Chapter 6 of Abhyaswaan Bhav, the NCERT Class 10 Sanskrit textbook, is titled “सन्धिः (Sandhi)”, which means joining or combination. This chapter helps students understand how two words or sounds combine in Sanskrit to form new words without breaking pronunciation or meaning. It is one of the most important topics in Sanskrit grammar because it teaches how the language maintains flow and rhythm in speech and writing.
I decided to write about this chapter because Sandhi forms the backbone of Sanskrit grammar and often confuses students at first. Many learners struggle with identifying where Sandhi occurs and how to split or combine words correctly. Once this concept is clear, reading Sanskrit texts becomes much easier because many words in verses or prose are written in their combined forms. Understanding this chapter also strengthens the student’s ability to interpret classical Sanskrit literature and perform better in exams.
About Chapter 6: सन्धिः (Sandhi)
The word Sandhi literally means “joining together.” In Sanskrit, it refers to the combination of two letters that come together at word boundaries. This rule makes pronunciation smooth and natural. For example, when two vowels or consonants meet, certain changes take place to make the sound flow better.
The chapter explains the three main types of Sandhi — Swar Sandhi (vowel combination), Vyanjan Sandhi (consonant combination), and Visarga Sandhi (ending with ‘ः’). Each type has its own set of rules and examples that show how letters change when combined.
Types of Sandhi Explained
Let’s look at the three main types of Sandhi covered in this chapter:
- Swar Sandhi (Vowel Combination):
When two vowels meet, they combine to form a new sound.- Example: राम + ईश्वरः = रामेश्वरः
- Here, the ‘अ’ at the end of the first word and the ‘ई’ at the start of the second word merge to form ‘ए’.
- Vyanjan Sandhi (Consonant Combination):
This occurs when a word ending with a consonant is followed by another starting with a consonant.- Example: तत् + भवति = तद्भवति
- The letter ‘त्’ changes to ‘द्’ for smoother pronunciation.
- Visarga Sandhi (Ending with ‘ः’):
When a word ends with a Visarga (ः) and the next word begins with certain letters, the Visarga changes accordingly.- Example: रामः + चरति = रामश् चरति
- The Visarga changes to ‘श्’ before ‘च’.
These examples show that Sandhi not only makes pronunciation easier but also connects words in a rhythmic way.
Importance of Learning Sandhi
Learning Sandhi is essential for mastering Sanskrit because it improves reading comprehension and grammar understanding. In most Sanskrit texts, words are written in their joined form, so students must know how to separate and recognise them.
Here are some key benefits of understanding Sandhi:
- It helps in accurate pronunciation and fluency.
- It enables better understanding of verses in texts like the Bhagavad Gita or Ramayana.
- It improves grammar application and translation skills.
- It boosts exam performance since Sandhi Vigraha (word separation) is often asked in board exams.
How to Download NCERT Class 10 Sanskrit Chapter 6 Sandhi PDF
Students can easily download the NCERT Class 10 Sanskrit Chapter 6 सन्धिः PDF for free from here.
