Sanskrit Lesson
VyaJjana Sandhi (Letter Combination)
How sounds join together in Sanskrit
VyaJjana Sandhi (Letter Combination)
How sounds join together in Sanskrit
Rule (1) – Change of क, च, ट, त, प before certain sounds
When the first consonant of a varga (क, च, ट, त, प) is followed by the 3rd or 4th consonant of a varga, or by य, र, ल, व, ह, or a vowel, it changes into the corresponding softer consonant: क → ग, च → ज, ट → ड, त → द, प → ब.
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (2) – Change of क, च, ट, त, प before nasals
When क, च, ट, त, or प meets the nasal consonant of any varga (ङ, ञ, ण, न, म), it changes into a nasalised or softened form of its own varga. In practice, this gives forms like वाङ्मय, षण्मास, जगन्नाथ, and संपूर्ण.
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (3) – त changing to द and म-assimilation
When त is followed by ग, घ, द, ध, ब, भ, य, र, व or by a vowel, त usually changes to द. Also, after म्, many consonants from क to म cause nasalisation or change of म to the nasal of that group.
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (4) – त before affricates and म before semivowels/sibilants
When त is followed by च, छ, ज, झ, ट, ठ, ड, ढ, or ल, it often adjusts to suit the cluster. Many specific cases are covered in later rules. When म् is followed by य, र, ल, व, श, ष, स, or ह, it generally becomes अनुस्वार (ं).
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (5) – त + श and त/द + च/छ
When त is followed by श, then often त becomes च and श becomes छ (उत् + श्वास → उच्छ्वास). When त or द is followed by च or छ, त/द commonly changes to च.
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (6) – त + ह and त/द + ज/झ
When त is followed by ह, त becomes द and ह becomes ध (thus forming clusters like ध्ध). When त or द is followed by ज or झ, then त/द changes to ज.
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (7) – त/द with ट-ठ-ड-ढ and vowel + छ
When त or द is followed by ट, ठ, ड or ढ, त/द often turns into ट. Also, when any vowel is followed by छ, a च is inserted before छ, giving …च्छ…
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (8) – म् + consonant (क to म) and त/द + ल
When म् is followed by a consonant from क to म, म् often becomes अनुस्वार (ं). When त or द is followed by ल, the result is commonly a doubled ल (ल्ल).
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (9) – म् + म and again त/द + ह
When म् is followed by म, the result is usually a double म (म्म). Also, when त or द is followed by ह, त/द becomes द and ह becomes ध, as seen earlier.
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (10) – म् + semivowels/sibilants and त/द + श
When म् is followed by य, र, ल, व, श, ष, स, ह, म् becomes अनुस्वार (ं). When त or द is followed by श, त/द becomes च and श becomes छ.
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (11) – णत्व after ऋ, र, ष and vowel + छ
If a word contains ऋ, र or ष and the adjoining word contains न, and between them only certain consonants occur, then न often becomes ण (णत्व). Also, whenever a vowel is followed by छ, a च is inserted, giving the pattern ...च्छ....
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (12) – स् changing to ष after certain vowels
If स् is preceded by a vowel other than अ or आ, it often changes to ष. This change appears in forms such as अभिषेक, निषिद्ध, and विषम.
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Rule (13) – णत्व with ऋ/र/ष and द → त before certain consonants
If one word contains ऋ, र or ष and the other contains न, and between them there is only a consonant from क, ख, ग, घ, प, फ, ब, भ, म, य, र, ल, व, then न becomes ण (णत्व). Also, when द् is followed by क, ख, त, थ, प, फ, श, ष, स, ह, द् often changes into त्.
Word Process
Letter Breakdown
Practice VyaJjanasandhi through 2 lessons
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Consonant Change Basics
