शब्द-परिचय:
1. Based on Word Category (शब्द-भेद)
Sanskrit words are broadly classified into four main types:
- नाम (Noun) – e.g., रामः (Rama), पुस्तकम् (book)
- सर्वनाम (Pronoun) – e.g., सः (he), अहम् (I), तत् (that)
- क्रिया (Verb) – e.g., गच्छति (goes), पठति (reads)
- अव्यय (Indeclinables) – e.g., च (and), अपि (also), तु (but)
(Some grammarians also include विशेषण (Adjectives) as a separate category.)
2. Based on Gender (लिङ्ग)
Words are analyzed based on three genders:
- पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine) – e.g., रामः, वृक्षः
- स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) – e.g., सीता, नदी
- नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) – e.g., फलम्, जलम्
3. Based on Number (वचन)
Words are analyzed in three numbers:
- एकवचन (Singular) – e.g., रामः (one Rama)
- द्विवचन (Dual) – e.g., रामौ (two Ramas)
- बहुवचन (Plural) – e.g., रामाः (many Ramas)
4. Based on Case (विभक्ति)
Words are analyzed in seven cases (Panini’s system):
- प्रथमा (Nominative) – कर्ता (subject)
- द्वितीया (Accusative) – कर्म (object)
- तृतीया (Instrumental) – करण (by/with)
- चतुर्थी (Dative) – सम्प्रदान (for/to)
- पञ्चमी (Ablative) – अपादान (from)
- षष्ठी (Genitive) – सम्बन्ध (of/possession)
- सप्तमी (Locative) – अधिकरण (in/on)
(Some systems include an 8th case, संबोधन (Vocative), but Panini considers it part of प्रथमा.)
5. Based on Word Formation (रचना)
Words are analyzed based on how they are formed:
- रूढि (Non-derivative/Traditional words) – e.g., गौः (cow)
- यौगिक (Derived words) – e.g., पाठकः (reader) from √पठ् + ण्वुल्
- योगरूढ (Partly derived, partly traditional) – e.g., पङ्कजम् (lotus, lit. “born in mud”)
6. Based on Verb Forms (धातु-रूप)
For verbs (क्रिया), analysis includes:
- धातु (Root) – e.g., √गम् (to go)
- लकार (Tense/Mood) – e.g., लट् (Present), लोट् (Imperative)
- पुरुष (Person) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd (उत्तम, मध्यम, प्रथम)
- वचन (Number) – Singular, Dual, Plural
7. Based on Compound Words (समास)
If a word is a compound (समास), its type is analyzed:
- तत्पुरुष (e.g., राजपुरुषः = king’s servant)
- कर्मधारय (e.g., नीलोत्पलम् = blue lotus)
- द्विगु (e.g., पञ्चवटी = group of five trees)
- द्वन्द्व (e.g., रामलक्ष्मणौ = Rama and Lakshmana)
- बहुव्रीहि (e.g., चक्रपाणिः = “one who has a disc in hand,” Vishnu)
Summary of Śabda Parichay Types
| Category | Types | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Word Class | नाम, सर्वनाम, क्रिया, अव्यय | रामः, सः, गच्छति, च |
| Gender | पुल्लिङ्ग, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, नपुंसकलिङ्ग | रामः, सीता, फलम् |
| Number | एकवचन, द्विवचन, बहुवचन | रामः, रामौ, रामाः |
| Case | 7 विभक्तियाँ | प्रथमा (रामः), द्वितीया (रामम्) |
| Formation | रूढि, यौगिक, योगरूढ | गौः, पाठकः, पङ्कजम् |
| Verb Analysis | धातु, लकार, पुरुष, वचन | √गम्, लट्, प्रथमपुरुष |
| Compounds | 5 समास types | राजपुरुषः, नीलोत्पलम् |