Sanskrit Grammar Basic Notes

http://OpenPathshala.com/Learn-Sanskrit

Prefixes (Upasarga)
• The उपसर्ग-s (prefixes) are frequently used in Sanskrit language
• They bring about changes in the meaning of the basic roots

उपसर्गेण धात्वर्थो बलादन्यत्र नीयते |

प्रहार – आहार – संहार – ववहार – पररहारवत ् ||

• प्रहार, आहार, संहार, विहार, पररहार - derived from root हृ = to snatch away
• प्र + हृ = to strike
• आ + हृ = to eat
• सम ् + हृ = to kill
• वव + हृ = to walk with pleasure/ to wander
• परर + हृ = to ward off

Prefixes - 22 in number

▪ प्र = more, forward ▪ आ = to form, backwards

▪ परा = down, backward ▪ नि = in, more
▪ अप = away, opposite ▪ अधि = above
▪ सम ् = together, very much ▪ अवप = also, to cover
▪ अिु = behind ▪ सु = good
▪ अि = down ▪ अभि = towards
▪ निस ् = out, far away ▪ प्रनि = towards, against
▪ निर् = out ▪ परर = around
▪ दस
ु ् = bad ▪ उप = near, to
▪ दरु ् = difficult ▪ उद् = up
▪ वि = contrary, particular ▪ अनि = beyond

OpenPathshala.com – Your Best Source to Learn Sanskrit, Hindi and Other Indian Languages!
 Sanskrit Grammar Basic Notes
http://OpenPathshala.com/Learn-Sanskrit

Examples –
र्म ् र्च्छनि (to go) आ + र्म ् = आर्च्छनि (to come)
अिु + र्म ् = अिुर्च्छनि (to follow)
निर् + र्म ् = निर्गच्छनि (to go out)
उद् + र्म ् = उद्गच्छनि (to go upward)
दरु ् + र्म ् = दर्
ु च्
ग छनि (to lead difficult path)

Functions of the उपसर्गग-s

धात्वर्थं बाधते कश्चित ् कश्चित्तमनव

ु तगते |
तमेव ववशिनष्टयन्यः उपसर्गगर्गततश्चिधा ||

1. धात्वर्थं बाधते कश्चित ् – some change the meaning of the root

2. कश्चित्तमनव
ु तगते – some follow the original meaning
3. तमेव ववशिनष्टयन्यः – some reinforce/highlight/enhance meaning of the root

1. When certain उपसर्ग-s are added to certain roots, we get exactly the
opposite meaning
• र्म ् (र्च्छनि) = to go • आ + र्म ् (आर्च्छनि) = to come back
• स्म ृ (स्मरनि) = to remember • वव + स्म ृ (ववस्मरनि) = to forget
• जि (ियनि) = to win • परा + जि (पराियिे) = to lose

2. The meaning of the roots is enhanced due to the उपसर्ग-s

• िाि ् (िािनि) = to run • प्र + िाि ् (प्रिािनि) = to run fast
• िह् (िहनि) = to flow • प्र + िह् (प्रिहनि) = to flow fast
• राि ् (राििे) = to shine • वव + राि ् (ववराििे) = to shine better
• ज्ञा (िािानि) = to know • वव + ज्ञा (वविािानि) = to know better

OpenPathshala.com – Your Best Source to Learn Sanskrit, Hindi and Other Indian Languages!
 Sanskrit Grammar Basic Notes
http://OpenPathshala.com/Learn-Sanskrit

3. Some roots change their पद-s because of the उपसर्ग-s (if the root is
originally PP, due to addition of certain उपसर्ग it becomes AP and vice
versa)
स्था – निष्ठतत (PP) सम ्, अि, प्र, वि + स्था -
संनिष्ठते, अिनिष्ठते, प्रनिष्ठते, विनिष्ठते (AP)
र्म ् – र्च्छतत (PP) सम ् + र्म ् - सङ्र्च्छते (AP)
जि – ियतत (PP) वि, परा + जि - विियते, पराियते (AP)
रम ् - रमते (AP) वि, आ, परर - विरमतत, आरमतत, विरमतत
(PP)

Past tense forms with उपसर्गग-s

1. अिु + र्म ् (र्च््) = अिु + अर्च्छि ् = अन्िर्च्छि ् | (यण ् सजन्ि)
2. प्रनि + िद् = प्रनि + अिदि ् = प्रत्यिदि ् | (यण ् सजन्ि)
3. आ + र्म ् (र्च््) = आ + अर्च्छम ् = आर्च्छम ् | (सिणगदीर्गसजन्ि)

OpenPathshala.com – Your Best Source to Learn Sanskrit, Hindi and Other Indian Languages!