of the first member before a simple vowel.
Traps
- Splitting rājaputraḥ as a dvandva.
- Calling every compound a tatpuruṣa.
- Forgetting dual endings.
- Mixing parasmaipada and ātmanepada in one paradigm.
- Naming a sandhi rule without showing the actual sounds.