स
Level 3
Samasa — Compound Words
How Sanskrit combines multiple words into one
- Samasa means 'combination' — Sanskrit frequently joins multiple words into one compound.
- Compound words are extremely common in Sanskrit, especially in the Vedas and epics.
- The last word in a compound is the head (Uttarapada); others are modifiers (Purvapada).
- There are 6 main types of Samasa, each with a different grammatical relationship.
- To understand a compound, you must split it (Vigrahavakya) and identify its type.
- Example: महाभारत = महा + भारत = 'the great Bharata story' (Karmadharaya)
Avyayibhava
Indeclinable compoundFirst member is an indeclinable (prefix); whole compound becomes adverbial
अनुरूपम्
अनु + रूप
according to form
यथाशक्ति
यथा + शक्ति
according to ability
प्रतिदिनम्
प्रति + दिन
every day
Tatpurusha
Determinative compoundSecond member is the head; first member qualifies it in some case relation
राजपुत्र
राजन् + पुत्र
son of the king (6th case)
देवालय
देव + आलय
abode of god (6th case)
धर्मक्षेत्र
धर्म + क्षेत्र
field of dharma (6th case)
Karmadharaya
Descriptive compoundBoth members are in the same case; first describes or qualifies second
महाराज
महत् + राज
great king
नीलकमल
नील + कमल
blue lotus
महाभारत
महा + भारत
the great Bharata
Dvandva
Copulative compoundBoth members are equal; connected by 'and'
रामलक्ष्मण
राम + लक्ष्मण
Rama and Lakshmana
सीतारामौ
सीता + राम
Sita and Rama (dual)
देवासुर
देव + असुर
gods and demons
Dvigu
Numeral compoundFirst member is a numeral; forms a collective noun
त्रिलोकी
त्रि + लोक
the three worlds
सप्तर्षि
सप्त + ऋषि
the seven rishis
चतुर्वेद
चतुर् + वेद
the four Vedas
Bahuvrihi
Exocentric compoundNeither member is the head; describes a third entity by a characteristic
पीताम्बर
पीत + अम्बर
one who wears yellow garments (Vishnu)
चक्रपाणि
चक्र + पाणि
one who holds a discus in hand (Vishnu)
नीलकण्ठ
नील + कण्ठ
one with a blue throat (Shiva)