Sandhi सन्धिः
सन्धिः is one of the most important concepts in Sanskrit. The word sandhi literally means "joining" or
"combination". To understand the need for सन्धि, consider the following two words:
पुर्णम् एव
When read aloud, it becomes hard to enunciate these two words, so we take a shortcut and join
the two words to form पुर्णमेव
This is basically सन्धि in action. The same thing happens in other languages too. For example, in English we write "bread and butter" but pronounce it as "bread n butter". In Sanskrit, the सन्धि occurs between the last sound of a word and the first sound of the next word, resulting in a single word. सन्धि can also occur in between a word.
The last sound of the first word is called पुर्वरुप and the first sound of the second word is called पररुप. So सन्धि takes place between the पुर्वरुप and the पररुप.
Here are some more examples of सन्धि
राम + अत्र becomes रामत्र
देव + इन्द्रः becomes देवेन्द्रः
सत् + चित् + आनन्दः becomes सच्चिदानन्दः
संहिताक्रमः सन्धिः
वर्णविकारः सन्धिः
सन्धिः in समास
In Sanskrit, a समास occurs when two words are joined together to form one compound word. A सन्धिः can occur during this process. This will be covered in a later chapter.
Classification of सन्धि A. Based on the place of occurrence
B. Based on letters involved
Is सन्धि mandatory?
When a सन्धि can occur within a word, it is mandatory.
When समासा (compound word) is created, it is mandatory.
In poetry, it is mandatory.
In sentences, or prose, it is optional
Maheśvara Sūtras
Maheśvara Sūtras play a crucial role in सन्धि. Without understanding Maheśvara Sūtras you cannot learn सन्धि.
Click (or tap) here to learn more about Maheśvara Sūtras.
This is basically सन्धि in action. The same thing happens in other languages too. For example, in English we write "bread and butter" but pronounce it as "bread n butter". In Sanskrit, the सन्धि occurs between the last sound of a word and the first sound of the next word, resulting in a single word. सन्धि can also occur in between a word.
The last sound of the first word is called पुर्वरुप and the first sound of the second word is called पररुप. So सन्धि takes place between the पुर्वरुप and the पररुप.
Here are some more examples of सन्धि
राम + अत्र becomes रामत्र
देव + इन्द्रः becomes देवेन्द्रः
सत् + चित् + आनन्दः becomes सच्चिदानन्दः
संहिताक्रमः सन्धिः
वर्णविकारः सन्धिः
सन्धिः in समास
In Sanskrit, a समास occurs when two words are joined together to form one compound word. A सन्धिः can occur during this process. This will be covered in a later chapter.
Classification of सन्धि A. Based on the place of occurrence
1. अन्तःसन्धिः (internal) within a word. For example:
शम् + करः = शङ्करः
2. बहिःसन्धिः (external) between two words. For example:
गुरुः + ब्रह्मा = गुरुर्ब्रह्मा
3. उभयसन्धिः (both) rule that applies for within a word and between two separate words. For example:
मनस् + विकारः = मनोविकारः (fault of mind)
मनः + विकारः = मनो विकारः (mind is fault)
शम् + करः = शङ्करः
2. बहिःसन्धिः (external) between two words. For example:
गुरुः + ब्रह्मा = गुरुर्ब्रह्मा
3. उभयसन्धिः (both) rule that applies for within a word and between two separate words. For example:
मनस् + विकारः = मनोविकारः (fault of mind)
मनः + विकारः = मनो विकारः (mind is fault)
B. Based on letters involved
1. अच्-सन्धिः / स्वरसन्धिः When both letters involved are vowels. For example:
