Foundation Sanskrit

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Foundation Sanskrit is a course designed to introduce the Sanskrit language to adults or children over the age of ten. Each chapter introduces some basic aspect of the language, with a story and exercises for the student to practise what he or she has learned. The stories are also intended to be of interest in their own right, as each presents a moral or philosophical lesson. They are intended to be more than mere tests of the student's ability to translate.Such stories may inspire the student to progress further with the study of the language.

Sandhi has not been introduced in the course so that the student may move efficiently and enjoy the study of the language before he meets this hurdle. Once enough confidence in the fundamental principles introduced here has been gained facing this difficulty will seem easy and worthwhile.

The author, David Hodgkinson, was educated at St James Independent School for Boys and Balliol College, Oxford. He began his Sanskrit studies at school, before reading a new BA course in Classics with Sanskrit at Oxford. He has taught Greek at Trinity College Dublin, and teaches Latin, Greek and Sanskrit at John Scottus School in Dublin.

Sanskrit is one of the richest languages of the world. It not only gives access to a wealth of knowledge and wisdom which remains to a large extent undiscovered by the West, but also its grammar as formulated by the grammarian Panini is a masterpiece, unique in the study of language for its precision, clarity and brevity. The literature and philosophy composed in this language have a beauty and profundity, which is unsurpassed.

The Foundation Sanskrit course is intended for anyone over the age of ten who wishes to begin a study of the language. An ability to read and write the Sanskrit script is assumed, although a brief summary of the Devanagari script has been included. The grammatical aspect of the language is introduced padam padam, step by step. There are eighteen chapters. Each introduces a grammatical principle with the help of a story. The emphasis is on understanding these principles. Therefore, only a few words are given at the beginning of each chapter for the student to learn. This enables students to grasp the grammar and learn thoroughly whatever vocabulary is needed. There are plenty of exercises to reinforce the grammatical point. The appendices at the back summarise the material to be learnt in the course: Grammar, Syntax and Vocabulary.

Some scripture is included at the beginning of this course. This is only intended by way of example. It is hoped that teachers will supplement it to their own taste. This is an aspect of the course which cannot be prescribed: it is hoped that students and teachers will take a little time to study something original which they find of value. The stories are also intended to present some aspects of the philosophical tradition which is expressed in the language. They are written in a simple way so that both children and adults may enjoy some of the philosophical lessons of this tradition.