A Practical Grammar of the Sanskrit Language

dered to be formed with the affix ana, and not, as in native Grammars, by lyut.

In my explanation of the inflection of the base of both nouns and verbs, I have, as before, treated both declension and conjugation as a process of Sandhi; that is to say, junction of the crude base, (as previously formed from the root,) with the terminations. But in the present Grammar I have thought it expedient to lay more stress on the general scheme of terminations propounded by native grammarians; and in the application of this scheme to the base, I have referred more systematically to the rules of euphonic combination, as essential to a sound acquaintance with the principles of nominal and verbal inflection. On the other hand, I have in the present work deviated from the Indian system by retainings as a final in the declension of nouns and conjugation of verbs, for the practical reason of its being more tangible and easy to apprehend than the symbol Visarga or h, which is less perceptible in pronunciation. (See the observations under changes of final s, p. 40.) Even in native Grammars those terminations, the finals of which are afterwards changed to Visarga, are always regarded as originally ending in s; and the subsequent resolution of s into ḥ, when the termination is connected with the base, is a source of confusion and uncertainty. Thus s is said to be the termination of the nominative case; but the nominative of

agni, ‘fire,'

would according to the Indian system be written: agniḥ, which an Englishman would scarcely distinguish in pronunciation from the base agni. In the following pages, therefore, the nominative is given agnis; and the liability of agnis to become agniḥ and agnir is explained under the head of changes of final s (at pp. 40, 41). This plan has also the advantage of exhibiting the resemblance between the system of inflection in Sanskrit and Latin and Greek. The difficulty experienced in comprehending the subject

of Sanskrit conjugation has led me to give abundant examples of verbs conjugated at full. I have of course deviated from the Indian plan of placing the third person first. I have, moreover, deemed it advisable to exhibit the English equivalents of Sanskrit words in the principal examples under each declension and conjugation, knowing by experience the thankfulness with which this aid is received by early students, not thoroughly familiar with the Devanágarí character. The numerous examples of verbs, primitive and derivative, will be found to include all the most useful in the language. In previous Grammars it has been usual to follow the native method of giving only the 3d pers. sing. of each tense, with an occasional indication of any peculiarities in the other persons. The present Grammar, on the other hand, exhibits the more difficult tenses of every verb in full, referring at the same time for the explanation of every peculiar formation to the rule, in the preceding pages, on which it depends. This is especially true of the 2d and 3d preterite (or perfect and aorist), as these constitute the chief difficulty of the Sanskrit verb; and I have constantly found that even advanced students, if required to write out these tenses, will be guilty of inaccuracies, notwithstanding one or two of the persons may have been given for their guidance.

In the chapter on compound words I have again endeavoured, without ignoring the Indian arrangement, to disembarrass it of many elements of perplexity, and to treat the whole subject in a manner more in unison with European ideas. The explanations I have given rest on actual examples selected by myself from 'the Hitopadeśa' and other standard works in ordinary use. Indeed this chapter and that on syntax constitute the most original part of the present volume. In composing the syntax, the literature as it exists has been my only guide. All the examples are taken from classical authors, so as to serve

the purpose of an easy delectus, in which the learner may exercise himself before passing to continuous translation. The deficiency of native Grammars on this important subject is only to be accounted for on the supposition that their aim was to furnish an elaborate analysis of the philosophical structure of the language, rather than a practical guide to the study of the literature.

The exercises in translation and parsing, in the last chapter of this volume, will, it is hoped, facilitate the early student's first effort at translation.

In regard to the general scope of the book, it remains to state that my aim has been to minister to the wants of the earliest as well as the more advanced student. I have therefore employed types of two different sizes; the larger of which is, of course, intended to attract the eye to those parts of the subject to which the attention of the beginner may advantageously be confined. The smaller, however, often contains important matter which is by no means to be overlooked on a second perusal.

Under the conviction that the study of Sanskrit ought to possess charms for the classical scholar, independently of its wonderful literature, I have taken pains to introduce in small type the most striking comparisons between this language and Latin and Greek. I am bound to acknowledge that I have drawn nearly all the materials for this important addition to the book from the English translation of Bopp's 'Comparative Grammar,' by my friend and colleague Professor Eastwick.

One point more remains to be noticed. The want of an Index was felt to be a serious defect in my first Grammar. This omission is now supplied. Two full Indices have been appended to the present work, the one English, and the other Sanskrit. The latter will enable the student to turn at once to any noun, verb, affix, idiom or peculiar formation explained in the foregoing pages.

In conclusion, I desire to take this opportunity of expressing to the Delegates of the Oxford University Press my grateful and respectful sense of the advantages the volume derives from their favour and patronage*.

M. W.

EAST-INDIA COLLEGE, HAILEYBURY,
January 1857.

*Not the least of these advantages has been the use of a press which, in its appointments and general efficiency, stands unrivalled. The judgment and accuracy with which the most intricate parts of my MS. have been printed, have excited a thankfulness in my mind, which those only can understand who know the toil of correcting the press, when much Oriental type is interspersed with the Roman, and when a multitude of minute. diacritical points, dots, and accents have to be employed to represent the Deva-nágarí letters.