Thread on best books + readers to learn Sanskrit. I will li…

... and grammar is introduced at apt phases. There is enough Sanskrit text to immerse yourself & best part is they have accompanying online/in-person courses entirely in Sanskrit. This is the best method to learn spoken Sanskrit.

https://t.co/ObBUHIijl6

2. Svayam Sanskrit Shikshak (Hindi)

This is the second best immersive-learning series. There are 2 parts and progression is gradual. The advantage is it is entirely in Hindi, so the 1:1 syntax + vocab connect for native speakers is instant, Hindi being a daughter of Sanskrit.

this however is also it's only disadvantange. It's language restricted & not suitable for say a Telugu with poor Hindi or for an American or European learner. There is enough reading material here to "learn" Sanskrit.

https://t.co/YphIWzXpNX

3. The Sanskrit Language – Walter H Maurer

This is an amazing course. The best to learn Sanskrit for Americans/Europeans & an excellent one for Indians to use to learn the western grammar terminology. Best part about it? It is extremley long & has at least 100 pages of Sanskrit.

100~ pages of pure Sanskrit with progressions from Ch 1 to Ch 32. Part 2 is a direct story from the Mahabharata with glossary given. So Part 1 starts with basic stories & by part 30 you're reading real literature. I vouch for this course, its the next best self-learner.

4. Cambridge Introduction to Sanskrit –– AM Ruppel

This is a recent book, so very updated with amazing font + brevity. The grammar is explained beautifully, but in much more detail than Deshpande's book (down below). Disadvantage? Just not enough Sanskrit reading.

Although, this book also has a very nice accompanying official website + video series on grammar by Dr. Ruppel.

Website: https://t.co/tRcyVG8fTq

Video Series: https://t.co/zifnEHWwVJ

5. Sanskrit Primer (saṃskṛtasubodhinī) – Dr. Deshpande

This book is great for learning Sanskrit with the traditional western grammar terminology. It is conscise & grammar focused. It is like a handy reference for grammar concepts. Disadvantage? Not enough reading.

This book contains grammar concepts summarized very concisely but lacks the sheer amount of reading progression needed to learn to read Sanskrit fluently.

Advantage? It has an accompanying website: https://t.co/PXn11mHCG3 (not run by Prof. Deshpande)

6. Devavāṇīpraveśika – Goldman and Goldman

This is the best western course so far. It's biggest advantage? It explains every single grammatical concept in full depth and uses Pāṇinian AND Western terminology. It also has enough readings. (at the end too). I vouch for it.

I even own a physical copy. So why isn't this the first book recommended? Well, it is extremley difficult for the beginner. You will simply give up or progress very slow with it. But it is excellent for the intermediate learner who is familiar with Sanskrit already.

So which one should you begin with? Well, with Samskrita Bharati. You will need the guidance. If you’re a trained western linguist, I recommend Whitney’s Grammar + Maurer’s Reader.

The real answer, if you get serious about Sanskrit, you should read them all eventually.

Now that you’ve studied grammar enough, the next part is reading original literature with crutches. We use readers for this. So a reader of the Ramayana has text from it + glossary of words & grammatical meaning. I find them helpful.

1) Rāmopākhyāna - Peter Scharff

2) Sanskrit Reader - Lanmann

This is the second best reader. It is old but good. Selections from many varieties of original literature from Mahabharata to Rigveda.

Once you have finished all of this, the best thing to do is start reading the Gita in it’s original Sanskrit. Finish it and move on to the Ramayana. They are both in straightforward language.

There is one good reader for the Gita, linking it down below.

Has glossary of verse