उप + इन्द्रः = उपेन्द्रः
2. हल्-सन्धिः / व्यञ्जनसन्धिः When consonants are involved. For example:
सत् + चित् + आनन्दः = सच्चिदानन्दः
3. विसर्गसन्धिः When विसर्ग undergoes modifications in combination with other letters. For example:
श्रीगुरुभ्यः + नमः = श्रीगुरुभ्यो नमः
ईश्वरः + अस्ति = ईश्वरोऽस्ति
C. Based on possibility of occurrence उप + इन्द्रः = उपेन्द्रः
2. हल्-सन्धिः / व्यञ्जनसन्धिः When consonants are involved. For example:
सत् + चित् + आनन्दः = सच्चिदानन्दः
3. विसर्गसन्धिः When विसर्ग undergoes modifications in combination with other letters. For example:
श्रीगुरुभ्यः + नमः = श्रीगुरुभ्यो नमः
ईश्वरः + अस्ति = ईश्वरोऽस्ति
1. नित्यसन्धिः (compulsory) The change will surely take place. For example:
उप + इन्द्रः = उपेन्द्रः
2. विकल्प-सन्धिः (optional) The change may or may not take place. For example:
रात्रौ + आगतः = रात्रावागतः / रात्रा आगतः
Note: After one compulsory rule applies, there is a possible occurrence of another rule that may create further change or roll back the previous change. Still, the first rule will be called नित्यसन्धिः
D. Based on the change happening
उप + इन्द्रः = उपेन्द्रः
2. विकल्प-सन्धिः (optional) The change may or may not take place. For example:
रात्रौ + आगतः = रात्रावागतः / रात्रा आगतः
Note: After one compulsory rule applies, there is a possible occurrence of another rule that may create further change or roll back the previous change. Still, the first rule will be called नित्यसन्धिः
1. आगम-सन्धिः (addition) A new letter gets added & accommodated.
मित्रवत् आगमः (like a friend) For example:
सम् + कृतम् = संस्कृतम् (स् is added)
2. आदेश-सन्धिः (substitution) A letter replaces previous letter. शत्रुवत् आदेशः (like an enemy). For example:
अधि + आपकः = अध्यापकः (य् replaces इ)
3. एकादेश-सन्धिः (single substitution) One letter replaces both the previous letters involved. For example:
गङ्गा + उदकम् = गङ्गोदकम् (ओ replaces आ & उ)
4. द्वित्व-सन्धिः(duplication) A letter gets duplicated while combining. For example:
सन् + अच्युतः = सन्नच्युतः (न् is duplicated)
5. लोप-सन्धिः(disappearance ) A letter disappears- अदर्शनं लोपः। (not seen). For example:
हरे + अव = हरेव / हरेऽव। (अ is not seen)
6. प्रकृतिभाव-सन्धिः(retention) Old natural state of letters is retained. For example:
हरी + एतौ = हरी एतौ
सम् + कृतम् = संस्कृतम् (स् is added)
2. आदेश-सन्धिः (substitution) A letter replaces previous letter. शत्रुवत् आदेशः (like an enemy). For example:
अधि + आपकः = अध्यापकः (य् replaces इ)
3. एकादेश-सन्धिः (single substitution) One letter replaces both the previous letters involved. For example:
गङ्गा + उदकम् = गङ्गोदकम् (ओ replaces आ & उ)
4. द्वित्व-सन्धिः(duplication) A letter gets duplicated while combining. For example:
सन् + अच्युतः = सन्नच्युतः (न् is duplicated)
5. लोप-सन्धिः(disappearance ) A letter disappears- अदर्शनं लोपः। (not seen). For example:
हरे + अव = हरेव / हरेऽव। (अ is not seen)
6. प्रकृतिभाव-सन्धिः(retention) Old natural state of letters is retained. For example:
हरी + एतौ = हरी एतौ
Is सन्धि mandatory?
When a सन्धि can occur within a word, it is mandatory.
When समासा (compound word) is created, it is mandatory.
In poetry, it is mandatory.
In sentences, or prose, it is optional
Maheśvara Sūtras
Maheśvara Sūtras play a crucial role in सन्धि. Without understanding Maheśvara Sūtras you cannot learn सन्धि.
Click (or tap) here to learn more about Maheśvara Sūtras.