Week 30: तत्पुरुष Compounds
This week is designed as a 60-minute self-study lesson. Read aloud first, then translate.
Aim of the Week
Break and translate Tatpuruṣa compounds using a practical method: divide, identify relation, translate literally, then smooth.
Core Pattern
A compound compresses two or more ideas into one word. Do not guess from the whole word too quickly; split it.
Translation Practice
- राजपुत्रः वनं गच्छति।
rājaputraḥ vanaṃ gacchati. - धर्मक्षेत्रे युद्धम् आसीत्।
dharmakṣetre yuddham āsīt. - वनवासः आरभते।
vanavāsaḥ ārabhate. - गुरुवचनं शृणु।
guruvacanaṃ śṛṇu.
Answer key
- The king’s son goes to the forest.
- There was a battle in the field of dharma.
- Forest-exile begins.
- Listen to the teacher’s word.
Recitation Guidance
Recite compounds as one word, but translate them as a relationship between words.
Vocabulary
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| राजपुत्रः | rājaputraḥ | son of the king |
| गुरुवचनम् | guruvacanam | word of the teacher |
| धर्मक्षेत्रे | dharmakṣetre | in the field of dharma |
| युद्धम् | yuddham | battle |
| शृणु | śṛṇu | listen! |
Self-Check
- Can you split the compound?
- Can you say whether it means “of,” “descriptive,” “and,” or “one who has”?