Week 22: Vowel Sandhi
This week is designed as a 60-minute self-study lesson. Read aloud first, then translate.
Aim of the Week
Use Vowel sandhi as a practical reading tool. The goal is not to memorise every rule, but to split common joined forms.
Core Pattern
When a word looks unfamiliar, ask whether two words have been joined. Sandhi often hides word boundaries.
Split and Translate
- राम + अवदत् → रामावदत्
rāma + avadat → rāmāvadat - नर + इति → नरेति
nara + iti → nareti - धर्म + उपदेशः → धर्मोपदेशः
dharma + upadeśaḥ → dharmopadeśaḥ - महā + आत्मा → महात्मा
mahā + ātmā → mahātmā
Answer key
- Rāma spoke.
- “man,” thus
- teaching of dharma
- great-souled one
Recitation Guidance
When reciting sandhi forms, pronounce the joined form smoothly. When translating, mentally split the words first.
Vocabulary
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अ + अ | a + a | ā |
| अ + इ | a + i | e |
| अ + उ | a + u | o |
| आ + आ | ā + ā | ā |
| विभागः | vibhāgaḥ | division |
Self-Check
- Can you identify the two original words?
- Can you translate the joined form after splitting it?