Chapter 7 of Abhyaswaan Bhav, the NCERT Class 10 Sanskrit textbook, is titled “समासाः (Samasah)”, which means compound words in English. In this chapter, students learn how two or more words are combined to form one concise and meaningful word in Sanskrit. Samas plays a vital role in Sanskrit grammar because it simplifies long expressions and adds beauty to the language’s structure.
I am writing about this chapter because Samas is one of the most interesting yet slightly tricky topics in Sanskrit grammar. It teaches us how language can be compact yet meaningful. Many students find Samas Vigraha (breaking compounds) confusing at first, but once they grasp the logic behind each type, they can easily recognise and construct compound words in both prose and poetry. Understanding Samas not only improves exam performance but also deepens appreciation of ancient Sanskrit texts where these grammatical forms appear frequently.
About Chapter 7: समासाः (Samasah)
The word Samas in Sanskrit means “combination” or “union.” It refers to the process where two or more words come together to form a new single word without changing the core meaning. For example, राजा च मन्त्रि च = राजामन्त्री (Rājā ca mantrī ca). This process helps reduce repetition and makes the sentence concise and poetic.
This chapter gives students a detailed understanding of Samas Vigraha (breaking a compound word into its original form) and Samas Nirman (forming compound words). It introduces different types of Samas with clear definitions and examples.
Types of Samas
There are mainly four types of Samas explained in this chapter:
- द्वन्द्व समास (Dvandva Samas) – When two or more words of equal importance are joined together.
- Example: माता च पिता च = मातापितरौ (Mother and Father)
- तत्पुरुष समास (Tatpurush Samas) – When the first word qualifies or describes the second word.
- Example: राजस्य पुत्रः = राजपुत्रः (King’s son)
- कर्मधारय समास (Karmadharaya Samas) – When both words refer to the same person or thing, often one describing the other.
- Example: नीलः कमलम् = नीलकमलम् (Blue lotus)
- बहुव्रीहि समास (Bahuvrihi Samas) – When the compound refers to something else that possesses the quality expressed by the compound.
- Example: राजा यस्य सः = राजमानवः (The man who has the qualities of a king)
These four types form the base of all compound structures in Sanskrit grammar, and students are expected to identify them in both prose and verse.
Importance of Learning Samas
Learning Samas helps students understand how Sanskrit conveys deep meaning through short expressions. Instead of writing long descriptive phrases, one can use a single compound word. For instance, instead of saying “the one who has great fame,” Sanskrit uses महायशः (Mahayashah).
Key reasons why Samas is important:
- It enhances grammar and comprehension skills.
- It simplifies long phrases into concise forms.
- It helps students read classical Sanskrit literature easily.
- It is frequently asked in board exams in the form of Samas Vigraha questions.
How to Download NCERT Class 10 Sanskrit Chapter 7 Samasah PDF
Students can download the NCERT Class 10 Sanskrit – Abhyaswaan Bhav: Chapter 7 समासाः PDF directly from here.
