Samskrta Text Processing

Today I installed utf-skt on my debian laptop. Here is how I went about it ....

1. Browse http://www.indologie.uni-halle.de/software/installation.htm

2. Download http://www.indologie.uni-halle.de/software/utf-skt05.tgz

3. Make a debian package from the utf-skt05.tgz after prefixing /usr/share to the basedir. You should also delete the user directory from the tar file.

4. install the debian package thus created. Save the debian package on your hard-disk for future reference. I have stored it on my /root directory.

5. Use updmap-sys --enable Map=dvng.map to add the devanagari map in the updmap.cfg file. updmap-sys --listmaps should show the dvng.map in the listing.

6. Use texhash to hash.

You are all set.

Some progress

I am now on chapter 8 of the egenes book. This book is fun and I am now learning sandhi rules.

Exercise 6f of chapter 5 in the Egenes book (page 50) asks for the translation of ....
रामः अश्वम् पुत्रम् पृच्छति

The given answer to the exercise is 'rAma asks the son about the horse'. Now should that not be ....

रामः अश्वाय पुत्रम् पृच्छति

Ditto for exercise 6h on the same page. I must check with somebody.

Two New Books

I have finally received two samskrta books. I was eagerly awaiting both.

Only that I had ordered a Hardcover for Ramopakhyana but the vendor sent me a softcover. He now says he will be shipping a hardcover edition too and that I may keep this softcover edition at no extra cost.


The other book is devavanipravesika. The reviews are good. People say it teaches both samskrta and english grammer -- though obviously the emphasis is on samskrta.


For now I will still focus on the book-I by Egenes.

vA and its usage

Nouns as well as verbs could be connected with ca (for and) or vA (for or). When two nominatives are connected with vA, the verb agrees with the nominative closest to it. For example:

ashvaH gajAH vA gacchanti

सरस्वती वन्दना - Sarasvati Vandana

या कुन्देन्दुतुषार हार धवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता
या वीणा वरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना
या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरैः प्रभृतिभिः देवैः सदा वन्दिता
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेष जाड्यापहा |

शुक्लां ब्रह्म विचारसारपरमां आद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीम्
वीणा पुस्तकधारिणीम् अभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम्
हस्ते स्फाटिकमालिकाम् विदधतीम् पद्मासने संस्थिताम्
वन्देताम् परमेश्वरीम् भगवतीं बुद्धि प्रदाम् शारदाम् ||

She who is white like a jasmine flower, the Moon, snow and string of pearls, who is clad in white garments, whose hand is adored with the beautiful rod of Veena, who is seated on a white lotus, who is always venerated by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other gods, may that goddess Sarasvatee who removes all stupidity protect me.

I venerate that supreme sovereign goddess Sarasvatee who is white, is the ultimate essence of delibrations regarding Brahma, is the very first existence, is pervading the Universe, is holding Veena and the holy book, is giver of fearlessness, remover of stupidity and ignorance, holding a garland of crystals in her hand, sitting on a lotus, and is giver of intelligence.

Purpose

I will be scribbling here, as I learn Samskrta.