Overview

Samskrita Bharati’s Distance Learning Program (DLP) is a unique opportunity to learn Samskritam at your own pace, at your own place! It consists of simple and interesting lessons accompanied by downloadable MP3 audio for the initial two levels. Lessons include stories, puzzles, and glimpses of Samskritam literature along with an innovative method of language learning. No prior knowledge of Samskritam is assumed, so teaching starts with the basics. After successful completion of four levels, you will be able to understand shlokaas from original texts like Bhagavad Gita or Ramayana all by yourself !

There are four levels in Samskrita Bharati's DLP (links to buy the books are provided beloow):

Praveśaḥ        Paricayaḥ         śikṣā        Kovidaḥ

Each level consists of 12 booklets (now consolidated into a single book for Pravesha and Parichaya levels).  A CD (now a link to MP3 for students to download) is available for the first 2 levels. (For the remaining 2, upon request (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) , recordings made by volunteers will be sent.)  Each booklet has several lessons with built-in review exercises. The answers to these exercises are provided at the end of each booklet. The medium of instruction is English.

The Pravesha level booklet has English transliteration for the initial lessons. Also, included are lessons for mastering the Devanagari script. Subsequently, the Devanagari script is included with English translation and instructions. (The Roman transliteration is phased out mid way through the book with the expectation that the student has mastered it by then.)  The downloadable MP3 audio for the Pravesha and Parichaya levels provide an opportunity for the students to listen to the audio version of the booklets, and thus can help validate one’s pronunciation.

For each level, the 12th book contains 2 sample exams that will help with exam preparation. Answers to the questions of the first sample exam are given within this booklet while the second sample exam can be used the student as a practice exam. Answers may be determined by reviewing the booklets. All Distance Learning Program material may be obtained directly from the publication division (aka Bookstore) of Samskrita Bharati.

Details

Syllabus

The coursework in each level of the Distance Learning Program covers grammar/syntax, shlokas/puzzles, vocabulary and information on the Sanskrit heritage. In addition, there is text material that contains stories from various works of Samskritam literature. The student is expected to not only learn the grammar but also other aspects that have been mentioned above as they will be tested on all of the materials.

1  Pravesha

Pravesha broadly covers the following topics:

1. Study and use of Devanagri script

2. Declensions of masculine feminine and neuter genders for vowel ending nouns

3. Declensions of various pronouns

4. Syntax and usages of all seven declensions

5. Numerals

6. Tenses Present, past future and Imperative, in both parasmai pada and atmanei pada forms

7. Introduction to verb classification

8. Past participle, gerunds, infinitives

9. Prefixes

10. Medium of Instruction is English.  But, the answers are expected to be written in Samskritam unless otherwise stated.  The Samskritam is expected to be in Devanagari.

Buy Pravesha books - Praveśaḥ        

2 Paricaya

Parichaya broadly covers the following topics:

1. Adjectives, and their usage

2. Ordinals

3. Sandhi (modification of the sound of a word or morpheme when juxtaposed with another or coalescence of letters)

4. Indeclinables

5. Potential mood

6. How to rearrange a shloka to understand the verse meaning

7. Passive construction and bhave usage

8. Passive Participles and infinitives

9. Medium of some of the Instruction is English.  But, the answers are expected to be written in Samskritam unless otherwise stated.  The Samskritam is expected to be in Devanagari

Buy Paricaya books  Paricayaḥ

3 Shiksha

Shiksha broadly covers the following topics:

1. Present Participles (shatru) their use and syntax in all Cases

2. Sandhi ( advance study continued)

3. Present Participles of Atmanei pada (Middle voice)

4. Present Passive Participles (Shaanch) their use and syntax in all cases (declensions)

5. Use of absolutives (Sati saptami)

6. Detail rules of anvaya or process of rearranging a shloka for verse meaning

7. Excerpts from Bhagavag Giita, and other famous Samskirtam literature

8. Medium of Instruction is primarily Samskritam.  Answers are expected to be written in Samskritam.  The Samskritam is expected to be in Devanagari

Buy Shiksha books  śikṣā

4 Kovida

Kovida broadly covers the following topics:

1. Compounds (the 5 groups, and sub classes along with their derivation and usage)

2. Secondary Nominal bases ( taddhitaanta or secondary affixes)

3. Passages from important Sanskrit literary authors using simple Sanskrit

4. Biographies of important figures in Sanskrit literature

5. Figures of speech (alankaras)

6. Poetic Meters or Chandas

7. Brief introduction to Sanskrit composition and letter writing

8. Medium of Instruction is primarily Samskritam.  But, the answers are expected to be written in Samskritam.  The Samskritam is expected to be in Devanagari

Buy Kovida books  Kovidaḥ

Contacts

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  In your message, please provide your phone number, city (where you live), state and a good time to call you back (along with your Time Zone). A Samskrita Bharati volunteer will respond as quickly as possible by phone or email.

The package is a TWO-IN-ONE! Along with the study of Samskritam, you will enrich your knowledge about the great heritage of India.